5 illnesses to watch out for during cold weather.

Rhinitis

Rhinitis is characterized by fever, persistent sneezing, and a runny nose. (Illustrative image.)

Rhinitis, or more accurately, inflammation of the nasal mucosa, is a disease in which the mucous membranes of the nose become inflamed. The most typical symptoms of rhinitis are fever, persistent sneezing, and a runny nose.

Coughing is rare in rhinitis. Fever may or may not be present, but in some people, the fever is quite pronounced and reaches very high temperatures. However, sneezing and runny nose are always present. Patients may sneeze continuously, repeatedly, in bursts, and have a runny nose. The nasal discharge is typically clear and watery. Patients may also have a nasal voice.

Sore throat

Sore throat is a condition in which the lining of the throat is inflamed, accompanied by inflammation and pain in the surrounding lymphatic tissues. These lymphatic tissues are actually clusters of lymph nodes called tonsils.

There are four types of tonsils: the nasopharyngeal tonsils located on the roof of the pharynx, the tubal tonsils located on either side of the Eustachian tubes, the palatine tonsils located on either side of the pharyngeal wall, and the lingual tonsils. When a sore throat occurs, in addition to the swelling and redness of the pharyngeal mucosa, these tonsil tissues are very susceptible to inflammation. This (pharyngeal mucosal inflammation) causes the patient to feel a burning, painful sensation in their throat, as if there is fire inside.

One easily recognizable sign of a sore throat is fever. The fever in a sore throat is very high, a real fever. The level and duration of the fever depend on the pathogen that has invaded. It's important to note that not all sore throats are caused by bacteria.

Laryngitis

Laryngitis causes hoarseness, a deep rasping of the voice, or even complete loss of voice. (Illustrative image)

Laryngitis is a condition in which the vocal cords become inflamed. The vocal cords are the part of the body that produces sound and speech; they are located within the larynx.

Inflammation of the vocal cords causes hoarseness, a deep rasping of the voice, or even complete loss of voice. This is often accompanied by fever. Other symptoms such as coughing and phlegm may also occur, but these are not the primary signs. They only indicate that other organs may be affected.

Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is inflammation of the lymphatic tissues located in the pharyngeal region. Symptoms include fever, along with painful breathing and swallowing. The specific symptoms vary depending on which tonsils are inflamed. For example, inflammation of the nasopharyngeal tonsils will primarily cause difficulty breathing and painful breathing.

This type of tonsillitis is also called adenoiditis. If the tonsils at the base of the tongue are inflamed, the main symptom is coughing, while if the tonsils on either side of the throat are inflamed (clearly visible when looking in a mirror with the mouth open), painful swallowing is the characteristic symptom.

Tonsillitis is a common illness in children. The tonsils are very prone to inflammation and can easily lead to other respiratory infections.

Bronchitis

The main pathogens causing bronchitis are viruses and bacteria, with equal risk. (Illustrative image)

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the airways from the larynx downwards. The bronchi are the main airways and the passageways that extend deep into the lungs. The primary pathogens causing bronchitis are viruses and bacteria, with equal risk.

Bronchitis manifests as high fever, cough, phlegm production, and shortness of breath. The cough in bronchitis is a genuine cough, caused by the accumulation of phlegm in the airways. Therefore, patients almost always cough more in the morning and afternoon, the times when phlegm production is highest. The phlegm may be yellow or green, but it is almost always thick.

In children, there is also a risk of breathing difficulties due to excessive constriction of the airway muscles. Therefore, this sign should be noted. It is also one of the reasons why children cry, refuse to breastfeed, or refuse to eat.

Here are some tips to prevent these 5 diseases.

With respiratory illnesses, prevention is key. This is because they are not curable for life and tend to recur. The following tips can help reduce your risk of getting sick.

- Dress warmly when going outside, wear a mask, hat, and scarf, especially if you work outdoors. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid going outside early in the morning or late at night as it gets colder then.

- When cycling, and especially when riding a motorbike, wear a helmet that covers your entire head, face, and chin to avoid getting cold and developing upper respiratory infections such as rhinitis and pharyngitis. Indoors, keep all doors, windows, and gaps closed to prevent drafts.

- Eat a balanced diet, consuming a variety of food groups, especially those that boost immunity such as: green vegetables, fruits rich in vitamin C; and foods rich in iron and zinc such as eggs and milk…

- Sleep in a warm, sheltered place. This is very beneficial. It helps avoid catching a cold and prevents respiratory infections. Avoid sleeping near doors, windows, or vents.

- Smoking reduces the resistance of the respiratory tract mucosa. When smoking, the cilia on the surface of bronchial epithelial cells become paralyzed, their movement is disrupted, and they cannot push mucus upwards. Other protective cells such as white blood cells and macrophages also function ineffectively, making us more susceptible to infection.

Tobacco smoke not only affects smokers but also those around them who inhale it, especially young children, so smoking should be avoided indoors.

- Alcohol addiction also weakens the body's resistance. When drinking alcohol, people feel hot, so they often remove their clothes, scarves, and hats, making them susceptible to colds and bronchial and lung infections. Not to mention cases where people get too drunk and vomit food; during vomiting, they can easily choke on food and stomach fluids, causing severe pneumonia.

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