The Newspaper Of a strep throat to a runny nose and the flu: a lot of Flemish people struggle this winter from one ailment to the other. ‘Kettingziek’ is the name of the phenomenon. One in five people in recent months at least two times sick. And again one in five of them relapsed within two weeks. “Especially young women struggle of one cold in the other strep throat.”
Fever, cough, sore throat, muscle pain… on average, were between 21 and 27 January 198 people per 100,000 people with flu symptoms to the doctor. And thus, the epidemic threshold for the first time exceeded. There are this week as many sick, then there is next week official mention of a flu epidemic.
But: it is not only grieperigen in the waiting area to sit. Also throat and ear infections and colds do plenty of the round, and often this patients not for the first time this winter at the doctor. ‘Kettingziekte’ is the name of the phenomenon, for those who already two times sick has been this winter. Less than one in five suffers from, according to a survey of vitamineproducent Biover. 20% of them relapsed within two weeks.
Children, source of infection
It is mainly young women between 18 and 34 who are most vulnerable to kettingziek to be, as it turns out. A staggering 72% of those respondents were over the last few months felled. Three out of ten even more than once. Doctor Servaas Bingé explains: “Young women get in our society is often something more on their plate than men. They are more often the care of the children and also come more into contact with children. It is the source of infection for excellence. Women can combine motherhood with a busy job, there is here and there some stress or a short night in watching and that has an impact on their general immunity.”
Nevertheless, there are actually tips to the kwaaltjesketting to avoid. A healthy lifestyle is the basis, as it seems. “With sufficient exercise and sleep, balanced eating, and stress as much as possible to avoid, you can go very far,” says dr. Bingé. “Of course, also plays a prevention role. Was good your hands. Everyone is a source of infection. Give not a kiss to someone who is ill and saddle, conversely, there also are no others. Who else wants to do, can immuniteitsverhogende remedies such as echinacea, turmeric, vitamins and minerals. But a good lifestyle is the most important thing.” (BCL)
