«You must not use antibiotics. Already twenty thousand sick Romans”

«In the meantime, we must follow the rules learned at the time of Covid: coughs and sneezes must be done in the crook of the elbow. Paper tissues should be used and then thrown away quickly.” The first basic indications for dealing with the wave of flu that has put 20 thousand Romans to bed are simple. Pier Luigi Bartoletti, president of Rome and the province of the Italian Federation of General Practitioners (Fimmg), explains the general practitioners: «The vaccine is always recommended for fragile patients».

President, bad time to get sick: family doctors are on holiday.

«Yes but it must be remembered that there are substitutes. It’s not like doctors’ offices close and say goodbye. And many colleagues are still available on their cell phones. No patient is abandoned.”

Agreed, but many people resort to the emergency room.

“Yes. But I’ve been doing this job since 1991 and every year it’s more or less the same.”

Let’s go into detail: severe symptoms such as high fever, bone and joint pain and, in many cases, gastrointestinal problems. How to adjust?

«The first fundamental thing is not to take antibiotics. They are not sweets and should only be taken under medical supervision. So, no do-it-yourself antibiotics.”

Well and then?

«Antipyretics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories: the antipyretic lowers fever and the anti-inflammatory reduces the state of inflammation. But then, pay attention to one thing and it applies to children, adults, the elderly and frail patients.”

Which?

«Do not cover yourself with blankets, sweaters and fleeces. The temperature must be kept under control but it is essential to help the body get rid of the fever. The abuse of blankets, I repeat and underline, the abuse, is wrong because in the end it has the effect of keeping the temperature high anyway.”

Let’s recap: absolutely no to antibiotics; vaccine especially for fragile patients; yes to antipyretics and anti-inflammatories; no to the abuse of sweaters and blankets. What else?

«It should be considered that, usually, the flu peak occurs in January and coincides with the children’s return to school. This year we are early and unfortunately this virus is hitting during the holidays, when we are all at home gathered together and, what’s more, with the rain of the last few days”.

So what?

«By staying indoors at home, this virus spreads more easily. For this reason it is a good idea to ventilate the rooms several times and then always wash your hands very well and thoroughly. They are basic precautions but they are effective.”

Other?

«Maybe a legacy from the Covid period but now many of us have a pulse oximeter or pulse oximeter at home, that little device that you put on your finger to measure the oxygen saturation in your blood. Here, it should be used to do a check. It should be used well, though.”

Come?

«First a “normal” measurement is taken. Then it must be repeated but after standing up and making about ten ascents and descents on a chair to get oxygen. This way the measurement will be correct. Another important thing that is often overlooked is drinking: with the flu in the body it is essential that the patient does not lose too much fluids. So certainly water but also orange juice are absolutely suitable.”

Let’s get to the impact. Do you have an overview of the numbers of Romans attracted by the virus?

«The picture is undoubtedly underestimated because it is formed on cases that are brought to the attention of family doctors. And there are quite a few patients who don’t call the doctor for the flu but treat themselves. Having said that, we have an incidence on a national scale of 17.1 per thousand, which means that just over 17 cases are recorded per thousand inhabitants. As far as Lazio is concerned, ours is one of the most affected regions. The incidence is close to 17.6 per thousand, therefore almost 18 cases per thousand inhabitants. The data for Rome can be estimated at around 20 thousand Romans who are struggling with the symptoms of this virus. But the calculation, as I explained before, can be higher, indeed, I would say that it certainly is.”