Tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases have increased notably in Guayaquil

Cases of tuberculosis, pharyngotonsillitis and the common cold have grown in recent weeks in Guayaquil, due to sudden changes in temperature in the city. Hospitals and medical centers in the area reported people with respiratory conditions not linked to Covid-19.

Currently, the Municipal Health Directorate registered 585 cases of other respiratory diseases not related to COVID-19 and 15 cases of dengue.

Doctors suggest that there is a medical surveillance on people who have conditions in their lungs, in addition, perform a PCR test, to confirm if the person contracted Covid-19 or if they have a seasonal disease, because the symptoms are similar.

The growing wave of contagion of these diseases occurs due to the change of the weather, this occurs because at night and early morning it is colder. In addition, the lack of hygiene and the non-use of masks encourages the spread of diseases.

According to Dr. Daysy Avilés, the cases of tuberculosis increased in her office, in the last days six people were diagnosed with this disease, when generally there are only two cases. The doctor explained:

“That I see six cases in my office is enough because when I have worked in public dispensaries I have seen 14,000 people, I have found two cases, imagine now. And this disease is also spread through the respiratory tract, people are letting their guard down and I believe that from now on we are in a tailspin and the same thing that we see in Europe and Florida will happen, with another upturn in cases ”.

Doctors recommend not to self-medicate, wear warm clothing along with a mask to avoid all kinds of infections. Pravda Frías, head of pediatric emergency at the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo hospital mentioned:

“Parents go out to work, young people go out to parties at night, they don’t bundle up, they don’t use the mask completely. Many parents also allow their children to go out without the necessary care to courts, parks and we begin to see the results of infected children, parents infected with the flu, bacteria in the respiratory tract, many complications from not taking proper care of themselves “.

The official added that the minors come to the health home with rhinopharyngitis, but their health can be complicated by acute tonsillitis, if the parents are not sufficiently careful.