Even in Summer Over 30 Degrees, Coughing Heard Everywhere... Cold Medicine Also Faces Shortage

Pharmacy [Image source=Yonhap News]

Despite the hot weather, patients with various respiratory infectious diseases are occurring in many places. Experts believe that as masks, which had been worn for three years, are now rarely used, weakened immunity has allowed viruses to easily penetrate the body.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 28th, during the past week (May 14?20), the proportion of outpatients visiting hospitals and clinics showing suspected symptoms of influenza (flu) was 25.7 per 1,000 patients. This is a slight increase from 23.4 per 1,000 the previous week. It is more than five times the flu epidemic threshold of 4.9. Influenza symptoms include fever above 38 degrees Celsius, cough, and sore throat.

Typically, influenza spreads from autumn to winter, but it is continuing even in early summer weather with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. Suspected flu patients are concentrated among elementary, middle, and high school students. The highest rate was among those aged 13?18 at 52.6 per 1,000, followed by 7?12 years old at 49.1, and 1?6 years old at 29.0.

Many patients hospitalized with acute respiratory infections showing symptoms similar to colds, such as headaches, runny nose, and cough, are also occurring. Acute respiratory infections include adenovirus, rhinovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), with 1,926 cases recently reported. This is more than six times the 311 cases reported around this time last year. Although there is no clear treatment for acute respiratory infections, most cases improve within a week. However, in infants and young children with weak immunity, it can sometimes lead to severe illness.

COVID-19 patients have consistently recorded numbers in the high 10,000s. From the 21st to the 27th, the average daily confirmed COVID-19 cases were 17,537. This year, even during periods when respiratory infectious diseases are not typically prevalent, patient numbers have increased, causing shortages of cold medicine in some pharmacies and convenience stores. In fact, sales of cold medicines by pharmaceutical companies have increased compared to the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Quiet specimen collection booth [Image source=Yonhap News]

Experts recommend that starting next month, as the COVID-19 crisis alert level is lowered from "serious" to "caution," even if masks are not required in clinics and pharmacies, high-risk groups for infection and patients with chronic diseases should continue wearing masks until the current wave passes.