Increase in respiratory infections
Atchoo! Half of Germany has a cold – that’s the reason
Old doctor’s wisdom: A cold lasts a week with medication and seven days without medication
© Susann Prautsch / DPA
A cough here, a sneeze there: Many people in their own circle of acquaintances are struck or ill. Colds are common in Germany – and that in the middle of summer. Why is that?
Friends cancel in a hushed voice. Colleagues drop out with a fever and a feeling of weakness. Half of Germany seems to be lying flat at the moment – at least that’s the subjective impression. It’s not quite that dramatic, but data and assessments by doctors and pharmacists show that there are an unusually large number of respiratory infections in Germany for the time of year – with consequences for the healthcare system and companies.
The first point of contact in the event of an infection is usually the general practitioner. You will feel the current situation immediately. “The general practitioners’ practices have been in high demand for years. However, the number of patients is currently particularly high,” said the federal chairman of the German Association of General Practitioners, Ulrich Weigeldt, the German Press Agency.
The Professional Association of Pediatricians (BVKJ) reports “slightly more infections than at the same time in the years before Corona”. The Federal Union of German Pharmacists’ Associations (Abda) has a similar impression: “Pharmacies have reported an increase in colds in recent times,” wrote a spokesman when asked by the dpa.
Robert Koch Institute confirms increase in respiratory infections in Germany
This information can be substantiated with data: The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recently assumed that there were 4.5 million acute respiratory diseases (ARE) in Germany within one week (based on the period June 27th to July 3rd). This corresponds to about one disease for 18.5 inhabitants. In previous years – both during and before the corona pandemic – the values were significantly lower. ARE occurs when a patient has a respiratory disease with fever, cough, or sore throat.
The RKI puts the number of doctor visits for acute respiratory diseases at 1.2 million within a week. Among adults, there are up to three times more such visits to the doctor than in the years before the corona pandemic at this time. In addition to increased infections, this could also be due to the fact that people go to the doctor even with mild symptoms because they are more sensitized by the pandemic.
According to the RKI, the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus is mainly responsible for the high number of diseases in adults. Unlike 2020 and 2021, there is currently a corona summer wave due to the more contagious omicron variant. In children, rhino and parainfluenza viruses in particular circulated. Influenza viruses also continued to play a role.
Patients with a positive rapid corona test and the typical symptoms such as cervical limbs and headaches and loss of sense of smell and taste came to the practice, said Weigeldt, head of the General Practitioners Association. “Fortunately, the courses, especially in vaccinated people, are usually mild.” However, there are also many patients who have classic cold symptoms but whose corona test initially does not work. In some cases, the test was later positive, while others had the flu.