We are now entering our cold-weather season, which brings a number of infectious diseases into our homes, workplaces and the community. 

During the winter, we live and work in more-confined spaces, where we are exposed to more droplet and surface-contaminated areas. 

Common winter illnesses: 

Common cold: There are over 600 types of rhinovirus that cause this condition. We are all familiar with the symptoms of runny nose, sneezing, coughing, scratchy throat and watery eyes. Generally, these symptoms last seven to 10 days, regardless of treatment. 

We are generally exposed to cold viruses by inhaling infected droplets/mucus from people coughing close to us. 

To date, there is no vaccine for most cold viruses, except for RSV, which is recommended for infants and older adults, especially those with chronic diseases. 

Influenza: The flu season runs from October to March most years. Symptoms of influenza come on suddenly and last longer than those of a cold. The classic clinical picture is the rapid onset of high fever, body aches, extreme fatigue, chills and harsh coughing. 

If you suspect that you have flu, call your doctor, because there are medications that can shorten the duration of these symptoms. 

COVID testing is also recommended. 

Strep throat: There are many reasons for having a scratchy or sore throat. Most are due to viruses and not bacteria. However, streptococcus infections are different than viral or allergic causes because of associated high fevers, more severe pain on swallowing and very red swollen tonsils, with and without white spots. If tests are positive for strep, antibiotics are appropriate. Make sure you complete the whole prescription.

Acute bronchitis: Bronchitis is the inflammation of the large bronchi of the lung and can be caused by infection from influenza, viruses and other bacteria. 

Regardless of the cause and in the absence of signs of pneumonia on X-ray, supportive care such as humidification, cough medicine and analgesics are generally recommended. The persistent cough can last up to 10 weeks. 

Whooping cough (pertussis): Whooping cough in a healthy adult generally is mild but persistent. It can be prevented by making sure all children and adults in a household get a booster vaccine (DTAP). 

For premature and very young children, whooping cough can be life-threatening. There are outbreaks around the country every year.

Pneumonia: Most pneumonia is viral-related at the start, but the later invasion of bacterial or fungus infections makes the clinical situation very dangerous. It presents with fever, confusion, severe mucus production, shaking chills and rapid breathing. 

COVID: This continues to be a major infectious disease problem. New booster strains are available, but you can still get a mild infection. A small number of deaths are recorded daily in people who have chronic medical conditions. 

Vaccination is always recommended for all people over the age of six months.

Winter is a time for people to seek out warmer environments by taking cruises to the southern islands. Noroviruses commonly cause outbreaks of respiratory and gastrointestinal disease in the confined spaces of a ship. Again, transmission can be reduced by following simple hand-washing principles and by protecting yourself from droplet exposure with the use of masks.