As Shanghai embraces the crisp autumn air and the colourful foliage, we also welcome the season when common viruses become more active. With temperatures dropping,influenza (flu), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and Norovirus are entering their peak period.
Navigating these health threats requires a clear and practical guide for the whole family. This article provides a science-based overview of the risks different family members face and offers comprehensive protection strategies.
Understanding the Risks: Who is Most Vulnerable?
Seasonal illnesses don't affect everyone equally. Different age groups and health profiles face distinct challenges.
- Babies & Young Children: Their developing immune systems make them prime targets for Influenza, RSV, and Norovirus. These can cause high fever, wheezing, breathing difficulties, and severe vomiting or diarrhea.
- Adults & Adolescents: While often more resilient, this group is still susceptible to the flu. Due to their active social and work lives, they can easily become carriers and spreaders of viruses within their households.
- Older Adults & Individuals with Chronic Conditions: This group is often the most vulnerable. A bout of seasonal flu can lead to serious complications like pneumonia or myocarditis, or cause a dangerous exacerbation of pre-existing conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes.
Your Family's Defence Plan: Science-Based Protection
A multi-layered approach is key to preventing and managing these common seasonal illnesses.
1. Proactive Immunity: Your First Line of Defence
- The annual flu vaccine is the most effective way to prevent influenza. Older adults, young children, pregnant women and individuals with chronic health conditions are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated. It remains beneficial to get vaccinated throughout the flu season.
- Infants aged 0-1 are recommended to get the RSV antibody injection during their first autumn and winter season.
2. Daily Healthy Habits: Build a Personal Protection Barrier
- Wear a Mask Wisely: Wear a mask properly in crowded, enclosed public spaces like metros, shopping malls, and clinics/hospitals.
- Practice Hand Hygiene: Wash your hands frequently with soap and running water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after touching public surfaces, returning home, and before eating.
- Improve Ventilation: Open windows regularly throughout the day to ensure good indoor air circulation.
- Observe Respiratory Etiquette: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your bent elbow when you cough or sneeze.
- Diet: A well-balanced diet, rich in vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables, whole grains and oats, animal-based foods provides the essential nutrients that the immune system needs
3. Strengthened Management for Chronic Conditions
- Individuals with conditions like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, or chronic respiratory illnesses should monitor their health indicators closely and adhere to their prescribed medication regimens, especially during autumn and winter.
- Keeping chronic conditions well-controlled is crucial for reducing the risk of severe complications triggered by infections.
4. Symptom Response: Act Wisely When Sick
Rest at Home for Mild Illness: If you develop respiratory symptoms (fever, cough) or gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea), stay home. Avoid going to work, school, or public places to prevent spreading illness to others.
Seek Professional Help Promptly:
- For children: if they experience febrile seizures, persistent vomiting, rapid or difficult breathing.
- For adults: if they experiencechest pain or pressure, confusion, or severe dehydration.
- For anyone with a chronic condition: if their underlying symptoms worsen significantly.
- Seek timely medical care in these situations.
Core Protection Summary
| Family Member | Key Risks | Core Protective Measures |
| Babies & Children | Influenza, RSV, Norovirus | Vaccination, frequent handwashing, avoiding crowded spaces |
| Adults & Adolescents | Influenza, spreading virus | Vaccination, respiratory hygiene, staying home when sick |
| Older Adults, Pregnant Women & Chronically Ill | Severe flu complications, condition exacerbation | Priority vaccination, consistent chronic disease management, close symptom monitoring |
This autumn and winter, let's use scientific knowledge and practical actions to build a solid line of defence for our families. We hope this guide helps you and your loved ones stay healthy and safe.
【Share this guide with your friends and family to protect your community!】
(Please note: This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for specific medical concerns.)
Constanza TOBAR
Family Medicine Physician
Specialty:
- Providing complete primary care for all ages, from children's and adolescent health to adult chronic disease.
- Comprehensive women's health through reproductive life to menopause care.
- Chronic disease prevention, management and follow-up such as cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.
- Acute, urgent, and emergency care for common illnesses and infections.
Family Medicine
The Family Medicine physicians at the Shanghai United Family Hospital and Clinics are trained to care for patients of all ages. The FM team is comprised of many board certified Family Physicians with international background, and graduates from our renowned FM fellowship training program. Collectively we speak more than 10 languages. Family Medicine is the foundation of primary care. Family Medicine physicians often care for multiple generations of the same family.
In an effort to provide more personalized care, SHU strongly recommends that every patient selects a Primary Care Provider (PCP) to be your health coordinator. PCP can be a Family Physician, Pediatrician, or an Internal Medicine specialist. It has been proven that patients with a PCP able to provide continuity of care has better healthcare outcomes. PCPs provide care when you are sick, or when you are well. They also refer and work with specialists to provide you with more time efficient specialist care.
Shanghai United Family Hospital, Jing' An
United Family Hospital, Jing' An is strategically situated in the heart of downtown Shanghai, within the courtyard of a century-old historical site. We are dedicated to developing a comprehensive, high-end healthcare platform centered around our core centers of excellence: Women's Health Center, Children's Health Center, and Primary Care Health Management Center. Our mission is to provide "from crib to cane" full lifespan comprehensive healthcare services to our patients.
We pay comprehensive attention to women's health and meet the diverse health needs of women of different age groups in various aspects such as common gynecological diseases, reproductive endocrinology, etc. We provide one-stop high-quality medical services for pregnancy and childbirth, and the obstetrics department has a 24-hour emergency green channel.
Pediatric Health Center can meet the multi-level healthcare and medical needs of children aged 0-18 years old. It has more than 20 sub-specialties and specialized outpatient clinics. It also offers 24-hour outpatient and emergency services for sick children as well as an inpatient department.
The General Outpatient Building is located at the former site of Lester School of Medicine. lt focuses on comprehensive diagnosis and treatment services of general practice plus multiple specialties, equipped with multiple clinical departments, providing one-stop diagnosis and treatment services for clients of all ages.
