How much do you know about Omicron?: Myths and truths
How much do you really know about the omicron variant ? Much is said about it, but it would be surprising to understand that not everything is real. Media speculation and misinformation led to several myths that must be cleared up.
The COVID-19 pandemic is entering its third year in business. Humanity, since then, began a long road that is slowly coming to an end. How much has been said about it?
What is Ómicron?: First, its definition
Ómicron is the name given to one of the variants of the coronavirus with the highest infectious activity. It was discovered in Africa and promulgated by the World Health Organization in November 2021.
The WHO itself highlighted that it is a pathogen of high concern due to the high rate of infection it produces. Its rapid spread from the African continent to other latitudes served as weight to establish the so-called "sixth wave" of cases.
Another very characteristic feature of the virus in question is its difficult detection in traditional tests. For this reason, when faced with suspicious symptoms, the ideal is to give way to isolation to contribute to little or no spread.
Myths and truths of the Omicron variant
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), together with the WHO, have promoted reliable information on the variant. An infectious entity with activity superior to that of its original relative, SARS-CoV-2.
Omicron is a milder variant
The relaxation of society in general during the last quarter of 2021 was a trigger for the appearance and spread of Omicron. However, a large percentage has echoed little certified data about the mild nature of the subsequent disease.
In this sense, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls for caution regarding the issue. There are no conclusive tests or investigations in which such quality of the variant is affirmed one hundred percent.
On the contrary, its modus operandi is still being known without imagining the magnitude it could have in poorly immunized countries. Cataloging Ómicron as a mild or weak virus is synonymous with irresponsibility and poor reasoning ability.
It is more contagious, but with fewer hospitalizations
That the thought is that Ómicron produces fewer hospitalizations is also wrong. Although it is true that its contagion rate is higher than that of other variants with mild symptoms, it is not a green light to relax.
The exponential increase in infected has a paradoxical effect on the number of hospitalized. Although the number of non-serious cases is large and, on the contrary, decreased, it is a misleading picture.
That minimum percentage is enough to overwhelm the health system again as at the beginning of the pandemic. Given this, it is convenient to remember the biosecurity measures, personal hygiene and, above all, vaccination as a key guideline.
Vaccines will have no effect against the variant
Anti-vaccine movements ( anti-vaxxer in English) are increasingly infusing society with more confusion. A strong current of myths about the ineffective use of immunizations against Omicron has been a trend since its inception.
To their misfortune, the CDC, FDA (Food and Drug Administration), WHO and other organizations of caliber, continue to support the practicality of them. Numerous double-blind studies have been published with favorable conclusions on its mechanism of action against different variants.
However, and in essence, the WHO has announced the need for the vaccines to be equitably distributed. While countries are already starting programs for the third or fourth dose, others have not even completed 10% of the scheme in their first administration.
If an agreement is not reached for the timely distribution, more variants and sub-variants will continue to appear. Even so, what is unalterable is the veracity and absolute confidence in vaccines as the only method to overcome the pandemic.
A person cannot be reinfected after contagion
It is common to think that, after exposure to some microorganism with underlying disease, reinfection will be impossible. But with viruses, nothing is set in stone due to their inherent ability to mutate and adapt to adversity.
The same certified sources that have been highlighted explain that reinfection by Ómicron is likely. And not only that, but it greatly increases the risk for serious illness if you are not vaccinated or immunized earlier.
However, medical expertise also declares that these are unlikely scenarios. In short, it is worth emphasizing that they can happen without problems instead of believing that you are safe.
Antibiotics are able to stop the coronavirus
Turning to the past, it seems like an eternity has passed since studies were postulated that prayed for the efficacy of Azithromycin against the coronavirus. That premise was quickly discarded, but it is still very much ingrained in prescription medicine.
It is not recommended to trust those treatments that are based on antibiotics against COVID-19 or Omicron in its absence. These types of medications are exclusive for bacterial infections, pathogenic organisms totally different from viruses.
A serious public health problem is the indiscriminate prescription of antibacterials at the time of the pandemic. Activity that opens the way directly to bacterial resistance that, in itself, is already quite common in today's environment.
Another inconvenience that grows like weed is self-medication. Those characters outside the medical field tend to ingest pharmaceutical drugs in doses not endorsed by a health professional. Following third-party comments, they fall into this dangerous practice.
Antibiotics used for the flu, cold, sore throat, or COVID-19 itself are the most common examples. DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE; Going to a specialized medical consultation in the first instance will guarantee a better recovery.