With flu season approaching and covid-19 still spreading, public health officials are warning of a “twindemic.” Local health experts are emphasizing increased vigilance this year.

Flu shots

Doctors generally recommend flu shots. This year, it’s more important than ever, said Dr. Amy Crawford-Faucher of the Allegheny Health Network, where she is a family physician and vice chair for its Primary Care Institute.

“We’re not afraid of the flu like we should be, but tens of thousands of people die every year,” she said. “Flu shots are important in its own sake to prevent flu — but so much more important this year.”

Crawford-Faucher said the extra emphasis on flu shots this year is imperative to keep patients out of hospitals during the pandemic, she said. Health officials don’t want to see an influx of flu patients and covid-19 patients overwhelming hospital systems. Plus, because symptoms are so similar, doctors may test patients for both influenza and coronavirus — which may cause delays.

“This year, getting a flu shot is one more way to show respect for our fellow person. … You can save other people’s lives by getting a flu shot,” she said.

Plus, Crawford-Faucher noted people can contract covid-19 and influenza at the same time, potentially causing more severe illness.

She said everyone over the age of 6 months should get a flu vaccine, and now is the prime time to be vaccinated.

Face masks

Dr. Joe Suyama, chief of emergency services at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, said masks will be another point of emphasis during the “twindemic.”

“When it comes to a type of mask, the cloth masks that are ubiquitous right now are adequate,” he said, advising that the general public shouldn’t be opting for medical-grade masks.

“I think anything that’s covering your nose and mouth effectively and firmly will help,” Crawford-Faucher added.

Suyama noted face shields can be used in conjunction with a mask — but he doesn’t recommend them as an alternative.

The face shields, Crawford-Faucher said, do cover the eyes. While she said people shouldn’t generally concern themselves with things “splashing into their eyes,” she did note that a face shield could help remind people not to touch their eyes.

“A nice thing about the face shield is it’s an obvious barrier from touching your face,” she said.

Specific eye protection isn’t really necessary outside of medical settings, Suyama said.

Hand hygiene

Experts encouraged good hand hygiene to combat covid-19, flu and other illnesses.

When purchasing hand sanitizer, make sure it has greater than 60% ethanol, Suyama said.

Avoid hand sanitizers with methanol compounds, he warned. Several hand sanitizers were recalled by the FDA over methanol concerns this summer.

Washing your hands with soap and water is still preferable, Crawford-­Faucher said. She said any kind of soap should suffice, but it’s important to wash your hands thoroughly and for at least 20 seconds.

Disinfectants

Crawford-Faucher recommended disinfectants with industry certification to kill viruses. She pointed to Lysol and similar cleaners as top choices.

“I’m a little concerned about some of the natural products that we like to use in non-covid times. They may not have the capacity to disinfect the way the old standards do,” she said.

She recommended disinfecting door handles, sink handles, light switches, cellphones, car keys and keyboards regularly.

For those who live with someone at higher risk for covid-19 or influenza, Suyama said it’s important to clean areas that individual touches more often.

Over-the-counter drugs

It’s best to buy a supply of over-the-counter medications before you get sick, Suyama said. That way, people aren’t making trips to a store once they’re already ill.

He recommended having acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) on hand to combat common covid-19 and flu symptoms.

“Those are the best and most commonly used, and well tolerated,” he said, adding that he recommended Tylenol for children.

Crawford-Faucher encouraged anyone who has questions about what types of over-the-counter medications they can take to ask their doctor about it before they get sick.

Vitamins

“Vitamins and supplements are never a bad thing to take in regards to maintaining your health in any season, be it flu or otherwise,” Suyama said.

While he said it doesn’t hurt to add vitamins and supplements, they’re no replacement for other precautions, like the flu shot.

“There is not wonderful evidence for vitamin supplements,” Crawford-Faucher said. “There is some evidence about zinc and vitamin C.”

Thermometer

Everyone should have a thermometer in their home, Crawford-Faucher said. This is particularly important during telemedicine visits.

“I think the digitial oral thermometers are the most accurate,” she said. “Some of the temporal scan thermometers are not particularly accurate.”

“They’re all valid,” Suyama said of different types of thermometers. He did note some may be more accurate than others, but said “the number one thing is just to have something.”

Pulse oximeter

Crawford-Faucher said patients with lung disease and other underlying issues may want to have a pulse oximeter.

If you’re not monitoring symptoms of a specific condition, it’s probably not necessary to buy one, Suyama said.

Fluids

If people do get sick, hydration is a key part of recovery, Suyama and Crawford-Faucher said.

“I tell people that it doesn’t really matter if you don’t eat much for a few days, but you really need to keep liquids in,” Crawford-Faucher said.

She said any fluids are fine. But for anyone who has been vomiting for several days, she recommended something with electrolytes, like Gatorade.

Flu or covid-19?

Covid-19 and influenza have similar symptoms, Crawford-Faucher said.

Both flu and covid-19 can cause fever, she said, though some patients — particularly young, healthy people — may not display fever for either one.

She said severe body aches have always been “a hallmark of the flu,” but noted that some covid-19 patients also reported body aches. Other coronavirus cases report more fatigue than aches.

Because of the overlapping symptoms with covid-19 and influenza, she said some patients who display symptoms may be tested for both.

Plus, this is the time of year that many people experience colds and allergies.

Colds and allergies don’t cause fevers and body aches, Crawford-Faucher explained. Seasonal allergy sufferers who recognize familiar symptoms are likely experiencing their usual allergies.

“Generally speaking, if someone is telling me they have fairly mild cold symptoms and they don’t have any known covid contacts, that sounds like a cold,” she said.

But she encouraged people to seek medical care for more severe symptoms.

Suyama reiterated that anyone who has symptoms consistent with covid-19 or influenza should stay home from school or work.