Family physician Dr Adrian Lorde is urging Barbadians to take respiratory symptoms seriously as cases climb sharply, warning that shortness of breath and worsening illness could signal dangerous complications.
He said yesterday that while respiratory illnesses were typical at this time of year, the current spike was far more pronounced than in previous seasons.
“Some people have shortness of breath and if that is so, that is cause for concern. They’re either asthmatic or have complications,” Lorde said.
His warning comes amid an alert issued earlier last week by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, which reported a notable increase in respiratory illnesses, particularly among adults. According to the ministry, infections over the past four weeks ranged between 14 and 24 cases, rising sharply to as many as 39 in the week ending December 12, 2025. Some patients have required hospitalisation and two acute deaths were recorded up to that date, one involving a known asthmatic.
Health officials identified the main causes as Influenza A (H3N2 or H1N1), Influenza B, and the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), with a few cases of COVID-19 and the common cold also detected.
Lorde attributed the surge to a combination of factors, including cooler weather, increased social activity and heightened travel.
He pointed to “the cooling weather, an increase in social gatherings as well as the influx of visitors from North America and the United Kingdom where there has been an outbreak of the flu virus”.
Among the most common symptoms he has observed are fever, cough, sore throat and headaches, with some patients also experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea.
To reduce transmission, Lorde advised those showing symptoms to stay at home, avoid close contact with others, wear a mask and maintain social distancing, alongside regular and thorough handwashing.
In terms of treatment, he emphasised rest and basic supportive care.
“A cough syrup or a decongestant is also important. Also because they have fevers, they become dehydrated, so they need to take lots of fluids, so that’s water, juices, coconut water, that type of thing. If it is worse after 24 to 48 hours, they should seek medical attention. In severe cases, antiviral medication is available as well but I have not had to prescribe that,” he said.
Lorde recommended antipyretic medications such as Paracetamol, Tylenol and Panadol, but cautioned against the use of ibuprofen.
“I don’t recommend the Ibuprofen because if they’re not eating well, those could affect the stomach in persons and if they were drinking alcohol or something, it might be already inflamed,” he added.
Greater risks
Lorde further cautioned that people living with hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or those on immunosuppressant therapy should be particularly vigilant, as respiratory infections might pose greater risks for them.
Addressing concerns about the spread of the H3N2 Subclade K flu strain, Lorde encouraged vaccination, noting that flu and COVID-19 vaccines were available free of charge at polyclinics.
“Vaccines still help to prevent any serious illness. I went two months ago and got my vaccine, both the COVID and the flu vaccine. It’s just a matter of protecting yourself and protecting others. Going to work sick will not only affect your recovery, but also can pass [the infection to] other people at work,” he counselled.
President of the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners, Lynda Williams, appealed to the public to protect themselves and others, encouraging good hygiene practices like using hand sanitiser and wiping down services, especially if food is being served.
She also implored those affected to stay indoors if they are sick, wear masks and employ cough and sneezing etiquette by covering their nose and mouth.
“It’s important to remember that the key thing here is that we don’t want the health care system to be completely overwhelmed and that happens when a lot of the vulnerable persons in society – those who have co-morbidities; those who are elderly; and even children whose immune systems are not fully developed – become very ill on account of having these viruses.
“Most of us will get any of these illnesses and shake it off but not all of us. For those who cannot protect themselves and who become very ill, hospitalisation or seeking tertiary care becomes inevitable. When you have a lot of people seeking tertiary care, it means that everyone’s progress in the emergency department is delayed if there are an overwhelming number of respiratory illnesses,” she added.
Meanwhile, president of the Barbados Pharmaceutical Society, Marlon Ward-Rogers, said supportive care and immuneboosting supplements might also assist recovery. He underscored the importance of professional guidance.
“If anything, they should contact their doctor or they [can] come to the pharmacy and speak with a pharmacist, who would best direct them [on] other than that just normal vitamins. It varies from case to case, but obviously vitamin C, for sure, and anything that will help boost the immune system,” he said. (JRN)
The post Docs: Take symptoms seriously appeared first on nationnews.com.
