COPD Patients and the Immunocompromised Should Take Care to Prevent Colds Recently

The influenza currently spreading across the country is particularly harsh on patients with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and those with weakened immunity, so everyone should take precautions. The pathogens in this wave are complex: although influenza A virus is dominant in the population, many patients are also infected with human metapneumovirus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and some are co-infected with several pathogens, which makes the later symptoms more severe and treatment quite difficult.

Based on the feedback I have received from patients, this wave starts with mild symptoms that easily lull people into underestimating its severity. Some patients initially feel only dizzy; others first present with nighttime dry mouth, sore throat, and night sweats. Because there is no obvious fever, aversion to cold, cough, or nasal discharge, most people easily overlook the onset and do not realize they have been infected.

After infection there is usually an incubation period of about a week. If patients begin timely antiviral or antibacterial treatment as soon as mild symptoms appear, while also getting ample rest, they can usually avoid progressing to a severe cold. But most patients ignore the mild onset, and by the time fatigue and generalized aching and pain appear, they have already entered the severe-cold stage. Some patients soon develop fever, but those with extremely weakened immunity often do not fever. Once chest tightness, breathlessness, and profuse sputum appear, a series of respiratory distress syndromes follow, and at that point severe cases require hospitalization.

I myself have caught it. Because I am preparing for an exam, I have not been able to rest as fully as I used to. I neglected the early mild stage, and about a week after infection I progressed to the severe-cold state. Thereafter fever, cough, profuse sputum, chest tightness, and fatigue appeared one after another, and I stayed in the severe-cold state for about two weeks. Later the cold symptoms basically cleared, but it triggered my COPD, and I have not fully recovered even now. With the exam imminent, I can only push on and review while ill.

From my observation during this period, in the early stage the progression can be controlled through rest and antiviral medication. But if that is neglected and later symptoms such as dry mouth, fever, sore throat, and breathing difficulty appear, Lianhua Qingwen Capsule, Jinlian Granule, and Ganmao Qingre Granule have some effect. Do not use acrid-warm exterior-releasing medicines just because the illness occurs in winter. In most patients in this wave, several days after infection the pattern transforms from wind-cold to wind-heat, and treatment should use acrid-cool exterior-releasing and heat-clearing, toxin-resolving medicines. Once fever and body pain have resolved, if chronic symptoms such as easy fatigue, cough, and breathing difficulty remain, the Yiqi Huayu Pill (Yiqi Baofei Pill) that I published during the COVID period works well.

The formula is as follows: Sheng Huangqi (raw Astragalus) 15 g, Xiyangshen (American ginseng) 3 g, Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) 6 g, Tiandong (Asparagi Radix) 6 g, Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus) 6 g, Dilong (Pheretima) 3 g, Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) 2 g, Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 3 g. For severe cough add Jinqiaomai (Fagopyri Cymosi Rhizoma) 15 g, Ziwan (Asteris Radix) 6 g, Kuandonghua (Farfarae Flos) 6 g; for wheezing add Zhi Mahuang (honey-fried Ephedra) 6-10 g, Xingren (Armeniacae Semen) 3-6 g; for dry mouth and throat add Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) 6 g, Sheng Shigao (gypsum) 15 g, Lugen (Phragmitis Rhizoma) 15 g, Tianhuafen (Trichosanthis Radix) 6 g.

According to patient feedback, in the later stage nighttime sweating, dry mouth, difficult-to-expectorate sputum, and breathing difficulty are common; such patients may be relieved with the Chinese patent medicines Ganmao Qingre Granule, Lianhua Qingwen Capsule, and Jinqiaomai Granule.

This wave of colds is prone to repeated infection; having had it once does not prevent a second infection. COPD patients in poor condition must protect themselves, avoid crowded places, and wear N95 masks when going out. This wave is expected to subside only after the 2025 Lantern Festival, so during this period COPD patients and patients with advanced tumors should protect themselves, because once infected, subsequent treatment is genuinely difficult and severe cases can be life-threatening.

I have been very busy recently and have no time or energy to handle questions about colds and COPD; all the answers to such questions are covered in this article. Readers with severe symptoms should seek nearby medical care rather than consulting me.