As the end of February draws near, students and staff of Grand Ledge High School have made it through the worst months of the sick season. However, not everyone managed to come out unscathed. This sick season included not only the Flu, but also, Norovirus, Laryngitis, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the Common Cold, Bronchitis, and Pneumonia.
During December Pneumonia cases took a rise within Grand Ledge High School (GLHS) and many students were left sick. However this was not all just standard Pneumonia, but a different type called Walking Pneumonia. This is also known as Atypical Pneumonia, it is a milder form of Pneumonia that lasts longer and could take up to 6 weeks to fully recover from.
Unfortunately, even after recovering from Pneumonia, there are lasting effects from it. GLHS teacher Lauren Read speaks about her experience with Pneumonia.
“I’ve never had Pneumonia before so I didn’t realize how tired it made you, like how breathing is just impossible and how you get winded going up and down the stairs.”
With Pneumonia around there also is Bronchitis. Similar to Pneumonia, Bronchitis affects the lungs but only the bronchial tubes, whereas Pneumonia affects your lungs as a whole. When left untreated, Bronchitis can turn into Pneumonia.
Illnesses that affect your lungs can impact daily life in ways you would never think of, affecting you mentally and physically making it harder to do tasks, especially when you are working. “This definitely impacted my teaching, sometimes I was just so tired to even talk during class because it required so much effort. On top of that, I couldn’t do as much physically because I couldn’t breathe as well,” dance and music teacher Tracy Clark said.
Clark then goes on by stating, “I couldn’t get a full sentence out without stopping to cough, just mentally it gets annoying being sick for so long.”
Clark has had Bronchitis since the last week of November while teaching dance, her 2nd trimester.
Though during the winter time sicknesses that affect the respiratory system are the most common, there is one that isn’t called Norovirus. Norovirus is also known as the stomach bug, causing stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea and more. Luckily, Norovirus usually lasts no more than a week. However, even without being a respiratory illness, Norovirus hits hard to those it affects.
“I was sick for 3-4 days, starting during New Year’s Eve. It was so bad, I couldn’t bring myself to eat or drink without throwing up,” Junior Stella Dayrell said.
Even though the winter season is close to being over, it is still very easy to get sick. Making sure to wash your hands can greatly lower the chances of getting sick.
