From subway cars to office cubicles, New Yorkers are hoarse and hacking this fall \u2014 sidelined by stubborn symptoms that just won\u2019t quit.<\/p>\n
While official data<\/a> indicates that overall respiratory illness activity remains low across the city, experts say the effects of a late-summer surge caused by one particular virus are still being felt.<\/p>\n \u201c[It] may explain the ongoing upper respiratory symptoms,\u201d Dr. Andrew Handel<\/a>, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at Stony Brook Children\u2019s Hospital, told The Post.<\/p>\n Most people recover from a viral cough within 10 to 14 days, but for some, symptoms can linger much longer. Tetiana \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Enter Stratus: a fast-spreading COVID-19 strain known for causing a persistent, dry cough.<\/p>\n Officially dubbed XFG, Stratus surged past its predecessor \u201cNimbus\u201d (NB.1.8.1) in September to become the dominant variant in the US<\/a>, fueling a wave of infections nationwide<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cCOVID-19 wastewater viral activity levels are currently high, indicating ongoing community transmission,\u201d Dr. Syra Madad<\/a>, chief biopreparedness officer for NYC\u2019s public hospitals, told The Post.\u00a0<\/p>\n There is a glimmer of good news.<\/p>\n \u201cCOVID-19 hospitalizations, while still elevated, have been declining since a peak in late September, and test positivity rates are also decreasing statewide,\u201d said Madad, who also serves as an infectious disease epidemiologist at Harvard\u2019s Belfer Center.<\/p>\n Stratus is the COVID-19 variant driving the most infections in the US right now. Production Perig \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Still, studies show<\/a> that even mild Covid cases can cause lingering symptoms that outlast the average flu or cold \u2014 meaning many New Yorkers infected during the Stratus surge may still be struggling weeks later.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no evidence Stratus causes more severe illness than previous variants, especially if you\u2019re vaccinated<\/a>. But its stealthy mutations help it dodge immunity from past infections and vaccines, making it more transmissible.<\/p>\n Among its calling cards: a gravelly, hoarse voice, a \u201crazor blade\u201d sore throat and a relentless cough that many mistake for seasonal allergies<\/a>.<\/p>\n Though, as Handel noted, \u201cpollen levels are not particularly high, making allergies a less likely cause of those same symptoms this time of year.\u201d<\/p>\n And Covid isn\u2019t the only bug on the block.<\/p>\n \u201cOctober often marks the start of \u2018respiratory season,\u2019 \u201d Handel said, when viruses like influenza<\/a>, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and others begin to circulate.<\/p>\n \u201cAt Stony Brook University Hospital, we\u2019re seeing many patients with rhinovirus\/enterovirus,\u201d he said, noting that these similar respiratory viruses cannot be distinguished by routine testing.\u00a0<\/p>\n For some, respiratory virus symptoms stick around long after they\u2019re no longer contagious. Pixel-Shot \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n \u201cRhinovirus is the most common cause of cold symptoms and may well explain recent runny noses, congestion and coughing,\u201d Handel said. <\/p>\n How long can this cough chaos last?<\/p>\n Studies show<\/a> that most viral coughs in healthy adults clear up within 10 to 14 days \u2014 but for 1 in 4 people, the hacking hangs on for weeks or even months, according to UCLA Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are two main culprits: postnasal drip, when mucus drains down the throat and triggers irritation, and viral inflammation that leaves airways raw and hypersensitive.<\/p>\n \u201cHacking coughs that last for weeks are frustrating for patients, impacting sleep and general wellness,\u201d Dr. Benjamin Abella<\/a>, chair of emergency medicine at Mount Sinai Health System in New York, told The Post.<\/p>\n Over-the-counter cough medicines can help, along with running a humidifier at night, he said.<\/p>\n And don\u2019t underestimate the basics. <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no surefire way to stop the symptoms, but rest and exercise go a long way,\u201d added Handel. \u201cPatients who get outside and go for walks tend to improve more quickly<\/a> than those who are sedentary.\u201d<\/p>\n