PETALING JAYA: Preventive measures such as physical distancing, wearing face masks and hand hygiene are not only preventing the spread of Covid-19, but have helped to reduce cases of the common cold and other communicable diseases, say health experts.

       Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia president Dr Raj Kumar Maharajah said colds, coughs and other communicable diseases have decreased during the pandemic due to less contact between people.

       "Schools are closed and people are not physically meeting as much as before to spread infection. This is further augmented by the fact that we are using masks and sanitising our hands frequently," he said.

       Dr Raj pointed out that communicable diseases need contact to spread.

       "Paediatric medicines are not moving in general practitioner (GP) clinics because children are not getting infections due to schools being closed," he said.

       Dr Raj, however, said that non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, stroke and heart attacks will increase because people have no money, food and are experiencing more stress.

       "These patients may also be putting off routine check-ups or hospital visits – especially those who depend on relatives or caregivers to go to hospitals.

       "With so many guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs), caregivers may find it difficult to take the elderly for their check-ups," he said, adding that this could lead to elderly abuse, neglect and non-compliance to seeking treatment.

       He said that some caregivers and relatives may just give up or avoid wanting to go through all the trouble and decide to default on treatment.

       Universiti Putra Malaysia's consultant clinical microbiologist Prof Dr Zamberi Sekawi said practicing SOPs and restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic has also helped reduce respiratory infections.

       "The reason is primarily due to less human-to-human interaction – and to some extent, less travel, especially international travel in the case of flu," he said.

       Human resource manager Masrah Marsinda said she noticed that her two children – one aged seven and three – have not come down with a fever over the past year.

       "The last time I had to take my son to a clinic was when he had itching due to an insect bite. His sister also sought treatment due to an allergy – and not the common cold," she said.

       The 33-year-old said her kids had been staying at home most of the time due to the movement control order.

       "Only my son had to go to school earlier this year but thankfully he did not catch any infection at school," she said.

       A data analyst who only wanted to be known as Michelle also agreed that her family were physically healthier when they spent most of their time at home.

       "Earlier this year, I would send my daughter to preschool and every time she did, she would get a flu or cough.

       "The preschool did not make face masks compulsory as the kids are below seven years old, so this could be the reason my daughter kept getting sick," said the 30-year-old.

       Michelle said she would usually keep her daughter home when she has cold-like symptoms as she wanted to prevent the bug from spreading to other children.

       "I usually keep her at home until she fully recovers, which takes about a week. Unfortunately, every time she goes back to school, the cough and flu will come back," she said.

       Michelle said throughout the lockdown period in June, her daughter did not develop any fever or fall sick.

       "I think the limited contact with other people really helps to prevent us from getting fever or viral infections – even ones which are not related to Covid-19," she said.