Increasing Severe Flu Cases
On February 7, Associate Professor Dr. Do Duy Cuong, Director of the Tropical Disease Center at Bach Mai Hospital, stated that during periods of continuous cold weather, rain, and monsoon winds, flu cases have been on the rise.
Currently, the center is treating many patients with severe flu symptoms, primarily older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, and some pregnant women.
Dr. Cuong noted that seasonal flu typically occurs during colder weather, especially during the transition from autumn to winter. Since the beginning of 2024, the center has treated thousands of seasonal flu cases, including several severe cases requiring mechanical ventilation.
One such case was Mr. T.V.L., aged 78, from Tu Liem, Hanoi, who was transferred to the Tropical Disease Center from a nearby hospital. The patient was admitted with high fever and increasing difficulty breathing. With a history of hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease, he tested positive for Influenza A. Due to respiratory failure, doctors had to intubate him and place him on a ventilator for intensive treatment.
A flu patient on a ventilator receiving treatment at the Tropical Disease Center (Photo: Thuy Duong).
According to Dr. Cuong, seasonal flu is usually caused by influenza viruses A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B, transmitted directly from person to person through respiratory droplets.
The world has experienced numerous flu pandemics, with millions of people infected and hundreds of thousands dying each year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), seasonal flu causes 290,000 to 650,000 deaths annually.
In addition, avian influenza A/H5N1 has a very high fatality rate but is less transmissible between humans.
Dr. Cuong explained that hospitalizations due to severe flu complications often involve patients with underlying conditions like cardiovascular, respiratory, or endocrine diseases, as well as those on immunosuppressive medications.
A flu patient with pneumonia complications requiring hospitalization (Photo: Thuy Duong).
“In these patients, the flu virus attacks the respiratory system aggressively, causing complications such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, myocarditis, severe respiratory failure, and multi-organ failure, which may require mechanical ventilation, dialysis, and carry a high risk of death,” Dr. Cuong said.
Warning Signs of the Flu
Dr. Duong Quoc Bao, Deputy Head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Dong Da General Hospital, stated that cold and humid weather weakens the body’s immune system and allows the flu virus to survive longer in the environment, leading to higher infection risks. Current weather conditions in Hanoi are favorable for the spread of seasonal flu.
Some warning signs of seasonal flu (Photo: Hospital provided).
Dr. Bao noted that unlike common colds, seasonal flu starts abruptly with symptoms such as:
- High fever (38-40°C), chills.
- Headache, body aches.
- Dry cough, sore throat, runny nose.
- Persistent fatigue, possibly accompanied by nausea (in children), abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Regarding this, Dr. Cuong emphasized the need to distinguish between cold and flu symptoms.
Cold symptoms are generally mild and resolve within a few days, while flu symptoms include respiratory issues like coughing, fever, nasal congestion, sneezing, and difficulty breathing, and can lead to dangerous complications requiring medical intervention.
How to Prevent the Flu?
While most flu cases are mild, they can progress to pneumonia, respiratory failure, and even death, particularly in high-risk groups with pre-existing conditions or weakened immunity, including young and healthy individuals.
Doctors recommend annual flu vaccinations, especially for high-risk groups. Additionally, frequent handwashing, wearing masks in crowded areas, maintaining a balanced diet, staying warm, and getting enough sleep can help boost immunity.
According to Dr. Cuong, seasonal flu vaccines help the immune system defend against the virus during outbreaks and reduce the severity of illness if contracted. It is important to get vaccinated annually rather than once for long-term protection.
Source link: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/dau-hieu-canh-bao-mac-cum-20250207160218886.htm
