Just before the Lunar New Year, Mrs. Hoa, 78 years old (name changed for privacy), began experiencing symptoms of coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. After five days of self-treatment at home with no improvement, she was admitted to the hospital by her family.
“My mother’s symptoms worsened daily. She would cough all day and night, and lying down made it harder to breathe, so we decided to take her to the hospital,” shared Mrs. Hoa’s son.
Over a period of more than two weeks, Mrs. Hoa was transferred between three hospitals. Test results showed that she tested positive for the influenza A virus. On February 4th, she was admitted to the Tropical Disease Department at Hanoi Friendship Hospital in critical condition with widespread bilateral pneumonia and fungal pneumonia on top of interstitial pneumonia.
“This is the most severe case of influenza A we’ve seen recently. The patient’s lungs were damaged by about 50%. The X-ray clearly shows extensive areas of lung damage appearing as white patches,” said Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuy, Deputy Head of the Tropical Disease Department.
Mrs. Hoa was prescribed intensive antibiotic treatment, oxygen support, respiratory care, a suitable nutritional regimen, and close monitoring. Within two days, she showed significant improvement. Her fever subsided, her breathing difficulties reduced, and her cough improved, allowing her to occasionally breathe independently without full oxygen support.
“Despite these positive signs, the patient’s severe lung damage means we need to closely monitor her condition,” Dr. Thuy shared.
Recently, many hospitals across the country have reported a significant increase in cases of influenza A. Similarly, Hanoi Friendship Hospital has seen nearly daily admissions since early February.
According to Dr. Thuy, the number of influenza A cases seeking treatment at the hospital has sharply increased over the past three months. Experts attribute this rise to favorable winter-spring weather conditions that facilitate viral spread.
In addition to influenza A, other respiratory illnesses have also been on the rise recently, according to Dr. Thuy.
On the fourth day of her illness, Ms. Tran, 77 years old (name changed for privacy), despite having reduced her fever, continued to cough and experience throat pain. Two days before being hospitalized, she had a high fever, sneezed, runny nose, and body aches.
Doctors diagnosed Ms. Tran with influenza A on top of hypertension and treated her with antiviral medication. Additionally, she had a secondary bacterial infection in her throat, which required antibiotic treatment.
Many in-patient cases at the department exhibited complications from influenza A, primarily affecting elderly patients with underlying health conditions.
“Influenza A can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, myocarditis, neurological damage, and multiple organ failure. High-risk groups include the elderly, children, pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, and those with pre-existing conditions. Influenza can exacerbate underlying respiratory conditions like COPD and asthma,” explained Dr. Thuy.
Notably, most severe cases of influenza A observed in the department were due to patients delaying medical attention until their symptoms became critical, missing the golden window for effective treatment.
“Early detection and treatment of influenza A are crucial to prevent dangerous complications,” emphasized Dr. Thuy.
The department also treated an 80-year-old man who, just two days into his illness, developed breathing difficulties and lung damage. Fortunately, early admission led to rapid recovery.
Given the complex nature of the ongoing pandemic, Dr. Thuy advises the public to focus on preventive measures such as getting vaccinated, maintaining personal hygiene, avoiding crowded places, minimizing contact with infected individuals, and wearing masks.
Anyone experiencing symptoms should promptly seek medical attention for timely diagnosis and treatment, especially high-risk groups.
Photo Credit: Manh Quan
Source link: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/benh-nhan-phoi-trang-mat-tet-vi-cum-a-20250206172530495.htm
