Seasonal flu is usually mild, but can cause serious complications in people with underlying illnesses, children, and pregnant women, such as causing pneumonia, respiratory failure, and myocarditis.
Doctor Bach Thi Chinh, Medical Director, VNVC Vaccination System, recommended the above in the context of the Northern weather changing seasons and respiratory diseases spreading quickly. At the same time, the whole country also recorded an increase in the number of flu patients, especially among children, and one death in Binh Dinh. Influenza spreads quickly and has the potential for complications if not treated properly.
Pneumonia
According to the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, there are many strains of influenza virus, classified into three types including A, B and C. Among them, the influenza A strains circulating globally are A/H1N1 and A/ H3N2, alternating or one of the two types predominating depending on geographical location. Influenza B viruses mutate more slowly, have only one type and usually do not cause large outbreaks. Influenza C virus causes disease with atypical clinical symptoms and small local outbreaks.
Influenza and pneumonia are “couples” closely related to each other. Influenza infection causes damage to the respiratory mucosa, making it favorable for other pathogens to enter and cause pneumonia. For example, if a patient is newly infected with influenza and pneumococcal viruses, the risk of death will increase 8 times.
According to the US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), from 2010 to 2020, each year the world will have about 9-45 million flu cases, and about 61,000 deaths due to pneumonia complications.
Sepsis
Sepsis occurs when the immune system overreacts to an infection, leading to a reverse attack on the whole body, causing damage to organs. This complication is not common, but progresses quickly and severely, threatening the patient’s life.
In people with underlying diseases such as asthma, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, influenza can lead to more severe exacerbations. For example, flu can cause asthma attacks or worsen heart disease.
Respiratory failure
Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a serious complication of influenza infection. The virus damages the endothelial barrier, leaking fluid into the alveoli and causing respiratory failure. This prolonged condition causes difficulty breathing, wheezing, increased risk of hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, and high risk of death. In September, Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases received a 4-year-old boy critically ill with influenza A/H1N1 due to pneumonia and progressive acute respiratory failure, requiring active respiratory support.
Myocarditis
Myocarditis is rarer but has a high mortality rate. According to information from the scientific magazine Science Direct, the rate of myocarditis due to seasonal flu is about 1-11%, of which A/H1N1 accounts for about 13%. The rate of myocarditis flare-ups due to seasonal flu accounts for about 10% of myocarditis cases.
Otitis media in children
In infants and young children, the ear structure is not yet complete. The eustachian tube is shorter and has a horizontal structure, making it easier for bacteria and viruses to enter the middle ear. These tubes are also narrower, making them more likely to become clogged. When the flu virus causes inflammation of the nasal tissue, it also tends to move into the middle ear through the eustachian tube, causing otitis media in children.
How to prevent disease
According to Dr. Chinh, flu is easily spread through the air when sick people cough, sneeze, laugh or talk. This virus also exists for 24-48 hours on surfaces of utensils, drinking glasses, toothbrushes…
To prevent flu, people need to avoid contact with infected and suspected people by measures such as: regularly washing hands with soap, avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth; Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing and regularly practice personal hygiene and clean your home, classroom, school, and office.
In addition, some special strains of influenza originate from poultry and animals. Therefore, infected or unknown cattle and poultry should be destroyed, not slaughtered, traded, or transported. If the animal gets sick or dies, people need to immediately report it to local authorities. People need to eat cooked food, drink boiled water, eat enough nutrients, and exercise regularly to help the body increase resistance.
Currently, Vietnam has vaccines to prevent four strains of influenza including A/H3N2, A/H1N1, B/Yamagata, B/Victoria for children from 6 months old and adults. People should be vaccinated regularly every year to increase immunity.
Children from 6 months to under 9 years old should receive two injections at least 4 weeks apart. Children 9 years of age and older and adults get one injection and repeat every year.