LIFESTYLE NEWS - We are currently in the influenza season and a lot of patients in George are diagnosed with influenza A infection.
These epidemics result in three to five million cases of severe illness and up to 500 000 deaths worldwide every year.
Influenza presents with fever, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhoea or vomiting. A common cold usually only presents with a runny nose, dry cough and sore throat, but no fever or muscle aches. Severe influenza can present with respiratory symptoms like shortness of breath and coughing. Many people develop pneumonia due to influenza and need hospital or ICU admission.
There are three types of seasonal influenza (flu) viruses: A, B and C. Influenza A causes the most severe symptoms, and is further categorised into sub types.
The influenza virus has the ability to change every year. There are always several different strains circulating at the same time. One of the currently circulating strains is called influenza A(H1N1)pdm09.
This is the strain that caused the 2009 pandemic, also called 'swine flu'. Currently, this strain behaves like any seasonal influenza strain and there is no need for additional precautions and is included in this year's vaccine.
A new vaccine is manufactured every year to make sure the most common circulating strains are included in the vaccine.
Immunity takes two weeks to develop after vaccination and lasts for 12 months. The influenza vaccine should be administered to:
1. Pregnant women, irrespective of the stage of pregnancy and up to two weeks after delivery
2. Persons with chronic medical conditions
3. Healthcare workers
4. Residents of old age homes and chronic care and rehabilitation institutions
5. Persons older than 65
6. Persons aged six months to 18 years on long-term aspirin therapy
7. Children six months to five years of age
8. Adults and children who are family contacts of high risk patients
9. Any person wishing to minimise the risk of influenza, especially in industrial settings, where large-scale
absenteeism could cause significant economic losses
Antiviral therapy is recommended as early as possible for any patient with suspected influenza who has severe illness or is at higher risk of complications.
These patients include infants, young children, pregnant women, patients older than 65 years and any person with a chronic medical condition. Available antiviral therapy includes oral oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or inhaled zanamivir (Relenza).
Laboratory testing can confirm the diagnosis. Molecular diagnostics (PCR) is currently the method of choice for detection of the influenza virus.
PathCare offers these diagnostic tests and these can be performed on a swab that a medical practitioner takes from the patient's nose and throat.
- Stay home and limit contact with others
- Wash their hands frequently with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizer, particularly after coughing or sneezing
- Ensure they practise respiratory etiquette (cough/sneeze into their sleeve or into a tissue, discard the tissue and then wash their hands or use hand sanitizer).
Article supplied by PathCare
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