"Sweeping" the north and south! Outpatient and emergency cases accounted for 10.8%! This medicine is useful but don't take it randomly →

On the 12th, the "National Acute Respiratory Infectious Diseases Sentinel Monitoring Situation (Week 49, 2024)" released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed that from December 2nd to 8th, acute respiratory infectious diseases showed a continuous upward trend ; among them, the influenza virus positivity rate has shown a clear upward trend in recent days, and influenza virus outpatient influenza-like cases accounted for 10.8% , far exceeding other pathogens.

Whether in southern or northern provinces, influenza virus has become the leading pathogen in outpatient influenza-like cases.

On the 13th, Wang Bo, director of the infectious department of Beijing Fengtai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, said that the number of influenza patients has increased since the 7th and 8th, accounting for about 10% of all respiratory infectious diseases. Among the influenza patients who come to the hospital for treatment, young and middle-aged people account for a large proportion , and there are no severe cases yet.

What are the symptoms of influenza? Is there any specific medicine? How to prevent it? Who should get the flu vaccine? Let's take a look ↓↓↓

01. What is influenza?

Influenza, abbreviated as "flu", is divided into four types: A, B, C, and D. It is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus , which is highly contagious and spreads rapidly .

Influenza viruses are mainly transmitted through droplets , and secondly through direct or indirect contact with the oral and nasal mucosa. For example, if your hands touch objects contaminated with the virus and then touch your mouth or nose, infection may occur.

02. What is the difference between influenza and the common cold?

Mild influenza often presents similarly to the common cold, but with more obvious fever and systemic symptoms .

The common cold is mainly characterized by sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, and coughing, while influenza has more severe systemic symptoms . It has the following three obvious characteristics:

Obvious high fever (38.9-40℃), with body temperature rising rapidly in a short period of time;

Obvious pain (mainly headache, sore throat, muscle aches);

Fatigue and weakness are obvious .

Most people experience mild symptoms after getting sick, and usually recover on their own in about a week. However, influenza can also cause severe illness or even death in some people, especially those in high-risk groups .

03. Is there any specific medicine to treat influenza?

First of all, it should be noted that not everyone who has influenza must take antiviral drugs . It is recommended to use them early when the risk of severe illness is high and the symptoms are severe. Most influenza antiviral drugs are prescription drugs and need to be evaluated by a doctor before use.

At present, the influenza antiviral drugs available in China mainly include oseltamivir (including granules and capsules), zanamivir, peramivir, arbidol and mabaloxavir, etc. Please note that antiviral drugs cannot replace the influenza vaccine used for annual vaccination .

■ Under what circumstances should oseltamivir be taken?

Oseltamivir is only effective against influenza viruses and is ineffective against other viruses. Whether adults or children, they must be evaluated by a doctor before taking it .

For children, oseltamivir is only needed when they have typical symptoms such as high fever and muscle aches, combined with a positive influenza virus test . If influenza virus testing (nucleic acid or antigen) is not possible, it is necessary to evaluate the special epidemiological history to decide whether to use this drug for treatment.

Oseltamivir has certain side effects , the most common of which are gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain . If patients experience problems after taking the drug, they need to go to the hospital for evaluation and adjust the medication if necessary.

■ I have the flu and I keep coughing. Should I take cough suppressants?

After getting the flu, many people, especially children, will have persistent coughing symptoms, and some people will rush to take cough suppressants. But before taking the medicine, you need to find out why you are coughing ?

Usually, people are prone to post-infection cough after being infected with respiratory viruses, bacteria, and mycoplasma, which can last for 3-8 weeks .

This is because after the airway epithelial cells are attacked by respiratory viruses , the mucosa is damaged and the barrier function is impaired, which in turn induces airway inflammation , leading to increased airway mucus secretion and sensitivity , which aggravates the cough.

Generally speaking, mild coughs do not require drug intervention . Coughs after infection are often manifested as irritating dry coughs or coughing up a small amount of white mucus sputum. They are self-limiting and usually resolve on their own.

If the cough is frequent and affects daily life , you can take relevant medication under the guidance of a doctor. Some patients have stubborn coughs and even develop chronic coughs. If the cough lasts for more than 8 weeks , it is recommended to go to the hospital to rule out common causes of chronic coughs.

04. How to prevent influenza correctly?

Vaccination

Flu vaccination is an effective way to prevent influenza and reduce influenza-related severe illness and death. So, who needs to get the flu vaccine?

The "Technical Guidelines for Influenza Vaccination in China (2023-2024)" recommends that all people aged ≥6 months who have no contraindications to vaccination should be vaccinated against influenza. In addition to the "old" (elderly people aged 60 and above) and the "young" (children aged 6-59 months), the following groups are also recommended for timely vaccination: - Medical workers: such as clinical staff, public health personnel, health quarantine personnel, etc.;

Chronic disease population: people suffering from one or more chronic diseases;

Vulnerable people and employees in places where people gather, such as nursing homes, childcare institutions, and welfare homes;

Primary and secondary school teachers and students;

Pregnant women;

Family members and caregivers of infants under 6 months of age.

Individuals who meet the vaccination requirements can choose a vaccination site near their place of residence to make an appointment for vaccination. They can also pay attention to the messages released by the mini-programs, official accounts, etc. of the local community health service center or hospital , and make an appointment for vaccination through the online platform.

■ Take good personal protection

Wash your hands frequently

Wash your hands frequently and properly. Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with dirty hands .

Cover your mouth and nose

When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow. Used tissues should be thrown into the trash can in time and wash your hands in time.

Less gathering

During the influenza epidemic season, high-risk groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and patients with chronic underlying diseases should avoid going to crowded places and confined spaces as much as possible, and should wear masks if they must go.

Frequent ventilation

Open windows for ventilation at least 3 times a day, for at least half an hour each time, to keep the indoor air fresh.

Enhances immunity

Improve your physical fitness and dietary balance. Maintain a healthy diet and daily life, actively exercise, and improve your body's immunity.

Kind tips

Influenza vaccination is the most effective preventive measure. If you have a high fever of 39°C or above for three consecutive days, or symptoms such as shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Source: CCTV News WeChat Official Account (ID: cctvnewscenter) Comprehensive National Emergency Broadcasting, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen Health Commission

Image: Qianku.com, Guangdong CDC, etc.