How to distinguish "double positive" from influenza A? Can they be infected at the same time? Experts explain →

At the press conference of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council on April 26, He Qinghua, a first-level inspector of the Department of Communication and Prevention of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, introduced that the overall situation of COVID-19 prevention and control in the country has been stable recently, with local sporadic cases in various places and a slight increase in the epidemic in some areas . Recently, more people have claimed to be "double positive" online.

The May Day holiday is coming soon

Will it accelerate the trend of “secondary infection” of the new coronavirus?

How to distinguish between influenza A, COVID-19 and the common cold?

Is there a possibility of "double infection"?

…

Focusing on hot issues of public concern

Many experts responded

Let’s take a look

The clinical manifestations of influenza A are more severe

There is a possibility of "double infection"

Zhan Shaofeng, chief physician of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, said that the early symptoms of the common cold, influenza, and new coronavirus are not much different, and include fever, sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, poor appetite, general fatigue, muscle aches, etc., which are mainly distinguished by nucleic acid or antigen testing.

From the cases I have come into contact with this time, some patients with influenza A will have digestive symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, and the overall clinical symptoms will be more severe . Some patients infected with **new coronavirus have milder clinical symptoms, and some children have conjunctivitis symptoms. But no matter which disease it is, clinically, symptomatic treatment is basically adopted. **

During this period, influenza A and the new crown have occasionally appeared.

Can someone be infected with both viruses at the same time?

Several clinical experts said that this situation has not been found yet. Li Shuhua, director of the Department of Pediatrics and Fever Clinic at the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, also said that "H1N1 and COVID-19 do not like each other" and no children have been found to be infected with both H1N1 and COVID-19 during this period. Chen Jianfeng, deputy chief physician of the Department of Pediatrics at the Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, also said that there are occasional COVID-19 infected people in the outpatient clinic, and "double infection" has not been found yet.

Previously, Kang Min, director of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Institute of Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, introduced in a live broadcast on influenza A science that both influenza virus and new coronavirus are respiratory infection viruses, and theoretically there is the possibility of superimposed infection.

Peng Jie, deputy director of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Liver Disease Center and director of the Center for Difficult Infectious Diseases of Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, said that recently a male patient was treated and the results of influenza A and COVID-19 antigen tests were both positive. "The patient had other diseases and low immunity. Compared with other people, his symptoms were slightly more severe, accompanied by fever and pain throughout the body." Peng Jie further reminded everyone that although the probability of "double infection" is low, it is possible, so we must take good protection.

The symptoms of "two positive" are milder

Large-scale infection is not expected

Zhan Shaofeng introduced that there are not many new crown patients in Guangzhou outpatient clinics at present. Some are "double positive" and some are infected for the first time. They are mainly young people, but also the elderly. Common manifestations are the same as before, including fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. " Generally speaking, the symptoms of secondary infection will be milder than those of the first infection. " Li Zengqing, chief physician of the Pediatric Respiratory Department of Guangdong Provincial Women and Children's Health Care Hospital, called on parents not to be overly nervous. During the new crown epidemic in December 2022, most of the children seen in the clinic were mainly mild symptoms, manifested by fever, cough and other symptoms.

Many people are worried about whether the secondary infection will trigger a large-scale outbreak. Peng Jie said that since many people have established immune barriers, the speed and scale of the new round of epidemic spread will not be as "fast" and "large" as before.

Don’t panic if you have two yangs

Small exposure to the virus can stimulate immunity

How should you respond when you find yourself or your child infected for the second time? Zhan Shaofeng suggested that for people with normal immune function, first of all, don't panic. If the antigen test is positive, it proves that it is still highly contagious. At this time, it is recommended to rest at home and avoid going to crowded places. At the same time, you should wear a mask in a closed environment to reduce the risk of transmission.

Although a secondary infection will not cause much harm to most young people, for the elderly and people with vulnerable immune systems, each infection may develop into a severe case.

Zhan Shaofeng suggested that people should maintain proper social distance in their living and working environments, and try to reduce contact with the elderly and children at home , such as eating separately and doing daily disinfection, to reduce their risk of contracting the virus. "Reducing contact does not mean locking yourself in a room and isolating yourself." Zhan Shaofeng said that the current "Class B and Class B control" for novel coronavirus infection has been implemented, and isolation measures are no longer implemented in terms of prevention and control measures. For people with antibodies in their bodies, a small amount of contact with some viruses can better stimulate the immune system and alert the human body to the re-invasion of the novel coronavirus.

Li Zengqing reminded parents that children with underlying diseases such as congenital heart disease, cerebral palsy, and children under 5 years old are the key protection groups. They should try to avoid crowded places in the near future and maintain the hygienic habit of frequent hand washing.

It is worth noting that newborns under 3 months old and children with underlying diseases are advised to seek medical attention in time if they test positive for the new coronavirus; children over 3 months old without other underlying diseases, if they only have symptoms such as fever and cough, can rest at home, supplement nutrition, and take antipyretic drugs such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen according to the symptoms. If the high fever persists for three days, or if there are symptoms such as difficulty breathing and mental depression, medical attention is needed.

The “Self-Help Manual for the Second Wave of the New Coronavirus” circulated on the Internet?

Expert: Very unreliable!

Recently, a message called "The Second Wave of COVID-19 Self-Help Manual" has been circulating on social media platforms. The "Self-Help Manual" provides guidance on medication for COVID-19 symptoms, such as:

When the child's temperature exceeds 38.5℃, take ibuprofen and acetaminophen alternately to reduce fever. When itchy and inflamed eyes occur, it may be conjunctivitis caused by infection with the new strain. You can drop some acyclovir, ribavirin, etc. to relieve the discomfort. When diarrhea does not stop, you can take montmorillonite powder, which can relieve symptoms in the short term. If you feel chest tightness and shortness of breath, you can take some vitamin C...

▲The "New Crown Second Wave Self-Help Manual" circulated on the Internet

Li Dongzeng, chief physician of the Department of Respiratory and Infectious Diseases at Beijing You'an Hospital, said that this manual is "very unreliable." He pointed out that alternating antipyretics is not recommended; ribavirin and acyclovir have no effect on the new coronavirus or influenza virus; if high fever, shortness of breath, and wheezing occur, you need to seek medical attention in time. There are currently no drugs or health products that can really improve immunity . "People at high risk of severe illness should go to the hospital in time to assess whether antiviral treatment is needed as soon as possible."

In addition, Li Ran, deputy chief physician of the Department of Infection and Clinical Microbiology at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, also reminded that this manual is not scientific. " If you have itchy eyes in this season, you need to identify whether it is caused by allergies. Antidiarrheal drugs are not recommended for viral diarrhea . You can use drugs that regulate intestinal flora and oral rehydration salts."

Written by | Guangdong Health Online Comprehensive

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