Shocked! H1N1 flu can also cause white lungs! These groups should not be careless

Recently, the news that a 9-year-old boy in Zhejiang was infected with influenza A and developed white lungs and was admitted to the ICU has attracted attention.

Image source: Screenshot of Weibo topic

According to a report by Chao News on March 9, Huang Lisu, director of the infectious department at the Children's Hospital affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine, received a 9-year-old boy with severe pneumonia. He was infected with influenza A and had been feverish for a day before being sent to the hospital. The child had impaired consciousness and a large area of ​​white lungs was shown on CT scan. He was finally admitted to the ICU. She reminded parents to "observe first. If the child is not in good spirits, they must come to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible."

01

Is it common for influenza to cause "white lung"?

Influenza A can also cause severe pneumonia (commonly known as "white lung"), which is more common in high-risk groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with underlying diseases.

Whether it is influenza A, influenza B or the new coronavirus, it may cause "white lung". Every year, there are patients who are admitted to the ICU due to influenza virus infection, but the incidence rate is not high. Influenza is a self-limiting disease, but if the patient has a low immunity, is older or has a serious underlying disease, there is a possibility of influenza pneumonia after infection.

Image source: Ruijin Hospital

02

What happens when you have influenza?

Need timely medical treatment or medication?

In the face of the high incidence of influenza, Yu Yi, a pediatrician at Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, reminded that when children have symptoms such as fever and vomiting, they should seek medical attention in time to identify the cause of the disease and rest at home. This is not only conducive to the baby's recovery, but also can prevent a wider spread of the epidemic. In the following cases, it is recommended to seek medical attention and take medicine in time:

1. Children are a high-risk group for complications. Children under 5 years old, obese children, and those with underlying diseases such as chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, liver diseases, etc. can take medication as early as possible to relieve symptoms.

2. When there is a clear history of contact with influenza patients and influenza-like symptoms occur, it is recommended to use oseltamivir as early as possible and give antipyretic and analgesic treatment as needed.

3. If the child's symptoms are not significantly relieved after taking the medicine or if symptoms such as mental depression, worsening cough, vomiting and diarrhea occur, medical attention must be sought promptly.

4. If influenza patients still have obvious symptoms after taking the medicine for 5 days or their symptoms rebound during the medication, it is recommended to see a doctor again to rule out the possibility of secondary infection or other complications.

5. For children over 1 year old with high risk factors for severe influenza, they can take preventive medication as prescribed by a doctor within 48 hours after close contact with an influenza patient.

03

In cases where symptoms are not severe

How to regulate it at home?

For most people, influenza is self-limiting and will gradually get better in about 7 to 10 days. Even without special treatment drugs, as long as you pay attention to rest and nutrition, you will get better after a period of time, and there is no need for drug intervention. Clinically, the main focus is on high-risk groups to prevent the occurrence of severe cases.

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However, if the high fever persists, breathing difficulties occur after slight activity, or even other obvious symptoms such as severe cough, a significant decrease in oxygen saturation, changes in mental consciousness, etc., you should go to the hospital for treatment in time.

04

After getting the flu

When is the amount of toxins discharged large and the infectiousness strong?

Influenza viruses are mainly transmitted through respiratory secretions and droplets, and can also be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with mucous membranes such as the mouth, nose, and eyes.

The common incubation period is 1 to 4 days (average 2 days), and the virus is contagious from the end of the incubation period to the acute stage of the disease. Generally, infected people can excrete the virus 24 to 48 hours before the onset of clinical symptoms. The amount of virus excretion increases significantly 0.5 to 1 day after infection and reaches a peak within 24 hours after the onset of the disease.

The virus can be excreted from secretions such as nasal mucus, saliva, and sputum within 5 days after the onset of the disease. The infectious period is about 1 week, and the infection is strongest in the first 2 to 3 days of the disease. The influenza A virus is mainly transmitted through air droplets, followed by indirect transmission through food utensils and towels contaminated by the virus. Close contact and aerosols in airless spaces are also ways to spread influenza.

05

Cold symptoms

Is it necessary to do influenza A antigen testing?

Cai Weiping, chief expert of the Infectious Disease Center of the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, told a reporter from the People's Daily Health Client on March 8, "If someone who was infected with the new coronavirus during December to January now has fever, headache, muscle aches or diarrhea, it is most likely influenza."

The biggest difference between influenza and colds is that influenza is mainly characterized by systemic symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and headaches, while colds are mainly characterized by upper respiratory tract symptoms (such as sneezing, runny nose, dry throat, etc.), and the fever is very mild. Now is the influenza season, and if you have influenza symptoms and exclude COVID-19, you can be clinically diagnosed with influenza. Antigen tests are often delayed, so antiviral treatment should be started early, and there is no need to wait for antigen results. If people who have not been infected with COVID-19 have related symptoms, they can be tested for both antigens once.

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06

Flu infection peak

When will it pass?

Hu Yang, deputy chief physician of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, said that it is difficult to predict and judge. Hu Yang further explained that the reason why it is difficult to predict is that the overall epidemic pattern of influenza has been disrupted. In the past three years, we have been wearing masks because of the epidemic, which will cause people's antibodies to influenza viruses to decrease. The degree of decrease varies from person to person, so we cannot judge the start and end time of the current influenza epidemic according to the previous epidemic pattern.

07

Infected with COVID-19

Are you less likely to get the flu?

There is no cross-immunity protection between COVID-19 infection and influenza. People who have recently been infected with COVID-19 are not protected against influenza. Everyone must pay attention to personal protection, wear masks in crowded places, wash hands when going out and come home, and open windows for ventilation. The elderly and children are the main victims of respiratory infectious diseases. If they have symptoms such as runny nose, fever, and headache, they should be closely observed. Do not think that influenza is not serious and be careless. If the symptoms worsen, you must seek medical attention in time to prevent it from developing into pneumonia or severe illness.

Source: Health Times

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