Flu A and B on the rise
“What we are seeing is a replacement of what were covid cases. At this moment, what the majority is swabbing is influenza, ”infectologist and pediatrician Andrea Uboldi comments to Clarín.
“Influenza A and influenza B are circulating. Influenza A is circulating H1N1 and H3N2. That is, everything is circulating. It is comparable to what happened in 2016-2017”, says the vice president of the Argentine Society of Vaccinology and Epidemiology (SAVE).
What has been seen in medical offices in recent weeks was evidenced in the latest edition of the National Epidemiological Bulletin, which reports that positivity for influenza reached a maximum between mid- and late-April, with values below 10% until the end of August.
As of September (epidemiological week 36) “a rise in positivity for influenza is recorded, being 31.34% in epidemiological week 38” (that is, more than 3 out of 10 who are tested are positive).
Influenza cases are detected in all age groups, with the highest number of positive samples in the group of 25-34 years and 45-64 years, indicates the bulletin.
What does type A flu mean?
Influenza A and the circulating influenza subtypes (H1N1 and H3N2) is a known variant, which circulates year after year and is contained in the vaccine that prevents severe illness and hospitalization.
“What is being seen is an increase in daily consultation and hospitalization, especially at the expense of pediatrics, with pictures that start in many boys and girls and then the rest of the family is infected,” says Uboldi.
«In the case of adults, the typical symptoms of fever, body aches, muscle aches and cough are observed. And in the case of boys and girls, febrile syndromes and there are many cases with gastrointestinal symptoms, ”says the doctor.
This situation “is causing work and school absenteeism and overloading the consultation in the health system.”
How long do the symptoms last and how is it spread?
From the Ministry of Health they indicate that influenza viruses are the main responsible for flu symptoms, which mainly affect the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and, occasionally, the lungs.
The viral infection generally lasts a week and is characterized by the sudden onset of high fever, muscle aches, headache, general malaise, dry cough, sore throat, and rhinitis (irritation of the mucosa of the nose).
Due to the similarity of the symptoms, it is very difficult to differentiate it from covid if it is not tested. However, specialists point out that it is not necessary in most cases to establish the viral agent that caused the condition.
The infectious disease doctor Florencia Cahn, president of SAVE, stresses that the important thing is that if a person feels unwell or has a fever, sore throat, cold symptoms or a headache, they have to consult and “the behavior will always be not go to school and not go to work if we have symptoms.
How is flu treated
In the face of a flu-like illness, treatment usually focuses on symptom management (with fever reducers such as paracetamol or aspirin), rest, and a hygienic diet with adequate hydration.
“A widespread misconception is that flu medicines cure the flu. The so-called drugs are intended to alleviate the symptoms of the disease, but do not act on its causative agent, “they warn in this regard from the Ministry of Health.
In general, most people who have a flu-like illness recover in one to two weeks without the need for medical treatment.
However, the flu can cause serious complications, including death, to people who belong to risk groups: people over 65 years of age, young children, pregnant people, and people with chronic diseases or conditions (such as heart, respiratory, kidney, immunosuppression, cancer). , transplantation, obesity and diabetes).
How the flu is prevented
The flu virus is very contagious. Just as the symptoms and forms of transmission of flu and covid are similar, so are prevention and care measures.
For this reason, it is recommended to maintain ventilated environments, wash your hands frequently with soap and water, and avoid going to work, educational activities, or public places in the presence of symptoms.
Can I get a flu shot in October?
The answer is yes, emphasize the specialists. People who have not yet been vaccinated can do so, especially if they are part of risk groups.
“There are vaccines available in the calendar for children between 6 months and 2 years, for pregnant women (which protects young children up to 6 months) and for all those who are part of risk groups by age or comorbidities,” says Uboldi.
And he concludes: “That winter has passed does not mean that they should not be vaccinated.”
Who should get a flu shot?
Anyone can get a flu shot.
At the public level, the flu vaccine is applied free of charge and mandatory to health personnel, pregnant people at any time of pregnancy, puerperal people (until discharge from the maternity hospital, maximum 10 days, if they did not receive the vaccine during the pregnancy), the population over 65 years of age, girls and boys from 6 to 24 months of age, and those between 2 and 64 years of age who present risk factors.
Does the flu vaccine prevent contagion?
Vaccination is the best strategy to avoid serious cases and hospitalizations due to the flu, but a vaccinated person can still experience a flu condition.
Can the flu and covid vaccines be applied together?
They can be applied together, without the need for an interval between them.
Health authorities recommend completing the immunization schedule. Where to get vaccinated against Covid-19 in Misiones?https://t.co/Us9ZzeWBEv @HealthMissions
— misionesonline.net (@misionesonline) December 7, 2022