Wuhan, December 10 (Xinhua) -- In winter, there is a high incidence of respiratory diseases, and a variety of respiratory diseases are intertwined. The difference between the flu and the common cold is **?How to deal with it scientifically?Pediatric experts from Tongji Hospital affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology will support you.
Avoid misconceptions.
Myth 1: The flu is the common cold that has become popular.
Chen Yu, chief physician of pediatrics at Tongji Hospital affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology, said that in October every year, various parts of China have entered the winter and spring epidemic seasons of influenza. Influenza is an infectious disease of the respiratory tract caused by influenza viruses. The common cold is caused by a variety of pathogens, including rhinovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, coxsackievirus, and others. Compared with the common cold, the onset of influenza is abrupt, and the fever is mostly high, accompanied by chills, headache, myalgia, general malaise, fatigue, loss of appetite and other symptoms, and the risk of serious morbidity and death is much higher than that of the common cold.
Myth 2: If you don't have respiratory symptoms, you don't have the flu.
Experts say that when children are infected with the flu, sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the main manifestations. Children have more gastrointestinal symptoms than ** and are common in influenza B. Neonatal influenza is mostly manifested by drowsiness, refusal to breastfeed, etc.
In Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, the child was treated. Xinhua News Agency.
Myth 3: A positive test for the flu virus can start antiviral**.
Experts say that during the flu season, high-risk groups should start as soon as possible after the onset of flu-like manifestations**, without waiting for laboratory confirmation of the influenza virus. First, because virus testing takes a certain amount of time and has a certain false-negative rate, a negative result cannot completely rule out the possibility of influenza. The second is to start anti-influenza virus ** early, which can significantly intervene in the symptoms of children with severe influenza.
How to prevent the flu?
Xiong Peng, deputy chief physician of the Department of Pediatrics at Tongji Hospital affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology, said that annual influenza vaccination is the most effective means of preventing influenza and can significantly reduce the risk of influenza and serious complications. Because influenza viruses are prone to mutation, the composition of the influenza vaccine will be updated every year. The protective effect of the influenza vaccine generally lasts for 6-8 months, and protective antibodies are usually produced 2-4 weeks after vaccination.
Experts say that babies can only be vaccinated against influenza after they are 6 months old, and the existing influenza vaccine cannot be directly given to children under 6 months of age. This group of people can be protected against influenza by vaccinating the mother during pregnancy and by vaccinating the baby's family members and caregivers. Patients with acute illness, severe chronic illness, or acute exacerbation of chronic illness are recommended to be vaccinated after recovery or stable disease control.
Experts say that if antiviral drugs are used, they should be done under the guidance of a doctor. Neuraminidase inhibitors are effective drugs for influenza A and B flu, and can significantly reduce the rate of severe influenza disease when applied in the early stage, especially within 48 hours of onset. It is important to note that pharmacological prophylaxis is not a substitute for vaccination, but only as an emergency preventive measure for patients who have not been vaccinated or who have not yet acquired optimal immunity within 2 weeks of vaccination.
Experts recommend that it is important to maintain good hygiene Xi. Wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth and nose with tissues or towels when coughing or sneezing, maintain a balanced diet, exercise appropriately, and get enough rest. During the flu season, people should avoid crowded places. When a family member has a flu patient, try to avoid close contact with each other. When there are influenza-like cases in schools, childcare facilities, etc., children should rest at home. When parents bring their children to the doctor, they should take precautions to avoid cross-infection.