Fan brother guide:
Recently, the temperature has plummeted in various places, influenza has entered the high incidence season, and respiratory infectious diseases caused by rhinovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus and other pathogens have also appeared superimposed. This can be a huge challenge for infants and young children whose immune systems are not yet fully developed. The difference between the flu and the common cold is **?How to deal with it scientifically?Today, let's take a look with Brother Fan.
The temperature plummets and the winter enters a period of high incidence of influenza.
Recently, at a press conference held by the National Health Commission, Mi Feng, spokesman of the National Health Commission and deputy director of the Publicity Department, said that at present, with the winter in various places, respiratory diseases have entered a period of high incidence, and respiratory infectious diseases are mainly influenza.
According to the latest data from the National Influenza Center, the positive rate of influenza virus tests and the proportion of influenza-like cases in the country have continued to "soar" recently, reaching the highest level in the same period in nearly a decade.
Fig. 1 Influenza-like cases reported in sentinel hospitals in southern provinces in 2020 and 2024.
Fig. 2 Influenza-like cases reported in sentinel hospitals in northern provinces in 2020 and 2024.
It is understood that influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus, which seriously endangers human health. In addition, there are four types of influenza viruses: A, B, C, and D, of which influenza A (H1N1 subtype and H3N2 subtype) and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics every year.
Source: Maker Post).
Influenza patients and asymptomatic infections are the main source of infection for seasonal influenza. Influenza viruses are mainly transmitted through droplets produced by sneezing and coughing of infected people, and can also be infected directly or indirectly through mucous membranes such as the mouth, nose, eyes, etc., such as touching objects contaminated with the virus with hands and touching one's mouth and nose.
In addition, influenza viruses can also be transmitted by aerosols in certain places, such as crowded and closed and unventilated rooms. In general, the incubation period of influenza is generally 1 to 4 days (2 days on average) and is contagious from the end of the incubation period to the acute phase after the onset of symptoms.
It is important to note that infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with chronic diseases are high-risk groups, and children as young as 5 years old (especially 2 years old) are more likely to be infected with the influenza virus and even develop serious complications.
Common flu misconceptions.
Myth 1: The flu is a common cold, and you can get better if you carry it.
The common cold is caused by a variety of pathogens, including rhinovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, coxsackievirus, and others. Common symptoms of the common cold are low-grade fever, sneezing, nasal congestion, watery nasal discharge, etc., which generally do not cause serious complications and usually heal in about a week.
Influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the "influenza virus", compared with the common cold, the onset of influenza is abrupt, the fever is mostly high fever, accompanied by chills, headache, myalgia, general malaise, fatigue, loss of appetite and other symptoms, and its risk of serious complications and death is much higher than that of the common cold. Therefore, you should not take it lightly, and if the symptoms continue to worsen, you should seek medical attention in time.
Myth 2: If you don't have respiratory symptoms, you don't have the flu.
Influenza generally presents with acute onset, fever (body temperature can be as high as 39-40), patients often have chills, chills, headache, muscle and joint aches, fatigue, loss of appetite and other systemic symptoms, respiratory symptoms are mainly sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, etc. In addition to respiratory symptoms, influenza can affect the gastrointestinal tract, causing gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, and diarrheaIn severe cases, other symptoms such as retrosternal discomfort, facial flushing, and conjunctival hyperemia may also occur.
After children are infected with influenza, sometimes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other digestive symptoms are the main manifestations, while newborns infected with influenza are mostly manifested by drowsiness and refusal to breastfeed.
Myth 3: Once you have a cold and fever, you should quickly infuse fluids.
Compared to the flu, a cold and fever have a lower temperature and milder symptoms, often of the upper respiratory tract. If you have a fever or cough after catching a cold, you can take fever-reducing or cough medicine at home without an infusion. At the same time, pay attention to rest, drink more water, and supplement nutrition.
For the flu, some influenza may cause pneumonia, or even severe pneumonia, at this time you may need to be hospitalized, and the resident doctor will determine whether you need an infusion.
Zhang Wenhong, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, also said that general infusion is limited to hospitalized patients with severe illness, or some drugs cannot be taken orally, and can only be infusion. For the common cold, oral medications work better.
How to prevent influenza scientifically?
Influenza vaccination is the most important means of preventing influenza and can significantly reduce the risk of influenza and serious complications in the vaccinated person. However, it is worth noting that babies can only receive influenza vaccine after they reach the age of 6 months, and the existing influenza vaccine cannot be directly administered to children under 6 months of age.
In terms of the number of doses administered [1], it is recommended:
For inactivated influenza virus vaccine, children aged 6 months and 8 years who have not received influenza vaccine before should receive 2 doses 4 weeks apart at the first dose. If you have received 1 dose or more of influenza vaccine in 2022-2023 or before, you will receive 1 dose. Children 9 years of age and older and** with or without prior influenza vaccine will only need 1 dose. For live attenuated influenza virus vaccine, only 1 dose is required, regardless of whether the influenza vaccine has been received or not.
In addition to influenza vaccination, maintaining good personal hygiene Xi is also an important means to prevent respiratory infections such as influenza. At the same time, the windows should be opened frequently indoors to increase air circulation, and parents should also try to avoid taking the baby to places where crowds gather;If you experience a range of flu-like symptoms, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly.
Also, if you have a family member who has the flu, try to avoid contact with each other. When parents with flu symptoms go to the hospital, they should protect the child and themselves (such as wearing a mask) to avoid cross-infection. When there are influenza-like cases in schools, childcare institutions and other collective units**, children should rest at home.
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Notes: 1] Technical Guidelines for Influenza Vaccination in China (2023-2024).