The winter-spring transition is the time when many respiratory diseases such as influenza A increase due to weather changes and the need to move creates favorable conditions for the disease to spread.
Influenza A is an acute respiratory infection caused by a virus, capable of being highly and rapidly transmitted in the community. Influenza A is spread through droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, laughs or talks.
Patients can be infected with the virus by touching or touching surfaces contaminated with the virus, then touching their nose, mouth, or eyes. Normally, when infected, patients need to rest at home and limit contact to avoid infecting others.
According to doctor Nguyen Tri Thuc, Department of Gastrointestinal Infectious Diseases, Central Military Hospital 108, sometimes influenza A symptoms go away on their own, or are mild and can be treated at home.
But if symptoms last more than a week, the patient should not be subjective and should go to a reputable medical facility for timely treatment to avoid serious complications caused by the flu.
Especially in people over 65 years old, children under 2 years old and people with chronic diseases such as asthma, lung disease, diabetes… the disease can easily turn malignant.
The most dangerous complication of influenza A is brain edema and severe liver damage, with a very high mortality rate. If pregnant women get influenza A, it can also cause complications such as pneumonia or miscarriage.
Influenza A can cause serious complications for at-risk groups such as the elderly, children, people with chronic diseases and pregnant women. Photo: Unsplash.
Therefore, doctors recommend that people should be vigilant and proactive in disease prevention.
According to Dr. Thuc, flu A symptoms often appear suddenly with symptoms such as sore throat and cough; sneezing, runny or stuffy nose; fever and chills; headaches and body aches; tired.
Patients with influenza A need to drink plenty of fluids; Take paracetamol fever reducer and pain reliever; try to get plenty of rest; Eat enough nutrients; Take a warm bath or wipe your body, apply warm compresses when the fever is high.
To prevent influenza A, Dr. Thuc advised that people should pay attention to personal hygiene and the surrounding environment as well as get enough nutrients.
Everyone needs to wash their hands regularly, wear a mask when going out, avoid large crowds, and cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Patients with fever need to stay home for at least 24 hours to avoid infecting others.
In addition, everyone should also regularly clean and wipe surfaces, daily contact objects, and floors with soap or common detergents, and open the doors to airy living areas, classrooms, and rooms. work.
In addition, children need to be fully vaccinated, on schedule, and re-vaccinated to proactively prevent diseases. According to Dr. Thuc, the best way to prevent influenza A is to get an annual flu vaccine. Each shot can protect against 3-4 different flu viruses that year.
