Flu is a sudden-onset respiratory disease caused by the virus, also called influenza. It affects the upper and lower respiratory tract and causes systemic findings - fever, headache, widespread muscle pain, weakness and may be life-threatening in older ages.
WINTER MONTHS ARE DANGEROUS
It usually causes epidemics in the winter months and can have serious consequences, especially in risk groups. In the Northern Hemisphere, where Turkey is located, every year between December and March is risky in terms of flu epidemics. Every 10-15 years, the flu virus undergoes major changes and causes epidemics that affect the world. can open.
Influenza virus is named according to A, B, C subgroup and source, isolation number, year and subgroup (example: A/Sydney/33/99). The most severe forms of influenza occur with type A influenza virus. ..Big epidemics occur from time to time as a result of this group of viruses changing their properties. Epidemics caused by Influenza A virus start suddenly, spread rapidly within 2-3 weeks and can last 2-3 months. It affects 10-20% of the general population. First, febrile respiratory diseases increase in children, then lead to epidemics in adults. It causes pneumonia, heart failure, and exacerbation of the underlying lung disease - COPD, resulting in hospitalizations, school and workday losses.
Contamination occurs through shaking hands, kissing, or inhaling microbes suspended in the air.
Following the incubation period of 18-72 hours, the patient's complaints begin. It can be in a mild form with a cold or in a severe, feverish form. The fever usually increases in the first 24 hours and lasts for 2-3 days and sometimes for 1 week at 38-41 degrees. Headache, intense muscle pain - especially in the legs and back, burning in the eyes, sensitivity, inability to look at light can last for 1 week, sometimes even longer. In elderly patients, flu complaints can last for weeks.
OVER 65 YEARS OF RISK
Influenza is severe in the elderly, heart patients, and people with compromised immune systems. 80% of deaths resulting from flu occur as a result of exacerbation of pneumonia and heart failure in people over 65 years of age. This In this group, 20-30 out of every 100,000 people may die due to flu complications. In the 1-2 weeks following the flu, cough, fever, and increase in phlegm may be signs that the flu has turned into pneumonia. knows. Influenza, pneumococci and other microbes can cause more severe lung inflammation following the influenza virus.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO PREVENT FLU?
It is possible with the flu vaccine. Since the vaccine does not contain live virus, it can be administered to immunocompromised patients and pregnant women. In healthy people, the vaccine protects against flu by 70-80%, but the protection decreases in older ages and those with serious underlying diseases. It can be administered at the same time as the pneumonia vaccine. The vaccine should not be administered to people with egg allergy and during acute febrile illnesses.
WHO SHOULD GET THE FLU VACCINE
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Those with heart and lung disease
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Elderly homes and Those living in nursing homes
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Anyone over 65 years of age
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Those with diabetes, kidney failure, blood disease, immunocompromised people
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Children and young people receiving long-term aspirin treatment
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Healthcare personnel in hospitals and nursing homes
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People living with risk groups
HOW IS FLU TREATMENT?
In flu treatment Antibiotics should not be used. Supportive treatment should be provided, rest and adequate fluid intake should be provided.
There are antiviral agents that prevent the virus from reproducing in the body in the early stages. This group of drugs can control the symptoms of the disease and possible side effects when given under the supervision of a specialist physician in the first days.
Since pneumonia may develop after influenza, necessary attention should be paid to the follow-up of risky patients.
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