Influenza (flu), which has been increasing recently and overtaking the coronvirus cases, has brought with it concerns. While complaints such as persistent cough, sore throat and weakness spread among the people, the citizens even brought that everyone around them had the same symptom. While the complaints reflected on the social media increased considerably, there were explanations from the experts on many issues, especially the mask warning.
MASK OUT, DISEASES SPREAD
With the end of the use of masks, there was an explosion of viral infections, especially flu cases, throughout Turkey. In fact, there is a serious increase in the number of people waiting in front of the polyclinics of both public and private hospitals with complaints of flu and viral infections.
FLU CASES ARE IN THE FIRST RANK
According to the news in Milliyet, Prof. Dr. In his statement, İftihar Köksal said, “Influenza cases have taken the first place in viral infections, but we are receiving many patient complaints due to RSV, Kovid-19, norovirus. The fact that the weather is above the seasonal norms also reveals a picture that causes complaints such as stomach pain, nausea, and a feeling of bloating in the abdomen.
“THE TABLE CAN BE WORST IN DECEMBER”
Listing his warnings that the picture in December could be worse if masks are not worn in public transportation and closed crowded areas, Prof. Dr. Köksal said, “The fact that some patients have both influenza and Kovid-19 tests negative should also bring to mind the risk of different viruses or new variants. We strongly recommend that you be vaccinated for diseases that can be protected by vaccination. Respiratory infections will be common this winter. It can be fatal for people in the influenza risk group. Influenza vaccines are free for this group and they should definitely be vaccinated,” he said.
CONTAINMENT IS COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL
Microbiologist Dr. Tutku Taşçıoğlu pointed out that both influenza, rhinovirus and RSV have started to infect almost everyone, and said:
“Especially the chain of transmission between students in kindergarten and primary school is also carried into homes. Now we see both Influenza A and Influenza B. Although influenza B shows slightly milder symptoms, many people have complaints of cough, sore throat, and fatigue. Kovid-19 It is still in the foreground in Turkey and because there is no test, people prefer to pass it off by saying ‘the common cold’ without realizing whether they have Kovid-19. Rhinovirus symptoms also appear as a runny nose and sore throat. The main problem is that the symptoms called RSV can be severe in children under 2 years old. “In children under the age of 2, we definitely recommend a doctor’s control if symptoms worsen. Masks are very important in closed areas.”
NEGATIVE TESTS ARE DANGER
Infectious Diseases Specialist Assoc. Dr. Duran Tok, on the other hand, pointed out that viral infections have been almost non-existent thanks to the pandemic measures for the last two years, “However, in this process, the immunity against the flu virus has weakened in the society. There is a very serious increase in flu complaints. We recommend that those in the risk group definitely get the flu vaccine. The risk has increased with the end of the use of masks in public transportation and crowded environments. Another problem is that some of the Kovid-19 and influenza tests are negative. When the test result of people infected with influenza or Kovid-19 virus is negative, they form a chain of transmission while their movements in the community continue. Influenza can be dangerous in children under the age of 2. We have not yet seen the peak in flu cases, but it is inevitable that we will see the peak in December.”