Member of the Scientific Committee of İzmir Katip Çelebi University Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Alper Şener said that with the winter months, there has been an increase in influenza A cases, known as ‘swine flu’ among the people. prof. Dr. Şener pointed out that it is not possible to distinguish between swine flu and Covid-19 by looking at the symptoms. prof. Dr. Şener said, “However, it is possible to distinguish them with laboratory tests and a sample taken from the throat. The antiviral agent we use in flu infections and the antiviral agent we use in Covid-19 are different from each other, so it is important to distinguish them. When we catch them in the early period, the antiviral treatment we give prevents the virus from descending into the lower respiratory tract. “Don’t worry about the flu, it can be as contagious and deadly as Covid-19,” he said.
‘OUR BODY FORGOTTEN’
Referring to the symptoms of swine flu, Prof. Dr. Şener said, “We see an increase in flu types and subtypes at every start of the winter period. Currently, there is a serious increase in swine flu and its subtypes in the adult patient group. We see it more frequently than Covid-19 in the field. Flu should not be taken lightly. Especially 65 years old The patient group may need to be hospitalized. Some of them may need to be connected to a ventilator. There is a mortality, that is, it can be fatal, but not as much as Covid-19.
In any case, it should be underlined that swine flu is of extra importance in this age group. In swine flu, symptoms begin with widespread muscle pain and joint pain, just like in Covid -19. There may be respiratory symptoms. Dry cough, runny nose, weakness occur. Swine flu does not cause loss of taste and smell, and we do not see tables such as diarrhea. All flu viruses are contagious. Since we face influenza every year, the body’s response is formed, but since we did not encounter bird flu and swine flu for a long time, our body forgot. Now we meet again, and an uncontrolled inflammatory response occurs.”
‘IN EVERY DISEASE WE DO NOT SEE LOSS OF TASTE AND Smell Diarrhea’
Stating that there are distinctive loss of taste, smell and diarrhea symptoms in Covid-19 infections, Prof. Dr. Şener said, “If there are these, we think that it could be Covid-19. Apart from that, it is not possible to distinguish between influenza and Covid-19 just by looking at the symptoms. Symptoms such as sore throat, post-nasal drip, dry cough are common in both. The only difference is that they actually have diarrhea. Their rate is not very high in Covid-19 infections. We do not see loss of taste, smell, diarrhea in every disease. Especially if there is loss of taste and smell, the risk of becoming Covid-19 is high. We still see Covid-19 cases in the field, albeit a little, and they are slowly climbing. there is.” (DHA)