Autumn and winter are seasons when flu cases increase. Influenza A, or swine flu, is the most common viral infection we currently see. Speaking on the subject, Prof. Head of the Chest Diseases Department of the Faculty of Medicine of a private university. Dr. Merih Kalamanoğlu Balcı said, “Recently, there has been a serious increase in the number of patients coming to emergency rooms and outpatient clinics with complaints of high fever, widespread body pain, severe cough, headache, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. “When we test for this, we see that the influenza A, H1N1 subgroup is most prevalent.”
“MUST BE VACCINATED”
Stating that there may be deaths due to influenza A, Prof. Dr. Merih Kalamanoğlu Balcı said, “This happens more especially in risk groups. Patients over 65 years of age, patients diagnosed with chronic disease, heart failure, diabetes, chronic lung disease, kidney failure, pregnant women, children under 5 years of age, and patients receiving cancer treatment are in the risk group. Therefore, people in the risk group should be vaccinated between September and October. However, if they become ill and notice symptoms of flu, they should definitely apply to the hospital early, within 48 hours. Let’s treat it early so that we do not face negative consequences. Because seasonal flu, unfortunately, can be complicated with pneumonia and bronchitis and cause death,” he said.
“IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE ISOLATED”
Prof. Dr. Merih Kalamanoğlu Balcı said, “Everyone was using masks during the pandemic. Isolation methods were applied very seriously. Therefore, we did not see many flu cases. Covid was more prominent. However, the measures we took for Covid also prevented the spread of influenza. To protect against influenza, closed environments should be ventilated. Especially people with symptoms should isolate by wearing a mask. Hands should be washed frequently, in case of sneezing and coughing, they should cover their mouths with a napkin, throw away that napkin and then wash their hands. “In this way, it will be prevented from passing from person to person,” he said.
“VACCINES ARE PREPARED BY PREDICTING MUTATIONS”
“The influenza flu virus actually mutates every year,” said Prof. Dr. Merih Kalamanoğlu Balcı said, “We see these mutations in Influenza A and B. Vaccines are prepared by anticipating these. Therefore, for example, there is no such thing as a pneumonia vaccine every year, but flu vaccines need to be administered every year in September and October. “These vaccines are prepared by anticipating mutations,” he said.
“INFLUENZA A CAN ALSO CAUSE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM COMPLAINTS”
Stating that the flu is very different, Prof. Dr. Merih Kalamanoğlu Balcı continued his words as follows:
“Because he is watching with a high fever. It causes widespread body pain, headache, and severe cough. Colds, on the other hand, are caused by viruses such as rhinovirus and are accompanied by milder symptoms such as runny nose, flu, and mild sore throat. It is milder. The difference between Covid-19 and influenza is that we see a slightly greater loss of taste and smell in Covid19.
Also during this period, Influenza A can also cause digestive system complaints. Therefore, it can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. This can be confused with food poisoning. But since we do not see other symptoms such as high fever and widespread body pain in food poisoning, we can easily distinguish it. “The isolation test of the virus, which we call PCR, and rapid antigen tests make it easy to distinguish these diseases from each other.”