With the arrival of the winter months, influenza infectious diseases began to appear. For the last week, almost all emergency departments have been overflowing due to the flu virus. Children, young people, old people, everyone is sick. So, what is the reason for the intense epidemic circulating around? While everyone was wondering the answer to this question, Medipol Hospital Chest Diseases Department Head Prof.Dr. made special statements to Mynet. Muhammed Emin Akkoyunlu talked about the virus that has been widely seen in the last 10 days. Akkoyunlu also explained the most important factor that can strengthen the defense system.
Viruses transmitted from schools spread to families and from there to common areas. The most common symptoms in cases admitted to hospital emergencies in recent days include high fever, muscle pain, waist and joint pain, and severe weakness. Similar symptoms with Covid-19 attract attention. Prof. made remarkable statements on the subject. Dr. Muhammed Emin Akkoyunlu said, “There has been an intense epidemic of influenza and coronavirus infection for approximately the last 10 days. At the same time, pneumonia has started to be seen more frequently.” he said.
Here are the important highlights from the interview:
MONTHS WHERE PNEUMANE IS HIGHLY OBSERVED
Winter months are generally the months when upper respiratory tract infections and pneumonia are most common. This started approximately with the influenza epidemic since the 1840s, and every winter in the northern hemisphere we can see epidemics and some related problems caused by influenza epidemics or other upper respiratory tract infections.
INFLUENZA AND CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK HAS BEEN COMMON IN THE LAST 10 DAYS
Recently, especially a few months ago, the influenza epidemic was again prominent. We can say that the effects of this epidemic have decreased as the weather has improved a little more, but we can say that influenza and coronavirus infection have been causing an intense epidemic for approximately 10 days. However, due to the weakness in the defense system caused by these epidemics, lung pneumonia began to occur more frequently.
HOSPITALIZATIONS INCREASED
However, hospitalizations increased. We can observe this clearly in our outpatient clinics. Normally, this trend is something we expect during the winter months. Such epidemics follow a fluctuating course. We can say that there has been an increase especially since the last 10 days. We see influenza and coronavirus infections most frequently in the samples we receive from our patients. In addition, factors caused by other viruses and bacteria also play a role in the epidemic and we see their effects.
CLOSED ENVIRONMENT INCREASES THE RISK OF OUTBREAK
The epidemic, which increases during the winter months, becomes clear with the opening of schools. While the patient density in polyclinics is low in the first week of school opening, this number reaches its peak in the third week. After the first month, the effects of the disease appear in adults. We can say that symptoms spread rapidly in people who have to work together in closed environments or travel by public transportation during the winter months.
THERE ARE PATIENTS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
When we look at the effects of the disease, we see very intense joint and muscle pain, especially in coronavirus infection. Intense pain occurs especially in the hip and back area. We also have patients who had to be hospitalized, admitted to intensive care, and even died.
In those with influenza, symptoms may continue in the form of upper respiratory tract infection, mostly in the form of cough, sneezing, runny nose and sometimes sinusitis. In the RSV virus group, there is a course of sneezing, runny nose and rhinitis. These symptoms, which vary depending on the type of virus, may differ from person to person. Sometimes, when influenza causes pneumonia, it can be accompanied by muscle-bone pain and high fever, as in Covid-19.
Especially in the last week, we have started to see high fever, weakness and malaise more frequently in the influenza cases that have come to us.
PRECAUTIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN
In terms of precautions, if you have a child attending kindergarten, it may be effective to monitor the ventilation of the school if possible, to ensure that they do not go out for recess together, and to wear a mask, if possible, especially during education. It is necessary to explain to our children after primary school the importance of wearing a mask and that they should not be in close contact with their friends. Hygiene tools such as taps and soap should be easily accessible. It is vital to reduce contact with people in the family, especially the elderly and those with comorbidities, keep the air in their environment clean, maintain distance and wear a mask.
THE FACTOR THAT WILL MOST STRENGTHEN YOUR DEFENSE SYSTEM…
In terms of general measures, it is very important to strengthen the defense system. The most important thing that affects the defense system is exercise and sleep. Regular, adequate sleep and exercise are very important for the defense system. We should not remain inactive and avoid excessive exercise. Taking more than 10 thousand steps a day is important in this respect. Regular and balanced nutrition is also important. We should consume protein, seasonal vegetables and fruits.
Quercetin, found in citrus fruits and garlic, seriously strengthens the defense system, especially in terms of acute infection. This substance is found in foods such as tangerines, tangerine peels, oranges, garlic, olives, olive oil and olive leaves. This substance strengthens the defense system and protects against upper respiratory tract infection. Drinking olive leaf tea is very effective during this period. It is also beneficial to consume thyme steam or thyme tea, which contains essential oils.
Apart from these, the most important factor that we do not attach importance to is the positive perspective on life. In depressed people, there is a serious decrease in the cells that provide our defense against upper respiratory tract infection. If we at least change our perspective on life to a more positive one during this period, this in itself is a parameter that will strengthen our defense system.