Recently, many people in society have been complaining about flu, colds and various upper respiratory tract diseases. There are many warnings to citizens from experts about the epidemic period. Especially people in the risk group need to be more careful during this period. Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca also shared a post about this period when complaints increased.
WARNINGS FOR UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS
In his post on his social media account, Minister Koca stated that we are in a period when complaints such as upper respiratory tract infections, flu and cold are increasing. Stating that most of their illnesses are caused by viruses and can be cured with rest and symptomatic treatment, Koca said, “However, infections with flu symptoms should be taken seriously in patients with suppressed immune systems and in people who are in the risk group due to reasons such as age.” gave the information.
Minister Koca’s post also included the statements of Ankara Bilkent City Hospital Coordinator Chief Physician Aziz Ahmet Surel. Surel noted that there is a seasonal density in the hospital due to upper respiratory tract diseases, as every year, but since it is an expected density, the hospital capacity can handle this.
Surel stated that there is no increase in the number of patients applying to emergency services when looking at the annual average, and that when looked at proportionally, there is an increase in the number of patients coming with complaints of upper respiratory tract infection in the patient distribution. Surel stated that most of these patients recovered with symptomatic treatment and rest, but that these infections should be taken seriously in some people over a certain age or whose immune system is suppressed. (AA)
‘FLU ESPECIALLY THREATENS CHRONIC PATIENTS’
Internal Medicine Specialist Assoc. Prof. stated that the structure of the flu virus, which causes epidemics in almost every winter season, can easily escape from people’s immune system because its structure can change rapidly. Dr. Ahmet Aktaş gave important information by pointing out that the number of people applying to health institutions has increased noticeably as a result of the flu epidemics in recent days.
Explaining that flu causes the death of approximately more than 500 thousand people worldwide every year, Assoc. Dr. Aktaş said, “The disease affects obese individuals more, especially those over the age of 50, those under the age of 5, pregnant women, people with lung disease, kidney failure, people with weakened immune systems due to diseases such as cancer and diabetes. “Hospitalizations and undesirable outcomes are more common in these groups,” he said.