Flu A is raging, many children have to stay home from school and be hospitalized due to complications

In recent weeks, the influenza A epidemic has increased sharply, forcing many children to stay home from school. Many children have had complications with bronchitis and pneumonia and have had to be hospitalized.

The Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases is treating nearly 50 patients with influenza A. The number of outpatient examinations and treatments for influenza A has increased rapidly in the past few weeks, most of whom are children.

TT H ( Hanoi ) was diagnosed with influenza A, with bronchitis and pneumonia, fortunately discovered and treated promptly. The child was healthy, living with a family whose older sister had the flu. 3 days before being hospitalized, the child had a high fever, runny nose, and a lot of dry cough, then wheezing and coughing up thick phlegm. After that, the child was exhausted and was taken by his family to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases for examination, which tested positive for influenza A.

Many children with influenza A have complications of pneumonia.

Chest X-rays on admission showed bilateral bronchopulmonary lesions and obvious bacterial superinfection. Blood tests showed severe infection, with white blood cell counts more than 10 times higher than normal. If not detected and treated early, the disease can progress rapidly to acute respiratory failure or sepsis.

After two days of inpatient treatment, the child responded well, fever reduced, breathing improved, and breastfeeding resumed, but still needed close monitoring.

Another case is HL (10 years old, Hanoi), admitted to the hospital with a high fever of 39.5°C, severe cough, vomiting more than 10 times/day, sometimes vomiting blood, fatigue, and inability to eat or drink. In addition, the child had symptoms of pain in the bones and joints throughout the body, body aches, and severe headaches - typical symptoms of influenza A infection. The examination results determined that the child had influenza A and was hospitalized for treatment.

At the National Children’s Hospital, the number of children with seasonal flu and influenza A has increased sharply in recent weeks. Since the beginning of October, the hospital has received 3,726 cases of flu, of which 479 children had to be hospitalized. Many cases have complications such as pneumonia, otitis media, and even convulsions due to high fever.

After 4 days of high fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and body aches, NMH (8 years old, Hanoi) was taken to the National Children's Hospital by his family for examination. Test results showed that he was positive for influenza A, with secondary pneumonia and had to be hospitalized for treatment.

Many children with influenza A had to be hospitalized at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

According to resident physician Nguyen Dinh Dung, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, influenza A is an acute infectious disease transmitted through the respiratory tract, which can occur at any age, but young children, the elderly or people with underlying diseases are at higher risk because their immune systems are weak and susceptible to serious complications. Notably, the early stages of influenza A are often similar to other respiratory viruses, but the disease can progress very quickly, causing serious complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure or sepsis if not detected and treated promptly."

According to Dr. Dung, most children with influenza A have a high fever, runny nose, and increasing cough, accompanied by fatigue and crying. Older children and adults often have more obvious symptoms of body aches and pains, aching bones and joints. In addition, children may have convulsions due to high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. If the disease progresses severely, children may become lethargic, less responsive, refuse to breastfeed, breathe rapidly, or have sunken chests - all warning signs of complications.

"Parents need to closely monitor their children's health. When children show signs of illness or fever, they should be taken to the nearest medical facility for examination, early diagnosis and proper treatment. Do not use medicine at home on your own, especially antibiotics. Taking your child to the doctor in a timely manner will help to treat them properly and limit serious complications," Dr. Dung advised.

With the increasing number of influenza A cases during the changing seasons, disease prevention, especially by getting a flu vaccine, is extremely important to protect the health of the whole family. Annual flu vaccination is a simple but extremely effective measure to help protect health, reduce the risk of disease and avoid dangerous complications, especially in young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with underlying diseases.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/y-te/cum-a-hoanh-hanh-nhieu-tre-phai-nghi-hoc-nhap-vien-vi-bien-chung--i787416/