16-month-old child in critical condition due to influenza A and lung infection

A 16-month-old girl in Hanoi was taken to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases with a persistent high fever, dry cough, runny nose, then wheezing and coughing up thick phlegm. Test results showed that the child was positive for Influenza A, lungs show signs of secondary infection, lung sounds have many moist spots, wheezing on both sides.

Chest X-ray images showed bilateral bronchial and lung damage, and obvious bacterial superinfection. Blood tests showed severe infection, with white blood cell count increasing to 13.8 G/L and CRP being more than 10 times higher than normal. If not detected and treated early, the child could quickly fall into respiratory failure level or sepsis

After two days of intensive treatment, the patient responded well, fever reduced, breathing improved, and was able to breastfeed again, but still needed close monitoring.

Doctor checks the health of a child with influenza A. (Photo: Thanh Son)

Another case is a 10-year-old girl who was admitted to the hospital with a high fever of 39.5°C, severe cough, vomiting more than 10 times a day, sometimes vomiting blood. The child was exhausted, had body aches, severe headache, typical symptoms of influenza A. Fortunately, the case was detected early, had no complications and was being treated according to the correct protocol.

According to MSc. Resident Doctor Nguyen Dinh Dung, influenza A is an acute infectious disease transmitted through the respiratory tract and can occur at any age, but young children, the elderly, and people with underlying diseases are at high risk. " The early stages of influenza A are often similar to other respiratory viruses, but can progress very quickly, causing pneumonia, respiratory failure, or sepsis if not treated promptly," Dr. Dung warned.

He said that most children with influenza A have high fever, increasing cough, runny nose, fatigue, and fussiness. Older children often feel aches and pains in their bones and joints. Some children may have convulsions due to high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. When the disease is severe, children become lethargic, stop breastfeeding, breathe quickly, or have chest retraction, warning signs of complications.

Dr. Dung recommends that parents do not arbitrarily use drugs, especially antibiotics, when children have fever or cough. “ Taking children to a medical facility early helps to diagnose correctly and treat them according to the regimen, limiting dangerous complications ,” he said.

Faced with the rapid increase in influenza A cases during the changing seasons, Dr. Nguyen Nguyen Huyen, Director of the Center for Disease Prevention, emphasized the need to flu vaccine Annual health check-up is the simplest but most effective measure to protect your health.

“ The erratic weather creates favorable conditions for the flu virus to spread rapidly. Vaccination helps reduce the risk of illness and avoid serious complications, especially for young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions ,” she said.

In addition, people need to proactively maintain personal hygiene, wash their hands regularly, wear masks when going to crowded places, and isolate sick people to limit the spread in families and schools.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/tre-16-thang-tuoi-nguy-kich-vi-cum-a-boi-nhiem-phoi-5064293.html