The arrival of spring heralds the transition from winter to spring, and the topic of flu prevention and treatment has also become a hot search. Health tips-flu can be fatal, early prevention and early treatment are the most important.
Flu is fundamentally different from the common cold. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that every year, flu causes 3 million to 5 million people worldwide to develop severe illness, and 290,000 to 650,000 people lose their lives.
For ordinary people with normal immune function, flu is usually self-limiting. However, once people at high risk of severe flu become ill, the risk of developing severe/critical cases is extremely high.
So, who are at high risk of severe flu? According to the "Influenza Diagnosis and Treatment Program 2025 Edition", the following categories are mainly included: children under the age of 5, especially those under the age of 2, are more likely to develop serious complications; elderly people aged 65 and above; people with underlying diseases or immunodeficiency; obese people; and women in pregnancy and perinatal period.
Finally, during the flu season (usually winter and spring), if the above high-risk groups have flu-like symptoms, influenza nucleic acid or antigen screening should be carried out as soon as possible. Once influenza is confirmed, antiviral treatment with drugs such as oseltamivir should be used as soon as possible. Sometimes, when doctors assess that the risk of severe illness is high, even if the test results have not yet come out, they will recommend immediate antiviral treatment. After all, the best effect is achieved within 48 hours after the onset of the disease.
Early diagnosis and early treatment are effective means to reduce the risk of severe/critical influenza. In addition, for people at high risk of severe illness, annual influenza vaccination is an important measure to reduce the risk of illness and severe illness.