Winter and spring are the peak season for influenza in . During this period in late December, the number of people receiving treatment in major medical institutions also increased significantly compared with last month. It is expected that the influenza index will continue to rise in January next year.
December 17, 2019, Pediatric Outpatient and Emergency Hall of Shanghai Xinhua Hospital.
Image source: The Paper
Centrals of various regions have issued influenza warnings:
12 On December 16, the Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention also issued the latest influenza warning. Ningbo's influenza index has reached level 4. By the way, the highest influenza index in Ningbo is only level 5!
12 On December 17, the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a risk warning for influenza epidemic, and the influenza in Jiangsu Province entered a low-intensity epidemic period.
12 On December 19, data from the Beijing Center for Disease Control showed that a total of 7,191 statutory infectious diseases were reported in the city, and 5 deaths were reported, among which "influenza" ranked first in the number of reported cases.
It can also be seen from the picture below that starting from the 45th week of this year (November 4-10), the trend of influenza cases as a percentage of outpatient emergency cases in both the south and the north is gradually increasing.
Even in the 50th week (December 9-15), influenza cases in northern provinces accounted for 4.7% of the total outpatient and emergency cases, while influenza cases in the south have exceeded 5% .
Data source: China National Influenza Center official website
These all convey the same signal:
The peak period of influenza is coming!
What are the characteristics of this year's flu?
The peak influenza period of each year is from November to March of the following year. There are many types of influenza virus influenza virus that are extremely prone to mutating. In this wave of influenza approaching New Year's Day, influenza A accounts for the largest proportion.
According to the "Flu Monitoring Weekly" released by the National Influenza Center of China, until mid-December 2019, A influenza (influenza A) accounted for more than 79.6% of all influenza, which means that influenza A is still the main popular type of transmission so far this year. Moreover, the level of influenza activity in northern and southern provinces in mainland my country continues to rise, and the number of outbreaks has increased significantly.
Image source: China National Influenza Center official website
As the Spring Festival approaches, the long-simmering storm of the flu is already raging, and parents must be careful to deal with it.
Many mothers will definitely ask, what is the difference between influenza A (type A flu) and influenza B (type B flu)?
Influenza B is contagious but not very contagious, and it will be contagious at close range, such as face-to-face, or in kindergartens or even school classes; while the infection rate of influenza A of will be faster and the impact will be greater.
Compared with flow B, influenza A virus is prone to mutation, which will cross-infection between animals and humans, and will be more pathogenic.
So parents must not take it lightly!
These symptoms occur
Take children to medical treatment in time
For adults, most people will not cause severe illness when they are infected with the flu. Most people will heal themselves in about 1 week, and coughing can last for 1 to 2 weeks.
However, infants, especially babies under the age of 2, are more likely to develop into severe cases, which will cause complications such as myocarditis, otitis media, and pneumonia, and parents need to be extremely vigilant.
Image source: "Influenza Diagnosis and Treatment Plan (2018 Edition)"
If the child's behavior is just sneezing and running nose, it may be common cold at this time.
But if there are still high fever, mental depression, muscle aches, etc., it is very likely that it is influenza, and you should go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.
Attached is a comparison chart of common cold and flu symptoms:
Image source: Dingxiang Mama
If the child is diagnosed with influenza or shows highly suspected influenza, recommends that be treated with antiviral treatment within 48 hours, which can reduce the hospitalization rate and mortality rate of influenza and reduce complications.
At present, the only recommended oral prescription drug for children in children with anti-influenza virus in China is "oseltamivir".
The child is diagnosed with influenza
Remember 4 points of nursing knowledge
Picture source: Zangku Hero Creative
❶ Antiviral treatment: Oral oseltamivir
If the child is diagnosed with influenza and has high risk of complications and children with severe flu symptoms, he can take oral oseltamivir for treatment. Other children can treat it or recover by themselves.
oseltamivir is available in two dosage forms, granules (15 mg and 25 mg in specifications) and capsules (75 mg in specifications).
It is worth mentioning that oseltamivir is a prescription drug and can only be taken to the child after the doctor is diagnosed.
In addition, the recommended course of treatment for taking medicine is 5 days, do not stop using it at will.
If the child vomits severely after taking the medicine, he can eat it with the food next time. Generally, the symptoms will be relieved within 1 to 2 days.
Children with high risk of complications can not use oseltamivir.
❷ Fever care: Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen
orally once in the dose, and the heat will stop as soon as it subsides.
Acetaminophen can be used for children over 3 months, and ibuprofen can only be used for children over 6 months . It is best to consult a doctor before taking it. If you want to use it for children under these two age groups, you must first ask the doctor to evaluate the specific situation of the child.
is not generally recommended to use two antipyretic drugs alternately.
When using antipyretic drugs, you can also drink more water according to your child's condition and increase or decrease the cover according to your child's feelings, which will help reduce the cooling.
❸Don’t: Don’t take other antiviral drugs or antibiotics for your child without authorization
medicines not only do not cure the disease, but will easily harm the child.
Be sure to follow the doctor's advice and use the medicine reasonably!
❹ Home Care: Pay attention to diet and isolate
Children should increase their liquid intake during illness; make some easy-to-eat things for their children, but do not force them to eat; whether it is children or other family members, wash their hands frequently; ventilate the room.
Another very important point is that as long as one person is diagnosed with influenza, it is best to isolate , and be cared for by a dedicated person. All employees wear masks and change them every day to avoid cross-infection, especially for families with two babies.
Do this to prevent influenza
Picture source: Station Cool Hero Creative
❶Vaccination with influenza vaccine
This is the most effective prevention method.
The influenza virus strain that is popular every year will be different. In addition, plus vaccine protection time is limited, so every year, recommends to vaccinate children, and hiring people directly also recommends to vaccinate them.
Many parents think that the protection effect of the flu vaccine is not good, and they are worried that the flu vaccine the children receive will not work for the influenza virus strain that is popular this year, so they choose not to give their children flu vaccine.
We recommend . If you have the conditions, parents should try to vaccinate their children.
It should be noted that the protective effect will only take 2 to 4 weeks after influenza vaccination. Although the high-influenza season ends in March, it does not mean that the child will no longer suffer from the flu after the high-influenza season. Therefore, as long as there are seedlings, it is recommended to go to vaccination.
❷ oseltamivir can be used as drug prevention
oseltamivir is one of the drugs approved by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) for the prevention and treatment of influenza in children.
Image source: "Technical Guidelines for Influenza Vaccination in China 2018-2019"
But two conditions are needed to meet at the same time It is recommended that use oseltamivir for prevention:
Children in high-risk groups have not received influenza vaccine, or have been vaccinated for less than 2 weeks (protection has not yet been formed)
people who have been in contact with suspected influenza, or have recently been to public places for epidemics
❸ Go to areas with more crowded populations
The secretions and droplets discharged from coughing and sneezing can contagious influenza viruses. During the high incidence of influenza, try not to take your children to crowded and closed places with poor air. If you have to go, it is best to wear a mask.
❹ Wash your hands frequently with running water
Whether you go to the toilet, before eating, or after going home, you should wash your children's hands. Don't use a basin, it is best to wash your hands with running water.
Influenza is coming in full force, let us stick to our children's health together.
This article is from the Master of Pediatrics, Master of Pediatrics, Second Military Medical University of the People's Liberation Army, attending physician of pediatrics, Kong Lingkai, Review
Editor Xiaoliang
Cover image source, Station Cool Hero Creative
