Spring influenza

By Daphne Clarance: A significant rise in influenza cases has hit the country with people experiencing painful coughs in the past few weeks. Experts have advised various precautionary measures while citing immunity-boosting methods to help people stay healthy. Besides low immunity, health experts have blamed the unpopularity of annual flu shots in the country for causing this sudden spike in influenza. Dr Akshay Budhraja, Senior Consultant, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Aakash Healthcare stated that post-flu prolonged cough has been quite prevalent in a lot of influenza patients. "A majority of patients are getting infected with flu-causing viruses, like influenza, RSV, adenovirus, rhinovirus etc. Post-viral cough is a well-known entity in all these cases. A secondary bacterial throat infection usually occurs after getting flu, which needs more care and treatment," said Dr Akshay Budhraja. ALSO READ | Dr GC Khilnani, Chairman, PSRI Insitute of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, said, "We have witnessed a rampant spread of flu (influenza infection) during the last two months. Every other person is down with fever, cough, loss of voice and breathlessness. Uncontrollable cough is a frequent symptom (with or without wheezing)." The probable reasons for prolonged coughing are air pollution hampering respiratory immunity, new mutant pathogens which need research, post-nasal drip, allergic airway, reflux diseases (acidity), and irrational use of antibiotics. The exper...

RESOURCES BY SECTOR • Digital health • Facility design and operations • Health plans • Hospitals and health systems • Medical device • Organizations outside the United States • Outpatient care centers • Pharma • Pharmacy and lab • Physicians and medical groups • Post-acute care providers • Purchased and professional services • The United States is currently seeing an increase in flu cases—something that hasn't happened this late in the flu season since 1982. However, overall the number of flu cases have been "a drop in the bucket" compared with pre-pandemic seasons. Is flu season now 'flurona' season? A late-season rise in flu cases Typically, flu season begins in October and peaks between December and February. However, CDC data shows that the United States is currently experiencing a late-season increase in flu cases, with the flu positivity test rate reaching almost 10% in mid-April. According to Lynnette Brammer, head of CDC's domestic influenza surveillance team, an increase this late in the flu season has not been observed in decades. "We aren't used to thinking of flu in May, but it's definitely still out there," she said, adding that rates could continue to rise in the coming weeks. So far, CDC estimates that there have been at 5.7 million cases of flu, 59,000 hospitalizations, and 3,600 deaths, including 24 children, this flu season. Right now, data suggests that flu cases are increasing in New Mexico and Colorado in particular. Melissa Martinez, a professor of in...

Policy Statement Update — Data Updates The FDA approved an expansion in age indication from 2 years and older to 6 months and older for Flucelvax Quadrivalent (the cell culture-based inactivated influenza vaccine) on October 14, 2021. Data in this Policy Statement have been updated to reflect this change. New or updated data are indicated in bold typeface. This statement updates the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics for the routine use of influenza vaccine and antiviral medications in the prevention and treatment of influenza in children during the 2021–2022 influenza season. A detailed review of the evidence supporting these recommendations is published in the accompanying technical report. Introduction Children consistently have the highest attack rates of influenza in the community during seasonal influenza epidemics. Children play a pivotal role in the transmission of influenza virus infection to household and other close contacts and can experience substantial morbidity, including severe or fatal complications from influenza infection. Children aged <5 y, and especially those aged <2 y, Adults aged ≥50 y, and especially those aged ≥65 y Children and adults with chronic pulmonary (including asthma and cystic fibrosis), hemodynamically significant cardiovascular disease (except hypertension alone), or renal, hepatic, hematologic (including sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies), or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus) Children...

New Delhi: The country has come under the grip of Influenza. The condition is that almost every fourth-fifth person has a complaint of cough. The matter of concern is that this problem is not going to be solved soon. Whoever catches cough, he struggles for many days. Many people are passing week after week, the cough is not getting relieved. Cough is also not like that, it seems that the lungs may burst while coughing. Pain arises in the liver and stomach. Cough keeps on arising throughout the night and sleep is lost. He coughs so loudly that even the sleep of the family members gets disturbed. But why is this happening? Doctors tell in response to this that due to Kovid, people’s ability to fight diseases ie immunity level has decreased. Due to this Influenza A virus (H3N2) is dominating. It is also called Spring Influenza. June 16, 2023 Spring influenza havoc in the country Former Delhi AIIMS doctor GC Khilnani said that cases of influenza infection have increased rapidly in the last two months. He said, ‘Every second person is troubled by the problem of fever, cough, hoarseness and shortness of breath.’ He further told, ‘Many people are sneezing among those who are complaining of cough, some are not. When they get the test done, H3N2 virus attack is detected. Western countries also went through this phase from September to January. There, according to the World Health Organisation, in many countries the condition has become similar to that before Covid when there used t...

Overview Flu (influenza) is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs, which are part of the respiratory system. Influenza is commonly called the flu, but it's not the same as stomach "flu" viruses that cause diarrhea and vomiting. Most people with the flu get better on their own. But sometimes, influenza and its complications can be deadly. People at higher risk of developing flu complications include: • Young children under age 2 • Adults older than age 65 • Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities • People who are pregnant or plan to be pregnant during flu season • People with weakened immune systems • American Indians or Alaska Natives • People who have chronic illnesses, such as asthma, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease and diabetes • People with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher Although the annual influenza vaccine isn't 100% effective, it reduces the chances of having severe complications from infection. Symptoms At first, the flu may seem like a common cold with a runny nose, sneezing and sore throat. Colds usually develop slowly. But the flu tends to come on suddenly. And while a cold can be miserable, you usually feel much worse with the flu. Common symptoms of the flu include: • Fever • Aching muscles • Chills and sweats • Headache • Dry, persistent cough • Shortness of breath • Tiredness and weakness • Runny or stuffy nose • Sore throat • Eye pain • Vomiting and diarrhea, but this is more common in children than adults R...