COVID-19 and the flu at the same time? It is possible. Doctor: disastrous consequences

Unfortunately, the danger of getting the flu and COVID-19 at the same time is real. “This could have devastating consequences for the immune system,” warns Dr. Adrian Burrowes, an American family medicine physician. What happens in the body when SARS-CoV-2 and the flu virus attack at the same time? How to recognize co-infection? And what scenario are doctors taking into account this season? We explain.

1. You can get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time. Dr. Adrian Burrowes: This could be devastating for the immune system
2. Dr Stopyr’s contagious: overwhelmingly more severe COVID-19 co-infections will be fatal
3. What are the consequences for the body of having the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, and what are the symptoms?
4. How to protect yourself against co-infections? The answer is still the same: get vaccinated against COVID-19 and against the flu. Doctor: This is our best weapon
5. More information can be found on the Onet homepage.

Flu and COVID-19 coinfection. Doctor: We need to distinguish between two things

Can you get COVID-19 and the flu at the same time? Doctors have no doubts about it. – In the world of infectious diseases, co-infections do happen, it is not an unusual phenomenon – admits a specialist in infectious diseases and paediatrics, Dr. Lidia Stopyra. Anyway, SARS-CoV-2 co-infections and the influenza virus were reported last year (more about this in the article: Flu and COVID-19 at the same time? Such a double infection is possible).

Talking about the co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 and the influenza virus, Dr. Stopyra points to an important issue. – In the case of COVID-19 and the flu, we have to distinguish two things. There can be a real co-infection when you have COVID-19 and the flu at the same time and the symptoms of both diseases overlap. However, it is also possible that the patient’s symptoms result from the course of the flu (that is, the disease that always gives symptoms), and the SARS-CoV-2 infection is asymptomatic – the specialist explains, adding: – I would like to remind you that the more serious symptoms of infection SARS-CoV-2 has approx. 20 percent. infected (depending on age, variant, etc.). Nevertheless, if we do the test, we will detect both the influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2. This complicates the isolation of patients during hospitalization.

It should be emphasized that the effects of the aforementioned co-infection can be very serious. “Having the flu and COVID-19 at the same time could be catastrophic for the immune system,” said Florida family medicine physician Dr. Adrian Burrowes on CNN. Dr. Lidia Stopyra says bluntly that co-infection significantly increases the risk of death: – In the vast majority of co-infections with COVID-19 with a more severe course, this will mean death.

What happens in the body when flu and COVID-19 viruses attack simultaneously?

What exactly happens in the body when both pathogens attack it at the same time? But let’s start with the fact that infection with a virus of one of these diseases automatically increases the risk of infection with the other pathogen. “When you catch the flu or certain other respiratory viruses, your body becomes weaker, which makes you vulnerable to another infection,” explains epidemiologist Dr. Seema Yasmin.

Both COVID-19 and the flu are diseases that damage the lungs. Each of them can result in pneumonia, fluid in the lungs, respiratory failure, but also inflammation of the heart, brain, muscle tissue, sepsis. – So if both viruses of this type accumulate, the damage can be very large – says Dr. Stopyra. Dr. Michael Matthay, specialist in intensive care at the University of California, San Francisco, points out that having both diseases at the same time “would increase the risk of long-term complications” for these organs. How much? This is not known yet. There is not much data yet about patients suffering from influenza and COVID-19 at the same time.

However, it is known who is the most exposed to the simultaneous attack of both pathogens. – In practice, co-infections threaten unvaccinated people, because we have vaccines against COVID-19 and against influenza. Patients with immunodeficiency, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases are also at increased risk, explained Dr. Stopyra in an interview with Medonet.

How to recognize flu and COVID-19 co-infection? The best way

The symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are quite similar, so it’s hard to tell them apart, notes Dr. Leonard Mermel, medical director of the Department of Epidemiology and Infection Control at Rhode Island Hospital. Both diseases can cause fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, sore throat, body aches, and a runny or stuffy nose. It should also be remembered that while the flu always gives symptoms, this is not the case with COVID-19, as we informed above.

Consequently, “flu symptoms will predominate in most patients: high fever, chills, muscle aches, severe headache”. – Symptoms of COVID-19 will appear in serious conditions, i.e. in a dozen or so percent of patients – emphasizes Lidia Stopyra.

The best way to find out which pathogens you are dealing with or whether they are present together is to get tested.

Fourth wave and flu season. What could happen? “There will just be a drama”

It is said that the current flu season may be tougher, and in addition we have a fourth wave. What scenario do doctors consider? We asked this question to Lidia Stopyra. – We are concerned that there will be enough places in hospitals, especially in children’s wards – admits the specialist. – Children will have a large share in the development of the fourth wave, because not all of them could be vaccinated, and vaccinating those older than 12 years is too small. Simply put, they will be infected. If a flu epidemic breaks through, there may be a shortage of beds in hospitals. It will just be a drama.

An infectious disease and pediatrics specialist reminds that “in the previous flu seasons, before the COVID-19 epidemic, pediatric wards were full”. – We were making extra beds, there was a shortage of places. We experience the same with the RS virus.

Moreover, we expect the coming flu season to actually be tougher than the previous one. There was no flu epidemic last year. Some children born at the end of 2019 and in 2020 did not pass the flu. Meanwhile, contracting it in previous seasons gives partial immunity and may alleviate symptoms. Not getting sick increases the risk of severe flu and hospitalization. Children with flu are most often hospitalized because of pneumonia and myositis. The dramatic situation is when myocarditis occurs. Such a condition may result in the death of the child.

How to avoid influenza and COVID-19 co-infections? The best weapon

The answer to the question posed above is still the same: get vaccinated against COVID-19 and against influenza. – It’s our best weapon. In the first case, we do not have the drug, in the flu we do, but the drug is the last resort and it is better not to use it – says our expert and reminds: “ We have a fourth wave, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to vaccinate against COVID-19. It is not so, let’s get vaccinated if we have not already done so. As for the flu, now’s the best time to get the flu vaccine.

1. Doctors urge people to get vaccinated against the flu. When is the best time to do this? An important change

However, the statistics are not optimistic. The research conducted by UCE RESEARCH and SYNO Poland shows that almost 60 percent. Poles do not want to vaccinate against influenza (more on this topic: Almost 60% of Poles do not want to. Why?).

When talking about measures to reduce the risk of falling ill, one cannot forget about the principles that have accompanied us since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: wearing protective masks and keeping a distance. In the coming flu season, these precautions could “double protect us from both of these viruses,” says epidemiologist Dr. Seema Yasmin.

1. Medical disposable 3-layer masks – 2 pieces (000 × 40) now at a promotional price on Medonet Market.

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