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Influenza in Poland is poorly diagnosed. It is often thrown in the same bag with other viral infections. Laboratory tests are most often performed when the patient’s condition is very serious and he goes to the hospital. From the beginning of October 2021 to the end of May 2022, over 1,8 thousand people were tested. samples and confirmed 373 cases of influenza, and only one last season. Experts explain that this does not mean that the flu is not there.
- One person in the world dies from flu every minute. In Poland, about 2021 million cases of this disease were recorded in the flu season 2022/2,4
- Nearly 7 percent were also vaccinated during this period. Poles. This is an increase of 1 percentage point. compared to the previous season.
- This increase was due, inter alia, to from the vaccination refund. Healthcare staff, nursing homes and teachers were vaccinated free of charge, and from November 2021 all persons over 18 years of age
- The Ministry of Health has announced that in the upcoming season 2022/2023 it will not continue the program of public vaccination against influenza financed from the budget
- More current information can be found on the Onet homepage
Infections “spilled out”
Influenza may be confused with other viral infections, the more so as no in-depth diagnostics is done in offices. A patient with typical ailments for this disease, but also for other viral infections – dry and tiring cough, shortness of breath, headache, muscle pain, chest pain, chills, very high fever and general weakness – is treated symptomatically, provided, of course, that there is no purulent plugs in the throat or a purulent, runny nose.
“My symptoms initially resembled a spring allergy – runny nose, swollen nose, headache. Over time, she developed a temperature and a sore throat. That’s when I realized it wasn’t an allergy after all. For a week I had a fever of over 37 degrees C. I was very weak and broken. A choking cough appeared. I felt like sleeping all the time, but the cough tired me so much that it was difficult for me to lie down – explains Ms Karolina, with whom the doctor recently diagnosed a viral infection.
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Doctors in this case usually recommend a similar procedure. Occasionally they only take a swab to confirm infection with a specific pathogen.
– In such infections, the immunity is strengthened with vitamins, moisturizing of the mucous membranes is recommended, or inhalations when there is a cough. The body has to fight itself. In case of high fever, but not below 38 degrees C, we recommend measures to reduce the temperature – explains dr Bożena Janicka, family doctor.
It also confirms that the laboratory diagnosis of influenza is only when the patient is admitted to the hospital due to the severe course of the disease. In addition, he notes that there are more patients in clinics than last year, and these are mostly viral infections, with high fever, mainly in children.
– At the moment, we observe in the clinics that the infections have “spilled out” because there is more interpersonal contact. Viruses are still circulating. Not all cases are diagnosed as influenza. This is really only done when the patient is admitted to the hospital ward. Then it turns out, for example, that it is a mixture of both flu and COVID-19. It also happens that it can occur even in one patient – noted Dr. Janicka.
The expert admits that family doctors order tests to detect COVID-1, mainly when the condition is serious or there has been a case of the disease with a severe complication in the family.
Flu in numbers
Prof. Lidia Brydak from the National Institute of Public Health PZH-PIB emphasized that flu is a seasonal disease, and the epidemic season begins on October 1 and ends on September 30 of the following year. The expert also said that in the last epidemic season 2020/2021, 2 samples were tested in the country, but only in one case the presence of the influenza virus was confirmed.
– In the 2021/2022 season, by the end of May 2022, 1 patient materials were collected and 827 cases of influenza virus circulation were confirmed. 373 deaths have been registered. The number of deaths in Poland is definitely underestimated – told Medonet prof. dr hab. Lidia Brydak, head of the Department of Influenza Research and head of the National Influenza Center.
Flu – what is this disease?
Flu is an acute contagious disease. It is caused by a virus that affects the respiratory tract. You can get sick with it many times. After crossing it, immunity is acquired for a short time, because the pathogen quickly mutates. That is why it is worth getting vaccinated every season. Experts warn not to ignore its symptoms, as it can cause serious complications.
It takes about two days from the infection to appear until the first symptoms appear. We infect others with the virus the day before the first symptoms appear. Infectivity may persist for up to 10 days.
This disease is especially dangerous for people from high-risk groups, i.e. after organ transplantation, with chronic heart and lung diseases, diabetics, as well as children, pregnant women and the elderly.
Flu – how do you recognize it?
No laboratory tests are necessary for its treatment. Few of them are commissioned in Poland. These are rapid antigen tests.
“We don’t really commission tests, and we don’t really know how many flu cases there are. There are no common tests. The ministry is trying to make more common diagnostics, for example to diagnose angina in the throat with a smear, i.e. tests for streptococcus. On the other hand, for CRP studies to study inflammatory markers. However, when it comes to the flu test, there has never been such a tradition, she explained.
Do you want to test your COVID-19 immunity after vaccination? Have you been infected and want to check your antibody levels? See the COVID-19 immunity test package, which you will perform at Diagnostics network points.
We encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the RESET podcast. This time we devote it to one of the ways to deal with stress – the TRE method. What is it about? How does it release us from stress and trauma? Who is it intended for and who should definitely not use it? About this in the latest episode of our podcast.