Detect dangers when simultaneously infected with both influenza and coronavirus

Chinese and Russian scientists have discovered the dangers of simultaneously being infected with both flu and coronavirus.

Russia's Izvestia reports that Russian scientists warn of double infection - when one person is infected with both influenza and Covid-19 at the same time - especially dangerous for patients, especially those suffering from the disease. chronic and for all others.

If a person becomes infected with the flu earlier, testing systems may not detect SARS-CoV-2 . This means that infected people will continue to spread dangerous strains. Similar cases have been reported in China.

If a person has two contagious diseases at the same time, the coronavirus diagnostic test can give a false negative result.

Specifically, a 69-year-old man with high fever and a dry cough was found at the Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital in Beijing. Previously, the patient had visited Wuhan. Three SARS-CoV-2 tests showed negative results. At the same time, a high-precision PCR diagnostic method shows patients with type A influenza. However, doctors have been confused with the obvious signs of viral pneumonia, visible on X-rays. It turned out the man was sick with two infections at once.

Thus, experts found that if a person has two infectious diseases at the same time, the coronavirus diagnostic test can give a false negative result. The chance of samples giving false results increases if infected with flu before Covid-19 infection.

The danger here is that the patient will continue to be a carrier of coronavirus and have the potential to spread strongly to others. Therefore, experts in infectious diseases recommend to check patients on both infections to start treatment as soon as possible.

Russian biophysicist Oleg Batischev confirms that the possibility of double infection is possible. He explained that influenza primarily affects the upper respiratory tract, while coronavirus affects the lower respiratory tract. In this case, a second infectious pathogen enters the body that may develop under a more serious scenario.

The head of the genetic code laboratory at Moscow Technical Physics University (MIPT) noted that concurrent flu and coronavirus infection will worsen the prognosis for recovery. Among high-risk groups are those with other chronic illnesses.

Previously, scientists from Stanford University Medical Center have confirmed that people infected with an acute respiratory virus may be infected with coronavirus. Experts analyzed data on 562 patients suspected of Covid-19. As it turned out, one in five patients with coronavirus also had another respiratory infection. In addition, every tenth patient hospitalized for a common cold is also ill with Covid-19.

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