Flu B syndrome and things to note

Since the beginning of the year, viral fever syndrome has occurred in all northern provinces. According to the report of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, the number of cases has reached tens of thousands of cases.

Image of influenza virus (Photo: TTO) National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and preventive medicine centers in the provinces have urgently entered. Many specimens are tested and tested positive for influenza B virus, a type of influenza virus that causes a common cold, but will be dangerous for people with chronic illnesses, the elderly, and malnourished children. , pregnant women without timely preventive measures.

How does influenza B virus affect health?

According to Assoc. Pham Ngoc Dinh, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, influenza B virus is a type of influenza virus, capable of causing influenza in humans. However, other influenza A viruses are in place: this flu virus has little change in antigenic structure, can only cause outbreaks of flu, regular flu, mild changes, can cause outbreaks by themselves. It either binds with other respiratory infections.

This is a benign virus, respiratory disease, incubation period of 1-3 days and disease changes 3-5 days. Subjects infected are all people, especially children under 5 years of age, the elderly, immunocompromised people and people with other chronic diseases.

When entering the body, influenza B virus causes symptoms such as fever (high fever, sudden), upper respiratory tract inflammation, cough, sore throat, rarely appear symptoms of inflammation Lower respiratory such as pneumonia, bronchitis. If these manifestations can be caused by complications or associated with other viruses.

Influenza B is a free disease, often without treatment. After being infected, the immunity period is short, only a few years, the patient can become infected again. Viral illness should not have prophylactic antibiotics. However, the disease seriously affects the first 3 months of the fetus (which may cause malformation), malnourished children, people with chronic diseases.

Current weather conditions are very favorable for developing influenza B virus

According to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, since the beginning of the year, the number of people with viral fever syndrome has reached tens of thousands of cases. Localities with high number of patients (over 1,000 cases) are Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai, Bac Giang, Lao Cai, Nam Dinh, Lang Son, Hung Yen, Quang Ninh, in which Yen Bai is the locality with the number of people suffering highest: 5,155 people (as of March 23, 2006). In 5 provinces where the epidemic was found, the institute investigated and took samples for 98 cases of fever during the 3-5 day period, resulting in 50/98 cases of positive for type B.

Epidemiological experts say that influenza B circulates in our country all year round, winter-spring weather is often a favorable factor for epidemics to develop, especially in areas of poor sanitation, lack of people. awareness of disease prevention and treatment, there is no habit of accessing health services like ethnic minority people in mountainous, deep-lying and remote areas. With the current situation, type B influenza pandemic is likely to continue to explode even more if people are not actively involved with the epidemic.

Prevention to limit the epidemic and prevent the combination of influenza B virus with influenza A H5N1 virus

Since human influenza A H5N1 has been fatal, health experts have been worried about the emergence of this pandemic worldwide if it can spread from person to person, but the greatest risk is the combination. of influenza A H5N1 with other common strains of influenza (influenza B). Therefore, there are measures to prevent the outbreak of influenza B now that is essential.

In order to limit the epidemic, quarantine measures are required when children are infected, such as children should not be sent to school or daycare when they are sick with influenza to avoid spreading it to other children. Everyone must pay attention to personal hygiene, eating and drinking. In areas where epidemics are available, people need to wear masks when interacting with patients as well as when traveling. If there are serious complications need to take patients to medical facilities.

There is now a B-flu vaccine, located in a triple vaccine called influenza A H3N2 - influenza A H1N1 - influenza B. This vaccine is updated every year by the World Health Organization and recommended, if possible. annual injection because of immunity for only 6 months to 2 years. The best vaccination time is August or 9.