The number of people visiting the general practitioner with flu symptoms has been on the rise for several weeks and we are in the midst of a flu epidemic. It now appears that a staggering number of people contract pneumonia soon after. Sometimes with serious consequences. Doctors therefore invite vigilance and to give the alarm in time in case of pulmonary disturbances.
Flu epidemic
Since December 21, 2022, there has been a flu epidemic in our country. This is the case when more than 58 out of 100,000 people with flu ailments go to the doctor and 10% of the samples tested contain the flu virus. In the week of December 26, 2022 to January 1, 2023, this affects 66 out of 100,000 people. The RIVM holds the numbers Bee. After passing through the flu virus, the body becomes more susceptible to bacteria and as a result, it often happens that people later have to deal with pneumonia.
Surprisingly common pneumonia after the flu
In front of RTL News says Peter van der Voort, head of the CI of the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), that such pneumonia is often very nauseating. In most cases, people who receive antibiotics recover. Otherwise, the consequences can become life-threatening. Certain groups are more at risk, such as the elderly and people with weak immune systems. “But it is surprising that relatively healthy young people are now also contracting deadly pneumonia. Unfortunately, we have seen many of these patients die in recent weeks,” says Van der Voort. In front of Northern newspaper says there are many cases of pneumonia not only in the north of the country, but throughout the country.
The pressure in healthcare is on the rise
Pulmonologist Leon van den Toorn of the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam and also president of the Dutch Association of Doctors for Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis shares the concerns. He has seen the crowd increase at the hospital and says otherwise RTL news who is “extraordinarily busy” with virus infections in general, from colds, flu and corona. “But what’s remarkable is that some people who get a viral infection develop pneumonia soon after. We seem to be seeing this more now than in other years. Furthermore, Van den Toorn is also aware that even relatively young and healthy people are currently dying of pneumonia.
Flu a
According to Van der Voort, the current flu virus doesn’t differ much from other flu variants. But what differs is the number of pneumonias caused by bacteria. “If this is indeed more than in other years, research will have to prove it in the coming weeks,” he says Northern newspaper.
Reason for alert
It’s always important to keep an eye on the progress of a flu, but doctors now require more vigilance. They therefore recommend sounding the alarm in time if the flu symptoms do not go away or get worse. The flu is usually accompanied by fever, headache and body aches, but this passes after 4 or 5 days. But if the fever persists or if you suddenly become ill again after it has cleared up, then you would do well to see a doctor. Especially when you are short of breath and start coughing. Thuisarts.nl list the following symptoms you may notice with pneumonia:
- cough
- be stuffy
- fever (38 degrees or higher)
- breathing faster or harder
- faster beat of your heart
- feeling weak and lethargic
- be very tired
- sometimes: pain on deep inhalation
The longer the inflammatory reaction can last, the more difficult it is to treat it with antibiotics. Van den Toorn also advises that you should be extra careful when in large groups. So keep your distance, ventilate and wash your hands.
Call: Stay home when you’re sick
Across the NO says Chantal Rovers, professor of infectious disease outbreaks and internist-infectologist at Radboud University Medical Centre, that healthcare workers are seeing increased pressure on healthcare in relation to the flu outbreak. She points out that there have been tough flu seasons before, but that there is less leeway now. This is because there has been more absenteeism among healthcare personnel since the corona epidemic, but also because there is an increase in patients due to other causes, such as the corona virus and RS. She therefore wants to urge people to stay at home if they have flu symptoms: “Stay at home if you are sick and snotty, so avoid people in weaker health.”
(Source: RTL Nieuws, Dagblad van het Noorden, NOS, RIVM, Thuisarts, archive. Photo: Shutterstock)
