«This season is much more severe than the last one»: Mykolaiv Centre for Infectious Diseases told about the incidence of influenza

The Centre for the Treatment of Infectious Diseases at City Hospital №5. Photo: Mykolaiv Health Department

In Mykolaiv, the incidence of influenza and ARVI remains high. This year's season is much more severe than the last one.

This was stated by Lyudmyla Pikhtereva, head of the Centre for the Treatment of Infectious Diseases at City Hospital №5.

Over the past week, 2757 people fell ill in the city, and 79 patients were hospitalised. In particular, the Centre for Infectious Diseases Treatment, which operates on the basis of City Hospital No. 5, is currently treating 35 patients diagnosed with SARS and influenza, including 6 pregnant women and many young people.

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«This season is much more severe than the last one. There are more patients with influenza, more severe cases, often caused by influenza B, although at the beginning of the year we diagnosed mainly influenza A. As for covid, it has been almost completely replaced by circulating aggressive strains of the influenza pathogen, and its circulation is now at a minimum», said Liudmyla Pikhtereva.

According to her, many cases of bacterial superinfection and atypical pneumonia have been recorded this year. Also, according to the head of the Centre for the Treatment of Infectious Diseases, a lot of young people are getting sick.

«Many pregnant women have been treated in the department since then, 23 in total. There are many elderly patients with acute deterioration of chronic heart and lung diseases against the background of respiratory diseases. The clinical course is characterised by broncho-obstructive manifestations, hacking cough, shortness of breath with normal saturation, severe weakness, intoxication, body temperature can rise to 38 and above during the day, burning in the throat, headache, and nausea and vomiting in one third of patients. Fortunately, we have not had any fatalities this season», she added.

Liudmyla Pikhtereva explained what to do in case of flu symptoms. She noted that it is important to take a special flu test and consult a doctor. She also emphasised that antiviral therapy should be started as early as possible during the flu, but antibiotics should not be taken on your own - it is dangerous.

«Firstly, you do not need to take antibiotics yourself. We never tire of repeating that antibiotics do not affect viruses and do not treat viral diseases! Self-prescribing antibiotics is dangerous not only because of the possible side effects of these drugs, but also because of the risk of developing antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, which may make it impossible to treat with antibiotics in the future when it is really needed. Only in certain cases of bacterial complications of viral infections can antibiotics be prescribed, but only by a doctor», she added.

As reported earlier, 6297 people fell ill with influenza and ARVI in Mykolaiv region last week, including 37 with COVID-19.