Recently, influenza A and norovirus infection has entered the high season, the number of infected people has soared, and many schools have even chosen to suspend classes protectively.
"A stream" rushed to the hot search overnight, followed by the hot search, and oseltamivir, known as the "miracle medicine" of A stream, was directly robbed of the goods again.
Source: Web
What is a disease of influenza A and what are the symptoms? Should oseltamivir be stocked up? What should I do if I don't grab it?
Students who want to "save water" can first read the following important information.
Although the flu and the common cold are only one word different from the name, in fact, there are many differences between them.
In summary, influenza A is highly contagious, the symptoms are heavier than the common cold, and it may also cause more serious complications such as pneumonia, myocarditis, encephalitis, etc., and the harm is much greater than that of the common cold.
Of course, if you want to distinguish between influenza A and a cold, you can also be simple - do a throat swab test of influenza A (this is similar to the new crown antigen test, which can also be done at home). If it shows a positive as shown in the figure below, it is definitely infected with influenza A.
Source: Xiaobian tested it at home, although influenza A is highly contagious, but reading the article will not be contagious, everyone rest assured
First of all, the flu may indeed cause "white lungs".
"White lung" is actually a colloquial description of lung imaging findings, which means that the lungs show white shadows on x-ray or CT examination, rather than the lungs themselves being white.
Our normal lungs are full of gas, so the density is low, the rays pass through less attenuation, and the final image displayed is black.
However, when inflammation or infection occurs in the lungs, the alveoli are filled with exudate and inflammatory cells, and the rays decay much more as they pass through, and the final image is white. If the inflammation subsides and the exudate is absorbed, the "white lung" will gradually subside and return to black.
Source: Source: Reference 1
Therefore, it can be said that the real body of "white lung" is actually the imaging signs of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and the clinical manifestations are hypoxemia, respiratory distress, chest tightness and shortness of breath.
Like the new coronavirus, influenza A may also cause more serious inflammation of the lungs, resulting in more exudate, so influenza A infection may indeed cause "white lung". In previous years, similar situations have indeed occurred during the high incidence season of influenza A.
After reading the harm of influenza A mentioned above, everyone may be more panicked all of a sudden, and they can't wait to immediately take out their mobile phones and grab some oseltamivir to prepare for their families.
In fact, it is not necessary.
Oseltamivir is indeed a specific drug for influenza, by inhibiting neuraminidase, preventing the proliferation of influenza A virus. But it is also a prescription drug that needs to be used under the guidance of a doctor and is not suitable for self-administration. It is also not suitable for long-term use.
Moreover, for oseltamivir to work, there is an optimal time to take the drug.
Chen Yue, head of the outpatient pharmacy team at Peking University People's Hospital, reminded that "the use of oseltamivir to treat influenza must be timed, ideally within 36 hours after the onset of the disease - after determining that you have influenza, the sooner you use it, the better." Beyond 48 hours, there may be little benefit in people at high risk of non-severe disease, but it is still necessary for people with severe disease. [2]
Therefore, if the timing of the medication is not right, it is likely to have no effect and bring many side effects.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that oseltamivir may cause serious side effects such as confusion and hallucinations in users, especially children [3].
Common side effects of oseltamivir include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, allergies, etc., and you need to pay more attention to when taking medication.
For influenza, oseltamivir mainly plays a therapeutic role, and its preventive effect cannot be compared with influenza vaccine.
After all, the preventive effect of drugs is short-lived, and can only play an emergency temporary preventive effect, while vaccines are different. After influenza vaccination, immunity can last from several months to a year.
Therefore, timely influenza vaccination is the most effective means of preventing influenza.
In addition, multi-window ventilation is also very important, it is recommended to open the window ventilation no less than 2 times a day, each ventilation is not less than 30 minutes, to keep the indoor air fresh.
In daily life, you should also pay attention to personal hygiene, wash your hands frequently, and try to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; Cover your mouth and nose with tissues, towels, etc. when coughing or sneezing; Pay attention to maintaining healthy living habits, balanced diet, moderate exercise, and adequate rest.
Reviewer: Li Tongzeng
Chief physician of Department of Respiratory and Infectious Diseases, Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University
bibliography
1. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m1807.
2.http://www.jksb.com.cn/html/news/hot/2019/0111/131348.html
3. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/tamiflu-oseltamivir-phosphate-information
*Produced by Tencent Medical Codex Content Team