Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a significant health concern globally, including in Sri Lanka.
This acute respiratory infection, caused by influenza viruses, impacts individuals across all demographics, presenting a constant challenge to public health systems.
St. Joseph Hospital in Negombo is at the forefront of addressing this challenge, providing essential information, diagnosis, and treatment to manage and mitigate the impact of influenza within our community.
What is Influenza?
Influenza is an acute and highly contagious respiratory illness.
It’s caused by influenza viruses that infect the respiratory tract – the nose, throat, and lungs. Influenza can manifest in a spectrum of severity, from mild symptoms that resolve without medical intervention to severe illnesses that necessitate hospitalization.
In some cases, particularly among high-risk populations, influenza can lead to death.
High-Risk Groups
While anyone can contract the flu, certain groups are at a higher risk of experiencing severe symptoms:
- Individuals aged 65 and older
- Children under 2 years
- Pregnant women
- People with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and neurological disorders
- Those with compromised respiratory function, including spinal cord injury and seizure disorder patients
- People with weakened immune systems, including cancer patients and those on immunosuppressive medications
It’s crucial to recognize that severe influenza can affect anyone, not just those in high-risk categories.
Influenza in Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, a tropical country, influenza is a year-round concern with peak occurrences from May to July and November to January.
The types of influenza viruses can vary seasonally, affecting the intensity and nature of outbreaks.
Transmission and Contagious Period
Influenza spreads primarily through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Individuals can also contract the virus by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.
An infected person can begin spreading the virus from one day before symptoms appear and continue to be contagious up to a week after becoming sick.
This period can be longer in children and those with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Symptoms of influenza appear rapidly and can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or congested nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, and in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea.
Because these symptoms overlap with other respiratory illnesses, diagnosing influenza requires laboratory tests.
Treatment
Treatment strategies for influenza are tailored to the patient’s severity of illness and risk factors.
Severe cases may require a visit to St. Joseph Hospital in Negombo or the nearest hospital to you, while mild cases in high-risk individuals might be managed at home with close monitoring.
Immediate medical attention is necessary if symptoms persist, worsen, or if severe symptoms like difficulty breathing or continuous vomiting occur.
Prevention
Reducing the risk of contracting influenza involves:
- Frequent hand washing with soap and water
- Avoiding touching the face
- Covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
- Avoiding close contact with sick individuals
- Staying home when sick
- Avoiding crowded places during peak influenza seasons
- Wearing a face mask in crowded areas during flu outbreaks
- Following public health guidelines
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is also crucial for boosting the immune system and reducing the risk of influenza.
Conclusion
Influenza remains a significant health concern, but with proper knowledge, prevention, and treatment strategies, we can minimize its impact.
St. Joseph Hospital in Negombo is committed to providing the highest standard of care to combat influenza and protect the health of our community.
When you register at St. Joseph Hospital you will receive a digital file that will contain all your information forever for easy access to you and the doctors.
Also, you won’t miss out on your appointments because we ensure we test you with a reminder when the doctor is in the hospital so you don’t have to waste time in our waiting rooms until the doctor comes in.
By staying informed and taking proactive measures, we can all contribute to a healthier, flu-free Sri Lanka.