EXPERTS WARN AGAINST INFLUENZA, ‘IT SHOULD NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED’

Health professionals warns the public that influenza can lead to potentially fatal illnesses like pneumonia and should not be taken lightly (Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News)

Experts warned Filipinos that influenza should not be underestimated, as Google searches for influenza-induced pneumonia rose in the Philippines. Following the untimely death of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu (more popularly known as Shan Cai), due to influenza-induced pneumonia.

Unlike bacteria which can be treated with antibiotics, viruses can only be managed. A pulmonologist at the Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center, Dr. J. Jose Turla explains why viral pneumonia is much more serious.

“I can say that it is more dangerous. Viral pneumonia, because the pathophysiology is different. It is higher because it causes inflammation in our airways particularly in the airsac or space where oxygen passes to the blood,” Dr. Turla states on ABS-CBN News report.

The Lung Center of the Philippines said three factors determine how one might be affected by an illness — the virulence of a microorganism, the host and the prevailing environment. “The weaker the body, the weaker the immune system, the greater the risk of contracting other germs.”

“So if that's what happened to you, you have no protection there even if you had vaccines for pneumonia which is specific for pneumococcal pneumonia. So sometimes, the viral infection is superimposed by a bacterial infection. There is a superimposed bacterial infection. So sometimes, what starts out as a viral infection becomes a bacterial infection,” LCP Spokesperson Dr. Norberto Francisco said.

Health professionals advocate for getting vaccine shots as one of the ways to avoid such outcomes. Various healthcare providers offer vaccinations against influenza and pneumonia like Mercury Drug, Watsons, Southstar Drug, Hi-Precision Diagnostics, and Kindred.

While the influenza vaccine is recommended for those six months and above, experts advised the vulnerable population and those with comorbidities to wear face masks and get the flu and pneumococcal vaccines.

Source: The Manila Times 

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