“Flu has surprised us in recent years,” infectologist and paediatrician Maria Koliou told CNA following the death of a four-year-old girl from flu A on Monday.
Koliou outlined common symptoms and prevention measures to limit transmission of the virus, noting that whilst rare, serious complications such as encephalitis or sepsis can occur from flu, even in healthy children.
“It’s rare, but not strange, complications happen,” she said, noting that in recent years flu has been “so severe it surprises us.”
Common flu symptoms include respiratory system symptoms with coughing, nasal congestion, sneezing, severe weakness, bone and joint pain, and sometimes diarrhoea in young children.
She noted there is currently a large outbreak of the flu virus, with many cases hospitalised at Makarios Hospital, which she said “are the tip of the iceberg, the serious cases.”
She added that paediatricians see many cases daily, whilst the Health Ministry has the overall picture through statistics and monitors activity weekly.
Vaccination key to prevention
The doctor stressed that vaccination is the alpha and omega of prevention. Children should be vaccinated from six months to five years old. “Even with this virus subtype that deviates from the usual ones, it appears the vaccine protects from severe illness,” she emphasised.
She noted the World Health Organisation recommends vaccination for children up to 15 years old. After this age, risks from the illness are considered smaller. For infants under six months, vaccinating their environment is recommended.
The vaccine is also recommended for people over 60 and those with chronic illnesses, as well as pregnant women, who are considered high risk and can have the vaccine in the third trimester.
Protection measures
Proposing protection measures, she said avoiding crowding is important or, where this cannot be avoided, ventilating spaces well. She noted healthy people should avoid contact with those who are ill.
Regarding sick people, she said when they cough or sneeze they should put a tissue to their face, then throw it away and wash their hands.
“This instruction is very important. The flu virus lives up to 48 hours in mucus on objects or in the environment. If we touch it and put it in our eyes or mouth, we catch it,” she said.
She also stressed that sick people should not go to work to avoid transmitting the virus, for at least 1-2 days after remaining fever-free, noting that symptoms usually last five days.
Regarding children, the doctor emphasised the need for good ventilation of spaces. “During breaks, children should learn to go outside, run, ventilate their organism and the classroom,” she suggested, also noting the importance of healthy diet and exercise.
Dr Koliou also said that when a child is sick, “parents must show responsibility and keep them at home,” characterising as “criminal” the sending of children to school with antipyretics and exposing other children to illness.
(information from CNA)
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