Citizens warned of flu symptoms amidst seasonal transitions

Since the beginning of December, the number of people, especially children and the elderly, seeking treatment for the seasonal flu virus at hospitals throughout Ho Chi Minh City has been on the rise.

Meanwhile, in the northern region, the onset of winter has brought about a period of colder temperatures which has in turn affected the health of individuals, particularly those more prone to respiratory infections such as influenza A, respiratory failure, and pneumonia.

In the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, as many as 30 patients have been hospitalised due to influenza A. Of those, many cases have suffered from severe respiratory failure and duly required ventilation.

Meanwhile, the number of patients suffering from flu increased at the National Children's Hospital in late December due to the cold weather with high humidity.

Doctor Nguyen Van Lam, head of the Centre for Tropical Diseases under the National Children's Hospital, said that the majority of hospitalized cases tested positive for influenza A.

The influenza virus disease is common during the cold season. Young patients suffering from influenza A usually only show mild symptoms. However, for the elderly, people with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as children under five, the disease poses a higher rate of severe progression and death.

Lam shared that when people show symptoms of influenza A, such as headaches, fever, a runny nose, fatigue, or the chills, they need to go to a medical facility to undergo examination to ensure that they can receive early and appropriate treatment.

Furthermore, members of vulnerable groups should follow a healthy diet to improve their immune system, as well as avoiding crowded places, especially in places where many cases of respiratory-related diseases have been reported.