Although the incidence of influenza per 100,000 population decreased from 433 at the end of last year to 268 in the second week of this year, the number of cases of influenza complications - pneumonia - increased from 15 to 105, with the largest increase observed in the age group of 65 and older, writes Latvijas Avīze.
The influenza virus can affect not only the lungs but also other organ systems, such as the heart.
There are four types of influenza viruses, three of which infect humans. Types A and B cause severe forms of the disease, while type C causes mild respiratory infections.
This season, all confirmed influenza viruses at the National Microbiological Reference Laboratory belong to type A - subtype A/H3 predominates in 82% of cases. The influenza virus primarily causes fever (38-40°C), a dry, irritating cough, chest pain, headache, weakness, muscle and joint pain, as well as nasal congestion. In children, vomiting and diarrhea are often also observed. In adults, the disease usually presents in a mild form, and patients recover within 7-10 days, but in some cases, the illness can be severe, leading to complications that sometimes result in death. People over 65 years old, those with chronic illnesses, pregnant women, and infants are at greater risk for complications. Statistics show that approximately 15% of infected individuals develop severe complications.
Infectious disease specialist Velga Kuse identifies pneumonia as the most common complication of influenza, which can be caused by both viral and bacterial infections. "In cases of hemorrhagic pneumonia caused by the primary influenza virus, the disease progresses rapidly, accompanied by very high fever. This complication, which can be fatal, is rarely observed. More often, secondary bacterial pneumonia develops during recovery. It manifests as a recurrent rise in temperature and deterioration of condition," the specialist stated.
