The autumn season is a period of increased incidence of influenza.
In this regard, we interviewed the doctor of the National Hospital for a Healthy Lifestyle Smailova Flyura Kommunaevna.
1. Now is the time for the flu. What can you say about the spread of influenza in connection with the autumn season?
Acute respiratory diseases (ARVI) – a group of infections that cause an inflammatory process in pathogens that enter the human body through the respiratory tract. They can be causative agents of viruses, various bacteria, chlamydia and mycoplasmas.
Up to 90% of diseases are caused by viruses that we call ARVI, that is, an acute respiratory viral infection. The most severe acute respiratory viral infection is influenza.
For many people, the autumn season is associated with colds. This is understandable – in the fall, the body begins to reorient from summer to winter, and during this period certain difficulties arise.
In addition, in the fall, viral infections begin to “wake up” and become active with a cold snap. They are found everywhere, in public places, in transport and in workplaces. The source of infection is a sick person. In the first week of disease activity, the patient poses the greatest danger to others. If you sneeze or cough, you get infected
There are people who get the flu again in the same season, why?
It is known that the main defender of our body is the immune system, the stronger our immunity, the fewer infections. We are in contact with viruses and bacteria every day, but not everyone is sick. Medical science has proven that several factors affect human health: heredity (genetic predisposition), environmental conditions and lifestyle. In this case, the priority of the last factor is up to 50%.
Factors affecting the decrease in the body’s protective ability include hypothermia, stress, bad habits, poor diet, insomnia at night, obesity, chronic diseases. All of them negatively affect the immune system. A weak immune system cannot resist microbes that easily enter our body and cause respiratory diseases. It follows that it is necessary to strengthen and maintain the immune system.
3. How does vaccination help not get the flu?
Immunity is the body system that serves as protection. It recognizes, examines and remembers extraneous elements and participates in their destruction. All microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites) and their metabolic products are “foreign” to the body. After each contact with this infection, protective proteins – antibodies – are formed in the body.
Some of them remain in the body for life. When vaccinated, a person suffers from a mild form of the disease. His body forms an immune defense against this infection, that is, antibodies are produced. When meeting the virus again, immune cells easily fight infection.
After contracting the flu, a person may get sick, but the disease is mild and there will be no complications. And most of those vaccinated do not get sick at all. This is very important for ending the chain of spread of influenza. Because among us there are people who, for health reasons, do not receive vaccinations and have a high risk of getting the flu
Should it be done once a year? Or is it related to the disease?
Seasonal flu is common in the world. Also in the autumn-winter period reaches a peak.
There are 4 types of seasonal influenza viruses – type A, B, C and D. Influenza viruses A and B spread rapidly and cause a seasonal epidemic of the disease. According to experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 1 billion cases of seasonal flu every year. Including 3-5 million severe forms of the disease, which can lead to complications. Therefore, it is recommended to get vaccinated before the start of the flu season, when a strong immunity forms in the body. With infection or exacerbation of chronic diseases, you cannot get vaccinated. In this case, it is necessary to consult a doctor after the full restoration of vaccination.
