Muscovites began to mow down viruses-“recidivists” – MK

Many people talk about how they fall ill in the second, and even in the third circle after a fairly short period of time after the illness. “We were seriously ill with the flu with the whole family, we were barely recovering. Just a couple of weeks have passed – and now the temperature has risen again! – says Vasily from Perovo. “Already tired of coughing. As soon as I went to work, I again have to take sick leave, ”Olga, a teacher of elementary grades, shares her story.

Is it possible to catch the flu again and again? Why was he absent throughout the pandemic, and now he has roamed with tripled strength? Read in the material “MK”.

According to the Research Institute of Influenza, the incidence of all acute respiratory viral infections at the 49th week confidently crossed the mark of + 100% and amounted to + 105.1% of the baseline. “About one-fifth of all acute respiratory viral infections are influenza – mainly H1N1 variations of 2009. At the same time, rates of morbidity and hospitalization with influenza continue to skyrocket. In some regions, they convulsively recall that anti-covid measures were also anti-flu measures, mask regimes are being introduced in medical and social institutions, but, as in the case of covid, these measures are first of all needed on all public transport.

According to Rospotrebnadzor in Moscow, at week 49, 2022, the epidemiological situation for influenza and SARS in the capital is still tense. Epidemic thresholds for morbidity in the total population have been exceeded among adults and among children aged 7-14 years. But in young children (up to 6 years old), everything is not so bad: the incidence is below the epidemiological thresholds. An increase in the incidence of influenza and SARS in the last couple of weeks has been observed only among the adult population.

According to laboratory monitoring data, the proportion of influenza A(H1N1)-2009 (aka swine) influenza viruses has increased in the structure of circulating respiratory viruses. Flu is in the news so often that people began to massively diagnose it in themselves literally at the first symptoms of a cold.

Let’s start with the fact that it is possible to confidently state that you were ill with the flu and became infected with it again only according to the results of laboratory tests. There are express tests for influenza, there is PCR testing. However, such studies are rarely done. Even the most experienced specialist will not be able to distinguish influenza from other acute respiratory viruses (and there are more than two hundred of them) only by clinical manifestations, let alone patients. Yes, the flu has characteristic manifestations: it starts abruptly, literally from scratch, with a rise in temperature. The patient can name not only the day, but even the exact hour when he fell ill. Catarrhal symptoms (cough, runny nose, sore throat, etc.) join only on the second day. SARS in most cases begin with a sore throat, itching in the nose, etc. – the temperature rises after. However, the course of some SARS is very similar to the flu, and covid can also have quite flu-like symptoms. Therefore, analysis is needed. At least in order to identify covid, its treatment is very different from the treatment of other SARS. For the flu, antiviral drugs have also been developed that do not act on other respiratory viruses. By the way, one of the latest scientific works has shown that those who are infected or have just recovered from the flu are much more easily infected with covid. The fact is that influenza A viruses, including the “pork” H1N1, increase the expression of the ACE2 receptor, the same one through which the coronavirus enters the cells. Therefore, a previous infection with the flu increases the chances for the entry of the coronavirus.

“If you have symptoms of an acute respiratory infection, it’s not necessarily the flu,” said MK. well-known infectious disease specialist, professor Nikolai Malyshev. – Not only that – it may not even be one of the two hundred respiratory viruses, but a bacterial infection, or a fungal one. And it can also be a mixed infection – at once a whole cocktail of viruses, possibly with the addition of bacteria or fungi. And if you get sick again after a short period of time, it may be a completely different infection – you can consistently get sick with anything. Moreover, take, for example, adenovirus. Sometimes during the season it gives several waves in a row. It seems that you get sick once, it went to recovery. And then – time! – and became infected again, with the same pathogen. It happens that way too. In addition, scientific publications have already appeared (not many, but they exist) that the virus can remain in the body for a long time, for several weeks, and under some circumstances (stress, reduced immunity) react. And the person has the same symptoms.

How common are mixed infections?

– Often. At one time, we did immunofluorescent analyzes on smears from patients in the infectious diseases hospital. Viruses that caused disease were identified. And often (we are talking about tens of percent of patients) they observed how another virus sits on one – simultaneously or sequentially. Unfortunately, this may be the case. And not even two, but three or more viruses.

– But if we take the reference situation – is it possible to get sick with the same strain of influenza twice during the season?

– In principle, the flu can be ill several times in a row. Do not forget about persistence – such cases are rare, but they do occur. And yet, if it is the same strain of influenza, in many cases it gives immunity for a long time, even for decades. But it depends on the severity of the disease: if the patient was ill severely or moderately severely, the immunity will most often be good, but if the patient was ill in a mild form, there may be no immunity at all.

– During the pandemic, we did not observe the flu for two whole years. And now he’s back – and literally turned around. What is the reason?

– The main reason is that we fought the coronavirus. And this is SARS. We were protected, we were forced to wear masks, we kept our distance, we were in quarantine. At one time, Academician Zhdanov said that if people were put in isolation for a month, many viral infections transmitted by airborne droplets would completely disappear from nature. During the pandemic, we fought one virus, and in fact, a bunch of others.

– Can we say that this season the flu is more aggressive than in past years?

– I would not say. In 2009 and 2010, the flu was very aggressive. We did not really know how to treat him, there was no vaccine. Now this is not even close.

Rospotrebnadzor recalls that during the rise in the incidence of influenza and SARS, wearing masks in public places, maintaining social distance, frequent washing and treating hands with antiseptics is of great importance for prevention. Work groups are advised to ensure that people with symptoms of the disease do not come to organized groups.

Well, once again they warn about the inadmissibility of self-treatment: if anything, consult a doctor.