On February 6, information from Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital showed that since the Lunar New Year, the number of children with influenza A, influenza B and other types of influenza coming to the hospital for examination and treatment has tended to increase.
Most children are brought to the hospital when they first develop symptoms such as high fever, runny nose, and sneezing. Some children are admitted late (after 3-4 days of symptoms appearing), leading to complications such as pneumonia, otitis media, etc., requiring inpatient treatment. Currently, the number of children hospitalized with influenza ranges from 30-40 cases per day.
Specialist II Doctor Vuong Thi Minh Nguyet - Head of the Examination Department, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital - said that the situation of many children with seasonal flu has appeared since before Tet and has lasted until now. Depending on the severity of the disease, the doctor will prescribe hospitalization or advise the child to be cared for at home.
Seasonal influenza is an acute infectious disease with typical symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose, sore throat and cough. The main causative agents are influenza A(H3N2), influenza A(H1N1), influenza B and influenza C viruses.
The disease is highly contagious through the respiratory tract, through small droplets of saliva or nasal secretions from sneezing, coughing, spitting. Usually, the disease is mild and can recover within 2 - 7 days.
However, in young children, children with congenital heart disease, immunodeficiency, as well as the elderly with chronic diseases (cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, metabolic, anemia...), the disease can progress more severely, easily cause complications, and can be fatal.
According to the Nghe An Provincial Center for Disease Control, in January 2025, the whole province recorded 655 cases of flu.
Health experts recommend that influenza vaccination is the most effective preventive measure. Currently, influenza vaccine is not included in the Expanded Immunization Program.
However, in Nghe An there are many vaccination service facilities, helping people access flu vaccines conveniently.
