Pooi Yue Cheung (also known as Zhang Shenyue) uploaded a family photo on social media on the second day of the Lunar New Year (23rd), but it turns out the family almost couldn't celebrate the New Year together. She mentioned that her eldest daughter contracted Influenza A in December, but unfortunately, the virus entered her brain and caused complications, leading to meningitis, scarlet fever, septicaemia, and toxic shock syndrome. She was in a coma for over ten days in the intensive care unit at Queen Mary Hospital and was once in a critical condition. Zhang Xinyue admitted that her family had prepared for the worst, but fortunately, her daughter miraculously recovered. She expressed her gratitude to the medical staff and felt thankful that her family could celebrate the festival together. Paediatric specialist Dr. Chan Yan-wing stated that December to March is the peak season for Influenza A each year. He advises parents and children to pay attention to hygiene to prevent infection, or to get vaccinated with the seasonal flu vaccine to prevent influenza and severe complications.
Influenza A | Beware the peak flu season: Understand the symptoms and how they differ from a common cold
Zhang Xinyue's eldest daughter just had her 14th birthday. The photos uploaded show her in high spirits, but unexpectedly she nearly went to the gates of hell due to type A influenza. Paediatrician Dr. Chan Yan-wing stated that the peak period for winter flu is from December to March each year, with a smaller summer peak from July to August.
Influenza A is a common respiratory infection virus with symptoms including upper respiratory tract infection symptoms, coughing, a runny nose, and phlegm. Key symptoms that differ from a common cold are a persistent high fever, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, and nausea. Treatment for a common cold mainly focuses on relieving symptoms, whereas Influenza A can be treated with Tamiflu.
Influenza A can lead to serious complications, such as meningitis and myocarditis; in the worst-case scenario, such as ‘necrotising meningitis’, the mortality rate can reach as high as 60% to 70%.He urged parents not to underestimate the flu; should a child contract both COVID-19 and the flu at the same time, the severity of the illness and the risk of complications would increase significantly, so this should not be taken lightly!
Dr Chan explained why the seasonal flu vaccine needs to be administered annually. This is because the influenza virus mutates each year, and the WHO estimates the types of influenza viruses annually to produce the vaccine. The current vaccine can prevent two types of influenza A viruses and two types of influenza B viruses.
Scarlet fever | Bacterial infection, can be fatal if severe
Zhang Xinyue's daughter has scarlet fever and sepsis simultaneously. Dr. Chan explained that scarlet fever is not a complication of influenza A. Scarlet fever is caused by a streptococcal A infection spread through droplets or by bacteria commonly found on the skin entering the body through wounds. If the bacteria enter the bloodstream, it can lead to sepsis and shock, which can be fatal in severe cases. This condition requires antibiotic treatment.
Influenza A | Prevention should focus on personal hygiene and vaccination
Dr. Chan stated that the most important measure for flu prevention is hygiene, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, where one must not slacken and be careful of double infection. Furthermore,Get vaccinatedis the most direct and effective way to prevent catching influenza and developing serious complications.
