Swine flu can cause viral pneumonia

[Crabtownboy]

It is going to be a bad winter. Protect yourself!

WASHINGTON - The World Health Organization urged doctors yesterday to treat suspected swine flu cases as quickly as possible with antiviral drugs, warning that the virus can cause potentially life-threatening viral pneumonia much more commonly than the typical flu, sometimes in relatively young, otherwise healthy people.

“It’s not like seasonal influenza,’’ said Nikki Shindo, a medical officer in the WHO’s Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response Department. “It can cause very severe disease in previously healthy young adults.’’

Shindo’s made those comments at the conclusion of a special three-day meeting in Washington of more than 100 specialists from around the world.

The WHO called the meeting to review the latest research on the H1N1 virus and to revise guidelines for treatment.

Unlike the seasonal flu, Shindo said, the virus appears more likely to travel deep into the lungs, where it can cause viral pneumonia. Such a condition can cause severe lung damage and a life-threatening condition known as acute respiratory distress syndrome.

“Remarkably different is this small subset of patients that presents very severe viral pneumonia,’’ Shindo said.

Shindo noted that some hospitals in Australia and New Zealand were severely strained by seriously ill swine flu patients during their winter, which recently ended.

“This disease overwhelmed emergency rooms and especially intensive care units because of the very severe patients that required special care,’’ Shindo said, urging hospitals to prepare for the possibility of a significant number of patients requiring intensive care.

 

[annsni]

From what I understand, it's not actually the flu that is getting a lot of the people but the pneumonia that follows it quickly. The biggest thing is, if you DO get the flu and begin to have any trouble breathing, GET TO THE HOSPITAL. It's not normal to have breathing trouble with the flu.

 

[Johnv]

That's my understanding as well. Influenza does not cause pneumonia. But a body weakened by influenza is more susceptible to infections, including (but not limited to) respiratory infections such as pneumonia.

 

[Crabtownboy]

That's my understanding as well. Influenza does not cause pneumonia. But a body weakened by influenza is more susceptible to infections, including (but not limited to) respiratory infections such as pneumonia.

The bottom line is that viral pneumonia is an extremely serious disease ... often fatal.

 

[Johnv]

True, but that doesn't mean that the flu causes pneumonia.

 

[Crabtownboy]

True, but that doesn't mean that the flu causes pneumonia.

An indirect cause perhaps. But if it kills me the fine point of what caused it is academic.

 

[Johnv]

Point taken.

 

[rbell]

Now, ya'll stop messing up a good scare campaign!!!

Common sense and educating yourself: the antidote.

Another antidote: Taking the mainstream media's "live in fear" approach with a grain of salt.

That's my understanding as well. Influenza does not cause pneumonia. But a body weakened by influenza is more susceptible to infections, including (but not limited to) respiratory infections such as pneumonia.

Right on.

From what I understand, it's not actually the flu that is getting a lot of the people but the pneumonia that follows it quickly. The biggest thing is, if you DO get the flu and begin to have any trouble breathing, GET TO THE HOSPITAL. It's not normal to have breathing trouble with the flu.

Right on, again.