The peak for the flu that kept thousands of Italians in bed during the Christmas holidays is about to be reached. According to experts, in fact, from the end of January the road could go back downhill. The advice of Prof, Gennaro D’Amato to prevent contagion and pneumonia among adults and children.
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Interview with Prof. Gennaro D’Amato
Penumologist for years, director of the Division of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases of the highly specialized hospital of national importance “A. Cardarelli”.
The peak for the flu and colds that have kept thousands of Italians in bed in recent weeks is about to arrive: according to experts, the peak will be reached between the end of January and the beginning of February, then the road will be downhill. This year, however, the flu does not follow the normal course of winter: this is explained by the Prof. Gennaro D’Amatofor years head of the Division of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases of the highly specialized hospital of national importance “A. Cardarelli”.
The increase in cases also concerns school-age children who, however, during this Christmas period were infected above all by adults during traditional family dinners. A situation that should not be surprising, according to D’Amato. “Transmission between children and adults – he explains to Fanpage.it – it’s possible. Sometimes it is the little ones who bring the flu home from school, then transmit it to the rest of the family, but the opposite also happens when the flu is caught during the holidays.”
Doctor, when will we reach the peak of infections?
Giorgia Meloni’s end-of-year press conference on January 4, 2024
Certainly between the end of January and the beginning of February, then we hope that the number of sick Italians will start to decrease. Last year wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows from this point of view either. Despite last year’s worrying influences, we found ourselves in the same situation with the arrival of winter. Since September we have had infectious recurrences, which already began with the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected the respiratory system. Many bronchopneumonias have been recorded among adults and children. In fact, the H1N1 influenza virus is the one that is affecting Italians the most and is also the most worrying among those of this type. About ten years ago it was H1N1 that caused epidemic problems. I worked in the Respiratory Diseases department of the Cardarelli hospital and I remember seeing lots of pneumonia. Since then I have seen fewer, but this trend seems to have returned now and the hospitals have filled up again.
Prof. Gennaro D’Amato
What do we owe this increase in cases among adults and children to?
Certainly also at end-of-year dinners and Christmas parties, contexts in which many people gather indoors. Let’s hope that after the holidays are over, there will be much fewer infections. However, it should be added that the few vaccines made in recent months are also to blame.
Meaning what?
A large part of the population does not get vaccinated against flu, Covid or pneumonia. The flu vaccine is also recommended for children, although it is not mandatory. What we don’t understand is that the flu vaccine is actually an umbrella, it greatly reduces the risk of getting sick and having to deal with everything that comes with it on your health.
Also what about pneumonia?
The pneumonia vaccine is mandatory for children and luckily mothers take their children to get vaccinated. There is not the same attention regarding the flu vaccine and the one against Covid, in jargon called “booster”. Some people think that it is enough to get vaccinated once or that it is no longer necessary to ask for the booster booster.
Instead it is useful.
Of course, because after 4 months the antibodies fall off, even if more vaccines have been given and even if the patient has contracted Covid. Pediatricians recommend the flu vaccine even in childhood because the flu for a child can be very infectious and become something more alarming, sometimes even turning into pneumonia.
Speaking of which, when should a child be taken to the hospital?
You should know that in the case of bronchiolitis, hospitalization is actually required, while for a flu fever with cough you can relax and stay at home. Taking a child to hospital for a slight fever and cough is useless.
How to distinguish the two things then?
A cough due to the flu is recognized quite easily because the little one will have a fever for 2 or 3 days with a bit of a cold, in short with the normal symptoms that we all know. At that point, in agreement with the doctor who follows the child, a little tachypirin is administered and the child remains at rest. In childhood, the majority of infections come from influenza and parainfluenza viruses, which can be treated at home.
So in those cases, is tachipirina only administered? Is the antibiotic necessary?
No, just the tachipirina. The antibiotic should not be given because in this way we induce significant bacterial resistance that is unnecessary. There is a waste in this sense: as soon as you have a bit of fever you resort to the antibiotic, but with the flu virus and with Covid it should not be administered.
When should we start worrying then?
We all know the first flu symptoms, for those the tachypirin is fine. If there is a bit of cough, a small dose of cortisone can be added and you remain at rest. If, however, the fever rises again after a few days without regressing and if the symptoms tend to intensify, then one can think of a bacterial overlap caused by pneumococcus or streptococcus. In this case, a home or hospital visit is appropriate to verify the therapeutic adjustment. Personally I have seen many people with intense coughs and by listening through a phonendoscope I found that the patients had bronchitis or bronchopneumonia. I have seen many more adults than children in this situation.
And how can you recognize bronchitis or bronchopneumonia?
With the phonendoscope it is possible to recognize gasps in breathing. If there are, it means that the viral component of the flu has become complicated.
What can be done to avoid contagion, especially in children?
The first thing is obviously vaccines. The Italian Society of Pediatrics also gives advice online regarding which vaccines to take. For example, the anti-covid test can be carried out from six months of age and up and the one for the flu is recommended. Children have 12 mandatory vaccines to receive and they tolerate them very well, they have greatly reduced infant mortality. So why not also give them a flu shot?
Speaking of pneumonia, can they have health consequences even after recovery?
If treated well, pneumonia has no consequences on children. Obviously it is important to look after it carefully. The child must be examined with a phonendoscope and must take antibiotics and moderate doses of cortisone. Then I advise all parents to make their children drink lots of water, because that is the best mucolytic that nature has given us.
Does this also apply to adults?
Of course, children and adults. You have to drink a lot, as soon as you start coughing you have to swallow some water. I always ask the children I visit to show me their water bottles, because it is a great help.
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2024-01-07 06:15:00
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