Brugmansian : I think this was most interesting from the article .....
“The new virus can cause much more serious infections in the lower respiratory tracts.”
((((((The study showed that many of the patients who became seriously ill had a low fever in the early stages of infection. The median time between the onset of illness and when the patients sought treatment at hospital was about five days. Their conditions deteriorated rapidly and they were place on ventilators a median of seven days after manifesting symptoms. The four patients who died did so a median of 10 days after the onset of infection. ))))))
Swine flu worse than seasonal infection
More healthy people being struck down
Ella Lee
Sep 05, 2009
Swine flu is more dangerous than seasonal flu because about 30 per cent of those who develop severe complications have had no underlying diseases, a leading microbiologist said yesterday.
University of Hong Kong microbiology department head Professor Yuen Kwok-yung said he believed that swine flu would cause more deaths in the city as it spread in the community.
Meanwhile, the Hospital Authority plans to tighten admission criteria for children to relieve pressure on public hospitals.
Hong Kong reported 370 new swine flu cases yesterday, involving people aged between six months and 76 years. This brings the total to 13,318.
The (A)H1N1 virus has killed 10 people in Hong Kong so far.
A total of 125 people are being treated in public hospitals, with 107 in stable condition, nine serious and nine critical.
Yuen’s team has analysed data relating to 22 serious cases, including four people who died. The study found that 29 per cent of those patients had a clean bill of health before they contracted swine flu.
“Swine flu is more dangerous than seasonal flu. While seasonal flu usually kills only those with chronic diseases, swine flu can strike healthy people and causes very severe complications,” Yuen said.
“The new virus can cause much more serious infections in the lower respiratory tracts.”
The study showed that many of the patients who became seriously ill had a low fever in the early stages of infection. The median time between the onset of illness and when the patients sought treatment at hospital was about five days. Their conditions deteriorated rapidly and they were place on ventilators a median of seven days after manifesting symptoms. The four patients who died did so a median of 10 days after the onset of infection.
“When those patients suffered breathing difficulties, their lungs were already severely damaged and Tamiflu was no longer effective on them,” Yuen said.
He advised doctors to use Tamiflu more promptly, especially for high-risk patients including young children, elderly people and those with chronic diseases.
He said public awareness about swine flu had gradually dropped since the outbreak began in May. “Many people have dropped their guard and are treating swine flu as seasonal flu. That is wrong,” he said.
The Hospital Authority, facing an increasing number of patients, is considering new treatment protocols. Apart from limiting laboratory tests to inpatients and those who do not respond well to antiviral treatment, the authority wants to tighten admission criteria for young children in a bid to make more beds available in public hospitals.
“The current admission criteria for young flu patients are rather loose,” one doctor familiar with the situation said.
He said the number of severe and fatal cases would continue to rise as more people were infected.
“While there are more virus carriers in the community, the chances of high-risk people becoming infected are getting higher,” he said. “Those with underlying diseases and pregnant women should avoid going to crowded places.”
University of Hong Kong microbiologist Professor Ho Pak-leung called on the authority to improve communications with the public and private doctors. He said many patients seeking help at government flu clinics expected laboratory tests and to be prescribed Tamiflu.
“In fact, the authority only provides those services to high-risk patients. The misunderstanding causes conflicts between patients and frontline staff. There should be clearer messages to the public on what they should do and where to turn to if they get flu symptoms,” Ho said.
According to the Centre for Health Protection, 16 schools reported swine flu outbreaks yesterday. Five schools have closed because of swine flu, including the Sha Tin Junior School, which closed yesterday.
Undersecretary for Food and Health Gabriel Leung said yesterday that the mortality rate for swine flu in Hong Kong was lower than in other countries. The number of schools that had closed was within government expectations.
More good info - thanks DvdMom.