With the arrival of the early spring season, influenza has also entered a high incidence period. Under the influence of the new crown virus pneumonia epidemic, Academician Zhong Nanshan recently publicly called for: It is urgent to distinguish between the two types of patients with influenza and new crown pneumonia.
Why is it so important to distinguish influenza from new coronary pneumonia?
Data Map: Zhong Nanshan talks about hot issues in the treatment of new coronary pneumonia
Zhong Nanshan:
Distinguishing influenza from new crown pneumonia is a top priority
On the 23rd, Academician Zhong Nanshan emphasized the importance of differentiating between influenza and neo-pneumonia in a remote consultation with the Guangdong medical team that assisted Jingzhou in Guangzhou. Zhong Nanshan said that the key to current prevention and control is to separate patients with two diseases: "Now the flu pandemic in the United States, and the cases are far higher than the cases of new coronary pneumonia. China also has this (flu) situation, and it is urgent to distinguish the two. "
At the same time, Zhong Nanshan revealed that China's State Drug Administration has now approved several drugs, one of which is a reagent on how to identify influenza, new crown pneumonia and parainfluenza. Zhong Nanshan bluntly said, "This is a very important job."
Why is it important to distinguish between influenza and neocoronavirus pneumonia? An immunologist who asked not to be named explained to Chinanews.com: Neocrown virus pneumonia is a new infectious disease that is managed as a Class A infectious disease; while influenza is a Class C infectious disease and the management of the two regulations Status is different.
Data map: CDC isolates new crown virus. Photo courtesy of Zhejiang Disease Control Center
With the advent of the current flu peak, the aforementioned experts clearly stated: "If you do not distinguish between the two, especially if you treat them both as new coronavirus pneumonia, you will greatly increase the chance of cross infection."
Judging from the current research progress, the difficulty in distinguishing the two types of diseases remains in the detection and diagnosis. He explained: "For now, the best criterion for distinguishing between the two diseases is still to perform an pathogenic or immunological test, which is commonly referred to as a nucleic acid test. However, the sequences of the two tests are different, and new coronary pneumonia Mainly for the sequence detection of neocoronavirus; influenza is completed by detecting the influenza virus sequence.
However, since neocoronary pneumonia is a new infectious disease, there are still loopholes in the diagnosis. Expert analysis believes that: "The positive rate of nucleic acid test for new coronary pneumonia is relatively low, and the clinical symptoms are diverse. Therefore, experience needs to be accumulated for identification."
Data Map: National Medical Team members intubate traumatic patients. Photo by Zhong Xin
What is the difference between influenza and new crown pneumonia?
Winter and early spring are the peak seasons for flu outbreaks. Under the influence of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, how can we distinguish influenza from new crown pneumonia?
In this regard, Wang Quan, director of the emergency department of Beijing Children's Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, at the press conference held by the National Health and Health Commission on February 1, from the source of the disease, the time of onset, symptoms and susceptible population The angles are compared.
Data sheet: The tester performs nucleic acid detection. Photo by Qu Honglun of China News Agency
First, from the source of the disease, Wang Quan made it clear that influenza is a respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus. New coronavirus-infected pneumonia is also an infectious disease, with a clear epidemiological history, caused by infection with new coronavirus.
Second, the timing of onset of the two diseases is also inconsistent. Wang Quan explained that influenza can occur throughout the year, but the season of high incidence is mainly winter and spring. New crown pneumonia, from the current point of view, is a newly-onset disease in winter at the end of 2019.
In addition, the above experts added that the incubation period of the two diseases is also slightly different: "The incubation period of patients with new coronary pneumonia is basically 14 days, and a few will be longer; but the influenza incubation period is generally within one week, and the incubation period of more than 10 days is rare.
Data map: Citizens wear a mask to visit the supermarket. Photo by Zhou Yi
From the clinical symptoms, both diseases are accompanied by fever. "The flu has a very pronounced fever, and it is often high fever, usually lasting 3-5 days; the main symptoms of new coronary pneumonia include fever, cough, fatigue, and even vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and other symptoms." Wang Quan said.
The above immunological experts said that although both are respiratory diseases, the flu is an upper respiratory tract infection, and patients often have symptoms such as runny nose and irritation of the bronchus to produce secretions; and new coronary pneumonia is a lower respiratory tract infection, which is manifested in the lungs When inflammation occurs, patients often have dry cough and have difficulty breathing.
Finally, from the perspective of susceptible populations, Wang Quan pointed out that both influenza and new coronary pneumonia are generally susceptible to the population, especially children less than 2 years old, elderly people over 65 years old, obese people, pregnant women, and immunosuppressive. Of the patients are at high risk for influenza. According to the current case, neocoronary pneumonia is more severe in elderly people and patients with chronic underlying diseases, and may even cause death.
Data Figure: Virus Strains Obtained by CDC Staff
Flu vs New Crown Pneumonia
Which is more scary?
As a new infectious disease, the epidemic situation of new crown pneumonia is fierce. As of 24:00 on February 23, 31 provinces and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps reported that there were 49824 confirmed cases, including 9,915 severe cases, 24,734 cured cases, 2592 deaths, and 77,150 confirmed cases.
In contrast, the harm of the flu is not to be underestimated. According to the World Health Organization in 2019, influenza is estimated to cause 1 billion cases worldwide each year, including 3 to 5 million severe cases, and the number of deaths from influenza-related respiratory diseases is 290,000 to 650,000.
So, can flu be more terrifying than new crown pneumonia?
"From the perspective of infectiousness and mortality, it is still difficult to determine which of the two diseases is more serious." Experts said that it was too early to evaluate the severity of the new crown pneumonia epidemic. The reason why it is directly defined as a Class B infectious disease and managed as a Class A infectious disease is because it is a new infectious disease and the path of its onset is not clear, so the control measures are higher than influenza.
Data map: CT images of new coronary pneumonia cases were identified by medical staff using AI. For map
However, in the eyes of experts, the masses need not panic about the flu. "Compared to New Coronary Pneumonia, we have been dealing with influenza for a long time. We understand the characteristics of influenza and understand the basic immunity of patients with this disease."
Experts have shown that the flu is curable for most people, such as oseltamivir for the flu, and as long as it is prescribed, there is no need to be hospitalized.
"Furthermore, China already has mature technologies for treating influenza, which can transform vaccine production lines according to influenza virus strains to produce flu vaccines suitable for different seasons. There are also effective drugs for treating influenza, so there is no need to panic about influenza."
In contrast, due to the lack of specific drugs and vaccines, neo-pneumococcal pneumonia still needs to be hospitalized. At the same time, experts also reminded that whether it is influenza or new coronary pneumonia, patients need not be nervous but should not be taken lightly: "Especially in the case of cold medicine control, if there are symptoms, you need to go to the hospital for treatment and take appropriate protective measures."
Author: Yang Yuqi