Pneumonia And Heart Failure Risks From Seasonal Flu Linked To Climate Change

Saudi German Hospital shares urgent preventive measures to help the public avoid serious health consequences

Like other countries worldwide, the UAE is facing changing climate patterns, which have opened the gateway for opportunistic infections like seasonal flu. Those who are most vulnerable include people with lowered immunity such as children aged younger than 5, the elderly, pregnant women and adults with pre-existing health conditions.

Health experts warn that if untreated, flu could mutate into secondary infections ranging from stomach infections and sinus infections to more severe consequences like lung complications such as acute bronchitis, pneumonia and heart failure - all of which could tragically result in death.

Emphasizing the seriousness of the risks, Dr Reem Osman, CEO of Saudi German Hospital-Dubai, said: “Our biggest challenge as health professionals is that people view flu as something that is only mildly annoying but ultimately harmless. However the problem is not just the flu itself; but rather the secondary infections which it opens the gateway for - which are often much worse than the initial infection and can sadly be life-threatening. We believe prevention is always better than cure, and that’s why we are proactively sharing preventive tips with the public.”

She added that the most important thing is to visit a doctor if one experiences a flu with any unusual symptoms. For example a persistent dry cough, discomfort in the chest, fatigue, headache and shortness of breath could be ‘tell tale’ signs of bronchitis. These symptoms can last for several weeks, which is highly unusual for an ordinary cold.

The hospital went further to urge the public to be aware of the symptoms of pneumonia; which range from fever, nausea, weakness, chest pains, coughing, chills and shortness of breath. If the symptoms include swelling of the legs, extreme fatigue and extreme chest pain, then this could be a danger warning sign of heart complications.

According to Dr Rain Osman, Pediatric at Saudi German Hospital-Dubai: “The problem is not a lack of medication to treat such complications; rather it is that doctors cannot treat someone who isn’t there. In other words, it is the public’s responsibility to be aware of the symptoms and seek immediate treatment if any unusual symptoms arise. For example if pneumonia goes untreated, it could lead to permanent lung damage - or even worse still, death. The good news is that the power is in the public’s hands; because if they visit a doctor in time, with the tremendous advances in medication there is an excellent chance that the hospital can prevent serious complications from flu if the infections are diagnosed early. Early action saves lives.”
 

Emirate:  Dubai

Date: Dec 29, 2012

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