You can get flu and COVID-19 at the same time, what you need to know

Puruni Mama DivananMBBS, MPH, and PhD, infectious disease epidemiology and associate professors at the University of Arizona’s Mel & Enid Zuckerman School of Public Health, told Healthline that they “have already identified patients with co-infection with both viruses.”

Because both influenza and COVID-19 are respiratory illnesses Speculation Having one illness increases your chances of developing another. Having both at the same time can increase the chances of serious consequences.

“I don’t know how the two interact, but getting both at the same time will probably make it harder for them to survive … with a higher mortality rate than just one or the other. Let’s do it Dr. Michael Roisen, The Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, told Healthline.

Madi Banan said more evidence is needed before knowing the dangers of having both illnesses at the same time.

“The main reason we’re talking about influenza and COVID-19 together is the seasonality of the flu. Both diseases are infectious respiratory diseases, but there are few similarities,” she said.

Madi Banan points out that although both diseases are associated with pneumonia, the way they damage the lungs is probably very different.

Influenza can cause fluid buildup in certain cells in the lungs, but COVID-19 Thought It creates a widespread blood clot in the pulmonary blood vessels and attacks the lungs.

However, there is not enough data to answer the question, “But the effects of both diseases are cumulative, are there a high risk of death, and how do they occur?”

“At the end of this flu season, I think we have enough data to start answering these questions,” she said.

Before that, the authorities turn their attention to the hospital again.

Despite the epidemic of infectious diseases and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, in the United States, a hospital capacity crisis similar to that seen in northern Italy was probably considered the first few weeks of a pandemic in New York City. Mostly avoided, except for postponement of the procedure Selective or non-mandatory.

But now, due to the outlook for a “cold,” some hospital officials put off These steps are again to prepare for a wave of people affected by two different illnesses that may require beds and ventilation.

“The hospital has very little capacity,” Roizen said. “In a season like 2018, we had to fill the entire hospital and reduce the selection steps during that time. Riding on top of that other illness is overwhelming.”

Flu killed more 80,000 Americans in the winter of 2017-2018. Most common in more than 10 years.

“If it’s a bad flu season and we have (increased) COVID capacity, we may have to decide whether to live or die,” Roisen said.

Unlike the flu, colds are caused by the coronavirus.

And there were some evidence Having a cold can prevent more serious cases of COVID-19 from occurring.

According to Madi Banan, infection with some of the cold-causing coronaviruses could provide some immunity in the form of memory T cells, produced in response to the infection, and prevent similar infections. There is.

Madi Banan points out that there is no up-to-date data on this, but catching a cold can also reduce your chances of getting a new coronavirus.

“But it is common for established viral infections to interfere with secondary infections with the same or closely related viruses,” she said. It is not surprising that you are infected with one coronavirus and the chances of co-infection with a similar coronavirus are reduced. “

However, none of the precautions that can come from a cold apply to getting the flu.

“Based on what we know about acquired immunity, it is very unlikely that exposure to either (COVID-19 or influenza) will provide immunity to the other,” Madi Banan said.

The doctor Spread Vaccination against the flu is more important this year than the “normal” year.

Roisen said there were several reasons.

You can protect yourself and save resources for others without getting sick or needing health care resources.

Roisen said he had been vaccinated against the flu a few days ago and most healthcare professionals are instructing them to be vaccinated sooner than usual.

In most places, these vaccinations are done in tents and other temporary outdoor facilities to provide more effective physical distance and ventilation.

These operations also serve the additional purpose of a dry run.

Madi Banan said he is working with local officials in the Thuson region to investigate how beliefs and behaviors about the flu vaccine differ from those about the potential of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Cities such as Denver and Baltimore While looking for ways to expand and distribute the COVID-19 vaccine, we are sending a “strike team” in the van to distribute influenza vaccinations.

This is all the effort to protect people and at the same time be the next vaccination against COVID-19-the preparation they want.