ANALYSIS:THE SECOND death in the Republic of a person with Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza should not cause undue alarm, writes
DR MUIRIS HOUSTON,Medical Correspondent
With a confirmed mortality rate of between 0.3 and 0.4 per cent, the swine flu is no more deadly than seasonal influenza. While a 55-year-old with no underlying illness is not considered to be particularly at risk of either getting the disease or of developing serious complications, the man’s unfortunate death is a reminder that influenza poses a theoretical risk to everyone.
It seems the middle-aged man who died this week did so while being cared for in intensive care. This suggests he had developed at least one serious complication of the illness. The most likely is pneumonia, which if severe, can lead to a condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Treatment includes ventilation and round the clock critical care. Many people who require mechanical help to breathe make a full recovery.
Other complications of flu include bronchitis, sinus infection and ear infection. Influenza rarely causes meningitis or an inflammation of the brain tissue (encephalitis). A person with neurological complications may become extremely unwell for a short time but most make a full recovery.
Myocarditis – inflammation of the heart’s muscle – may also occur, triggering heart failure.
How might you know if you are developing complications of swine flu? A sudden deterioration in any of the virus’s symptoms – a high temperature, tiredness, headache, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, diarrhoea or vomiting may be a clue and should trigger immediate contact with your doctor. This advice also applies if your symptoms continue to get worse seven days after the onset of your illness.
The onset of confusion or seizures is a sign of possible neurological complications. And if you have a serious underlying illness such as chronic heart, lung, kidney or neurological disease, then do seek medical advice as soon as you develop flu-like symptoms.
However, it must be emphasised that there has been no recent surge in the number of cases of swine flu, with the latest influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate at a relatively low 33 per 100,000 population.
There have been 513 confirmed cases of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in the Republic so far this year. Approximately 50 of these patients have been admitted to hospital. And five people have required admission to an intensive care unit.
Some 78 per cent of those infected are less than 35 years of age.
Despite another swine flu death, the figures show the vast majority of people who require hospitalisation will get better.
Unfortunately, however, a small number of people will die from Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza before the pandemic burns itself out.