Just as the influenza A virus left, the influenza B virus is here again! Has the influenza peak “turned around”?

According to CCTV News Client, based on the recent test results of outpatients and emergency patients at Shanghai Children's Hospital, the total number of influenza patients has not changed in recent times, but the proportion of influenza B patients in outpatient and emergency influenza patients has increased from less than 10% in early December to more than 40% in recent days. But overall, there are still more influenza A patients than influenza B patients.

Winter is the peak season for respiratory infections in children. As the temperature rises recently, the virus is more active. There are reports that the proportion of children with influenza B in fever clinics in children's hospitals in Hangzhou, Shanghai and other places is increasing. "Many children have just recovered from influenza A and are infected with influenza B the next day."

Children and their parents waiting for treatment at the hospital. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lin Juan

Does the increase in the proportion of influenza B mean that the peak of influenza will "return"? What should I do if my child happens to be infected with influenza A and then influenza B? How to deal with the persistent fever and cough?

The proportion of influenza B cases has increased, is the peak of influenza "returning"?

According to the latest weekly influenza report released by the China National Influenza Center (December 18 to 24, 2023), the positive rate of influenza virus detection has decreased in both the south and the north. In general, influenza infection is still dominated by influenza A (type A), but it is worth noting that the proportion of influenza B (type B) has increased for 6 consecutive weeks in the north and 4 consecutive weeks in the south. The recent activity of influenza B has made many parents worry whether the peak of influenza is coming back?

In this regard, Liu Jue, a researcher at the School of Public Health of Peking University, said in an interview with the People's Daily Health Client on January 2: "Although the proportion of influenza B has increased, the overall number of influenza cases is still declining, but the relative proportions of different influenza virus subtypes have changed." Compared with influenza A, which is highly contagious, has more severe clinical symptoms, and is more likely to cause outbreaks, influenza B is usually small-scale or sporadic, so there is no need to worry too much about the increase in the proportion of influenza B.

Professor Li Shuhua, director of the pediatric outpatient clinic and fever clinic at the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, recently pointed out in an interview with Nanfang+ reporters that the manifestations of influenza in the south and north are different. In the south, influenza is mainly type B (influenza B), followed by subtype A (H3N2). In terms of symptoms, there is no difference between type A and type B influenza, mainly high fever, and some children will have symptoms such as sore throat, cough, chills, and muscle aches. Unlike in the past, this year there is a superposition of influenza and mycoplasma infection, and when treating children, drugs must be used separately for the two viruses.

What should I do if my child has recurring fever due to multiple infections?

This autumn and winter, there is a superposition of influenza and mycoplasma infection. Some children have repeated fevers and repeated medical treatment. Professor Li Shuhua said that repeated fevers are not necessarily repeated influenza infections, but may be overlapping infections or successive infections, which is equivalent to the body being hit repeatedly, and each attack is a different pathogen. After being tortured by the virus repeatedly, the child's own immune system has been hit very hard. At this time, it is recommended to rest well. Good sleep and rest can stimulate the body's strong recovery ability.

Influenza is different from the common cold and needs to be taken seriously. Professor Li Shuhua reminded that anti-influenza virus drugs should be taken as soon as possible, especially for children under 5 years old who are in the high-risk group. Complications after influenza infection are relatively common, so anti-viral treatment should be taken as soon as possible according to the doctor's advice. In addition, children with high fever and chills indicate that the body's immune system reaction caused by the viral infection is more serious, and it is also recommended to take medication as soon as possible within 48 hours.

How to tell whether a child has a cold or the flu? There is a very simple way to tell: Common colds often have preludes, such as sneezing, nasal congestion, coughing, runny nose and other early symptoms, and then slowly develop a fever. But the flu develops quickly, "as soon as the child gets cold, he or she will have a fever, and the fever will quickly become high. There may be no early symptoms, and sore throat, coughing, and runny nose will only appear later."

Parents are most anxious when their children have a high fever. Experts remind that the purpose of reducing fever is to make children feel more comfortable. If it is a simple cold and fever, physical cooling methods can be used when the child is not particularly uncomfortable. Generally speaking, if the fever is above 39 degrees Celsius and lasts for more than 2 hours, it is recommended to use antipyretics to avoid prolonged fever, which may increase brain excitability and cause convulsions.

What should I do if my child still has a recurring fever after taking antipyretics? Professor Wang Xinhua, a famous Chinese medicine doctor in Guangdong Province and former president of Guangzhou Medical University, suggested that you can try to use external treatments of Chinese medicine to reduce fever. For example, boil 20 to 30 grams of aromatic and pungent Chinese medicines such as Artemisia annua, Fragrant Ru, and Patchouli in water, and use a towel to wipe the child's neck, armpits and other places where large blood vessels flow. This can be done three to five times a day. This can quickly expand the pores. These aromatic Chinese medicines can also disperse and relieve the symptoms, which is very helpful for the body to dissipate heat. In addition, scraping, pinching the spine, acupoint massage and other techniques can all help reduce fever, so that children can minimize the use of antipyretics.

(Source: Southern+, Medical Messenger)