How dangerous it is to get infected with the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, said Elena Meskina, an infectious disease specialist. According to her, such cases have been recorded in Russia.
If a person is immediately infected with influenza and coronavirus (co-infection), then such a “combination” provokes a bacterial complication and activation of bacterial infections.
The flu itself, without the coronavirus, can cause a range of complications. It is about:
- Bacterial sepsis;
- meningococcal infection;
- pneumococcal infection;
- staphylococcal infection.
—And if it is combined with the coronavirus, the patient's health can deteriorate dramatically. And it becomes more difficult to treat such a patient,” said the doctor Vechernaya Moskva.
In addition to bacterial complications, a combination of two types the virus can cause other serious problems. Here you can talk about:
- thrombosis;
- myocarditis;
- stroke;
- heart attack;
- liver and kidney failure;
- lesion centrally -nervous system;
- meningitis;
- encephalitis;
- impaired coronary circulation;
- brain abscesses.
What is the difference between mixed infection and coinfection?
Mixed infection can combine bacteria and viruses, bacteria and fungi. And coinfection is a combination of the same species, for example, only viruses – influenza and coronavirus.
Is it possible to become infected with influenza and coronavirus at once
There is such a thing as superinfection. With mixed infection or coinfection, we are talking about parallel infection with different types of viruses, and with superinfection, we are talking about sequential infection first with one, then with another, which makes the course of both more difficult.
According to Meskina, the likelihood that coinfection will occur heavier than any one of the viruses is very high. The situation when several viruses circulate at once is dangerous because it is difficult to choose a treatment.
Despite the fact that in many respects the principles of treatment of these infectious diseases are similar, antiviral therapy has its own characteristics. For example, classic flu drugs do not work on coronavirus, – the infectious disease specialist explained.
The infectious disease specialist told whether it is possible to get infected with the flu and COVID-19 at the same time
Read more: Immunologist Kryuchkov spoke about features of the new variant of the Kraken coronavirus.
Important! The information is provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and under no circumstances self-medicate. At the first sign of illness, consult a doctor.