During this rainy season, it is undeniable that there will always be diseases that come along with the rain, especially influenza which can be found in all genders and ages. Newton’s management team is extremely concerned about the health of the students and all personnel. Therefore they contacted the medical team and nurses at Medictown Clinic in order to vaccinate the latest quadrivalent influenza vaccine for students, parents and staff who registered for the vaccination.
When It Comes to Getting the Flu
Many of you know that Influenza is a respiratory disease that spreads quickly. Especially if the ones at risk have poor health and low immunity. Therefore it is essential to strengthen your immune system via vaccines and proper healthcare.
Possible Consequences Associated with Infections
Influenza not only directly affects the health of the patients, but also has an impact on their family members, work, and studies since they would have to take leave and quarantine themselves in order to inhibit the spread of the disease. Especially if the symptoms are severe, which could cause individuals with low immunity or those in risk groups to develop a variety of complications of the disease. This will require a longer quarantine period and could potentially be life threatening.
How We Get Exposed to the Disease
Influenza is a highly contagious epidemic disease. Just by breathing in droplets of mucus, saliva or phlegm of a patient who coughs or sneezes, touching hands or objects which has been in contact with patients such as spoons, plates, glasses, telephones, toys, remote controls or when rubbing their eyes and nose, the germs will be able to enter our body causing patients to experience symptoms approximately 1-4 days after the infection.
Know the Cause of the Disease
Influenza can occur all year round in Thailand. However, it often spreads a lot during the rainy season. Influenza is caused by the influenza virus, which consists of 3 groups: A, B and C; groups A and B being the most common pathogens in humans. The virus is constantly mutating and adapting to their surroundings in order to allow it to move more effectively from host to host allowing it to spread all over the world. Due to its frequent mutations and adaptation Influenza usually results in a sub-epidemic of the disease in each area every 1-3 years.
Know the Risk Groups
Although this disease is contagious to all genders and age groups. There are nonetheless those who are at higher risk and will more likely develop further complications. For example:
- Infants between the ages of 6 months - 4 years old
- Pregnant women
- The Elderly over 55 years of age
- Patients with chronic diseases or congenital diseases such as heart disease, lung disease, asthma, diabetes, or kidney disease
- Choking and pneumonia often occurs in patients with neuromuscular disorders.
- Patients with immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS and cancer patients who’ve received chemotherapy or treatment by radiation, kidney disease which suppresses the immune system, etc.
Know the Symptoms of the Disease
People with influenza have different symptoms according to their age.
- Adults - The patient develops a sudden onset of fever (38 °C), headaches, chills, muscle aches, extreme tiredness, and may also experience a stuffy nose and sore throat. If you are ill for a long time, there may be a cough from bronchitis. Most patients recover within 1-2 weeks, but some patients may have more severe symptoms which can be caused by major complications such as pneumonia which can lead to death.
- Older Children and Teenagers - The patient will experience an acute high fever, chills, aches and muscle pain from various parts of the body (for example upper arms, thighs and particularly on the back), clear mucus, stuffy nose, dry coughs, sore throat and a loss of appetite.
- Young Children - The patient will develop a high fever (usually higher than an adult’s) along with other systemic symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting and convulsions.
It's Better to Prevent Than to Cure
Influenza Vaccine
Vaccines are a recognized choice in the medical community that it is efficient and highly secure. People in high-risk groups should be vaccinated annually. Influenza vaccines will be developed in accordance with the species that spread each year according to the guidance of the World Health Organization.
Each injection will only be effective for a single year due to the virus’ constant mutations . Therefore, it is necessary to get the injection every year. Influenza vaccines typically have a protection effectiveness of 70-90 percent.
Recommendations
It is often recommended that the vaccine be taken a week or 2 prior to the rainy season every year in order to allow immunity to build up before the epidemic hits. However even if you, perhaps due to lack of proper foresight , have not taken the vaccine prior and are currently in the midst of the epidemic it isn’t too late to get vaccinated now in order to minimize the risks.
Whether it’s those from Newton Junior or Senior, everyone has had a lot of courage. The vaccination process may hurt a little, but in order to stay healthy, everyone is properly cooperating with the medical team. All vaccinations and medical procedures are performed by a team of specialized doctors and nurses. The flu vaccine should be vaccinated once a year for maximum effectiveness.
(Newton Junior)(Newton Senior)
To end this, I would like to thank the school administrators of The Newton and its affiliated schools who saw the importance of preventing the influenza virus. Moreover, I would also like to offer a huge thanks to the team of doctors and nurses from Medictown Clinic who came to carry out the medical procedures for all the children and staff.
It’s been raining almost every day lately. So, a quick reminder to all Newtonians and parents to stay safe and take great care of yourself!
References
The Newton Sixth Form School. (2022, September 16). Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccination. Facebook. Retrieved September 24, 2022, Click Here
ไข้หวัดใหญ่. กรมควบคุมโรค. [เข้าถึงเมื่อ 31 มีนาคม 2562]. เข้าถึงได้จาก : Click Here
นพ.พรเทพ สวนดอก. (n.d.). ป้องกันไข้หวัดใหญ่อย่างไรดี. กุมารแพทย์ผู้เชี่ยวชาญสาขาโรคติดเชื้อ, THL2138416-3.
แพทย์หญิง กุลกัญญา โชคไพบูลย์กิจ และคณะ, (ชื่อผู้เรียบเรียง), ตำราวัคซีนและการสร้างเสริมภูมิคุ้มกันโรคปี 2562, พิมพ์ครั้งที่ 1, กรุงเทพฯ : กองโรคป้องกันด้วยวัคซีน กรมควบคุมโรค กระทรวงสาธารณสุข, 2562.
โรคไข้หวัดใหญ่และวัคซีนป้องกันไข้หวัดใหญ่. สมาคมโรคติดเชื้อในเด็กแห่งประเทศไทย. [เข้าถึงเมื่อ 31 มีนาคม 2562]. เข้าถึงได้จาก : Click Here