Complications of influenza can be Deadly

Many people think that influenza is a common cough and cold can be cured by itself. While influenza is not a common cold, even the complications can be deadly.

Indonesian people in general think of influenza as a mild flu disease that can be treated with drugs that are sold freely.

In fact, these drugs only help to overcome some of the symptoms of influenza, but not to paralyze the influenza virus. As a result, the disease will continue even at risk to cause serious complications.

"Influenza in a particular group can lead to serious complications, especially in children, the elderly and people with low immunity," explains Prof. Samsuridjal Djauzi, MD, PhD, FACP, Chairman of the Adult Immunization Task Force PAPDI PB, in the Indonesian press conference Influenza Foundation (IIF) with the theme 'Understand and Prevent Influenza: The Pandemic Seasonal Up' in Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jakarta, Saturday (21/05/2011).

According to Prof. Samsu, influenza can cause serious complications, such as the following:

Sinusitis
Pneumonia (pneumonia)
Myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation and weakness)
Pericarditis (irritation and swelling of the pericardium, the sac that surrounds the heart)
Encephalitis (brain inflammation)


"For people who strong immune perhaps 3 days are cured. But for people with poor immune can cause pneumonia. There is also a process of inflammation, which can also occur in heart muscle. So the influenza virus to stimulate inflammation. It's not a dangerous virus, but radangnya which led to complications, "explained Prof. Samsu who is Professor at the Division of Allergy, Clinical immunology, Department of Medicine Faculty of medicine / RSCM.

Prof. Samsu explained, groups at risk of influenza complications are as follows:

Elderly people
Children (under age 5 years or above 5 years who have asthma)
Young adults who suffer from chronic diseases such as asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), chronic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, HIV.
Pregnant women.


"The most effective way to prevent influenza or other complications arising from this disease is through vaccination. This can prevent up to 70-90 percent risk of getting influenza in health11