Clipping Board » Disease & Prevention ─ Understanding diseases, prevention is better than cure.
Update Date: 2009/08/17 19:18
By Yang Shu-Ting
[Taiwan Awakening News Reporters Yang Shu-Ting and Chang Chia-Chi]
Have friends around you recently been falling ill with the flu? According to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, the emergency room visit rate for flu-like symptoms has reached 11.95%, marking a continuous four-week increase and exceeding the national warning threshold. Family medicine clinics have been seeing entire families coming in for treatment or taking turns to visit the doctor. Dr. Lee Ping-Ying, a pediatrician at National Taiwan University College of Medicine, pointed out that aside from offices, schools are major hotspots for flu transmission. He expressed concern that the situation might worsen after schools reopen in September.
Dr. Lin Shen-Yu from the Family Medicine Department of Taipei Medical University Hospital also noted an increase in flu patients recently. However, symptoms vary among individuals, making it difficult to confirm whether they are all caused by the same strain of influenza. He emphasized that "colds are highly contagious" and hard to avoid, so extra caution is needed if someone in the household shows flu symptoms. Dr. Chang Yu-Tzu from the Family Medicine Department of Yangming Branch, Taipei City Hospital, advised reducing visits to public places, frequent handwashing, and wearing masks as preventive measures.
Dr. Lee Ping-Ying observed a rising trend in flu cases during recent consultations. He explained that subtropical regions naturally see flu cases, with some viruses being more contagious in summer. Additionally, summer tutoring programs mean students remain in close contact, and based on U.S. infectious disease experience, students are a primary source of infection. Typically, after cluster infections occur in schools, students spread the virus to others. He urged the Department of Health to convene experts soon to establish school closure standards to prevent outbreaks.
ENT specialist Dr. Yang Kuang-Jung reminded that a cold usually lasts about a week, but symptoms like coughing can prolong recovery. He noted that recovery depends not only on the virus type but also on the patient's immune system.
He also recommended choosing the right medical department based on symptoms. "Children should visit pediatricians, while those with severe throat or nose discomfort should see an ENT specialist." He warned against letting a cold worsen into sinusitis.
In interviews, Ms. Chiu reported developing a stuffy nose and sore throat after watching a movie, with her father and sister also falling ill. Another student, Ms. Lin, living in a dormitory, described her roommate suffering from body aches and dizziness, sleeping for three days before realizing it was a viral infection, not heatstroke. Later, Ms. Lin herself developed similar symptoms and recovered only after a fever-reducing injection.
Mr. Lu experienced severe throat pain and extreme discomfort, struggling to speak during the interview. Office worker Ms. Lin had mild fever, sore throat, and cough, attributing it to "sweating too much and catching a chill from air conditioning at night."
However, Dr. Chang Yu-Tzu from Yangming Branch did not perceive an increase in flu cases. Still, she advised caution for those with persistent high fever, muscle pain, headache, or respiratory symptoms, especially with a history of group exposure, travel, or contact with infected individuals, urging prompt medical attention.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……rl/ d/ a/ 090817/ 115/ 1p99e. html
Influenza A Outbreak: Hospitals Overwhelmed
By Yang Shu-Ting
[Taiwan Awakening News Reporters Yang Shu-Ting and Chang Chia-Chi]
Have friends around you recently been falling ill with the flu? According to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, the emergency room visit rate for flu-like symptoms has reached 11.95%, marking a continuous four-week increase and exceeding the national warning threshold. Family medicine clinics have been seeing entire families coming in for treatment or taking turns to visit the doctor. Dr. Lee Ping-Ying, a pediatrician at National Taiwan University College of Medicine, pointed out that aside from offices, schools are major hotspots for flu transmission. He expressed concern that the situation might worsen after schools reopen in September.
Dr. Lin Shen-Yu from the Family Medicine Department of Taipei Medical University Hospital also noted an increase in flu patients recently. However, symptoms vary among individuals, making it difficult to confirm whether they are all caused by the same strain of influenza. He emphasized that "colds are highly contagious" and hard to avoid, so extra caution is needed if someone in the household shows flu symptoms. Dr. Chang Yu-Tzu from the Family Medicine Department of Yangming Branch, Taipei City Hospital, advised reducing visits to public places, frequent handwashing, and wearing masks as preventive measures.
Dr. Lee Ping-Ying observed a rising trend in flu cases during recent consultations. He explained that subtropical regions naturally see flu cases, with some viruses being more contagious in summer. Additionally, summer tutoring programs mean students remain in close contact, and based on U.S. infectious disease experience, students are a primary source of infection. Typically, after cluster infections occur in schools, students spread the virus to others. He urged the Department of Health to convene experts soon to establish school closure standards to prevent outbreaks.
ENT specialist Dr. Yang Kuang-Jung reminded that a cold usually lasts about a week, but symptoms like coughing can prolong recovery. He noted that recovery depends not only on the virus type but also on the patient's immune system.
He also recommended choosing the right medical department based on symptoms. "Children should visit pediatricians, while those with severe throat or nose discomfort should see an ENT specialist." He warned against letting a cold worsen into sinusitis.
In interviews, Ms. Chiu reported developing a stuffy nose and sore throat after watching a movie, with her father and sister also falling ill. Another student, Ms. Lin, living in a dormitory, described her roommate suffering from body aches and dizziness, sleeping for three days before realizing it was a viral infection, not heatstroke. Later, Ms. Lin herself developed similar symptoms and recovered only after a fever-reducing injection.
Mr. Lu experienced severe throat pain and extreme discomfort, struggling to speak during the interview. Office worker Ms. Lin had mild fever, sore throat, and cough, attributing it to "sweating too much and catching a chill from air conditioning at night."
However, Dr. Chang Yu-Tzu from Yangming Branch did not perceive an increase in flu cases. Still, she advised caution for those with persistent high fever, muscle pain, headache, or respiratory symptoms, especially with a history of group exposure, travel, or contact with infected individuals, urging prompt medical attention.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……rl/ d/ a/ 090817/ 115/ 1p99e. html