Prof Dr James Koh Kwee Choy
Professor of Internal Medicine & Infectious Diseases at IMU University
Young or old, healthy or not, influenza doesn’t pick and choose, said Dr James Koh Kwee Choy, Professor of Internal Medicine & Infectious Diseases at IMU University
The recent news of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu and Chinese actor Liang Youcheng draws fresh attention to the dangers of influenza, with many wondering ‘how could this happen?’ However, in spite of such news proving that influenza can be deadly, a wealth of misperceptions persists.
“Many people still think that influenza is nothing to worry about, that it is just a concern in cold climates. Even when they do get sick, they think it will be mild and they will recover in a few days.
“However, many people are unaware or ignorant about influenza, until something like this happens.”
The Tipping Point
Traditionally, influenza is associated with very high fever that comes very quickly – a person can be fine one day and have a high fever the next.
Many people are tempted to just soldier on but a high fever that does not subside in three days is a sign that complications might be setting in. Those with symptoms such as restlessness, agitation, and altered consciousness such as being confused, which is more common among children and older persons, should see a doctor immediately, he explained. Another easily missed warning sign is vomiting, as this is most often associated with food poisoning.
Among children, the signs can be slightly different, added Prof Koh. “Children can deteriorate very quickly, become very quiet or sleepy, and get dehydrated easily. They may also make a lot of sounds while breathing that is not normal, we call it noisy breathing, and this means they are having difficulty breathing and may have low blood oxygen levels.”
“However, you should not wait until these signs appear before going to see a doctor!
In addition, Prof Koh points out, many people are not even aware of underlying health conditions that could heighten their risk hence a person can appear to be in good health and still develop complications such as pneumonia.
What You Can Do to Protect Against Influenza?
Influenza vaccines, which were first used in 1945, are the most effective way to prevent influenza and should be taken annually to safeguard against the most current influenza strains and to protect against serious and potentially fatal complications.
One such complication is pneumonia, which was the leading cause of death among Malaysians in 2023, overtaking coronary heart disease for the first time in 20 years, with higher incidence among women, older persons 60 and above, and those of Chinese ethnicity.
“Unfortunately, there is low awareness among Malaysians that influenza can be deadly and thus little motivation to protect themselves.
Simply put, he added, the difference between a vaccinated and unvaccinated person would be like a person who is trained in self-defense and a person who has no training. Both have the same risk for getting attacked but the person who is trained (the person who is vaccinated) has a better chance of fighting off an assailant (the influenza virus) compared to the person who is not.
“Remember, everyone is at risk and influenza doesn’t pick and choose.”
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