The flu season is in full swing, and flu-related deaths are being reported daily around the country. Many of the deaths have been attributed to pneumonia and sepsis that come on as a result of having the flu.
Local providers weighed in on the signs and symptoms of a secondary infection that people need to be on the lookout for.
"The flu can be a very serious illness all by itself," said Dr. Charles Mbonu, an infectious disease specialist practicing in Texarkana. "The flu virus itself can cause pneumonia. The flu can also lead to pneumonia caused by other organisms, particularly bacteria. It opens the door for bacterial organisms to cause infections that may prove more serious than the flu itself."
Dr. Matt Young, medical director and physician owner of Texarkana Emergency Center said there are some specific symptoms that indicate pneumonia.
"If people are short of breath even at rest, start coughing up green-colored sputum, their fever's not breaking and they're not able to tolerate liquids, they really need to get in to see their provider. When we're talking shortness of breath, we're worried about pneumonia. Some of the pneumonias you can get when you have the flu can cause the patient to be critically ill or it can be deadly," Young said.
One sign that people should seek medical treatment is when they begin to feel better but then relapse into feeling terrible.
"If it seems you're doing better and then all of a sudden your cough gets worse, the fever comes back aggressively or you start getting short of breath, that's a signal you might be developing a secondary infection," Mbonu said.
Sepsis is another potentially life-threatening complication of the flu. It occurs when the body's infection-fighting mechanism releases chemicals in the body that cause an inflammatory response. It can result in organ failure.
"Sepsis refers to a state that exists when people have a severe sort of infection. It's a combination of the infection itself and the body's reaction to it and the effects on the body," Mbonu said. "There are more severe levels of sepsis. It can lead to organ failure which complicates the whole process."
Mbonu sees patients at CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System and Wadley Regional Medical Center and said this year he's seen more patients with secondary illnesses related to the flu that wind up in the hospital than in recent years.
"People who just have basic, uncomplicated flu aren't likely to see me at all. They'll see their primary care physician. I tend to see those that are already severe and complicated and are typically in the hospital. I think this year there is generally more flu than the last few years and with more flu comes more complications so there are more complicated cases that wind up in the hospital," Mbonu said.
One story recently in the news detailed how a 6-year-old girl in North Carolina died from complications of the flu after her mother called the ambulance because her breathing was labored. Ultimately, it was decided she wouldn't be taken to the hospital, and she died later that evening.
"Without a doubt, you've got to be the best advocate as a patient or family member," Young said. "If you don't feel something is right, you need to tell your provider. It doesn't offend me as a provider when people tell me they aren't comfortable with something. Realize that providers and caregivers are only seeing the patient for a short window of time and they may perk up for a little while. It's very important this time of year, once someone is diagnosed with the flu, to take it a step further and watch the patient a little longer and talk to family members realizing it may not be just simple flu."
Both Young and Mbonu stressed taking preventative measures to avoid the flu.
"It remains very important to prevent the flu. Just getting your flu vaccine is the single most important thing you can do to prevent the flu," Mbonu said.
"All the precautions hold true," Young said. "Even though the flu vaccine hasn't been as effective this year as in years past, it's still worth getting. It will decrease the length and severity of symptoms," Young said.