Berlin (dpa) - Children with flu have a higher risk of dangerous
re-infection from viruses or bacteria. A flu vaccination does not
just protect the child from a single influenza bug but also protects
them from dangerous combinations of germs.
"Flu viruses weaken the immune system and make it easier for
staphylococcus or pneumococcus to spread throughout the body," said
Martin Terhardt, a paediatrician in Germany.
Pneumococcus are bacteria which together with flu virus in human
organisms can cause bronchial pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis or ear
infections. In addition to bronchial pneumonia and septicaemia,
staphylococcus can lead to heart inflammation. Many people carry
staphylococcus and pneumococcus without knowing it. But a weakened
defence system can allow the germs to spread in the body.
In researching a child who died of the flu, American researchers
proved that bacterial bronchial pneumonia and influenza-caused heart
damage can cause a death with an infection through a flu virus.
A Finnish study investigated children 16 years and under who were
admitted to hospital due to the flu. The results showed that
additional respiratory ailments were often the cause of in-patient
treatment for older children with flu. A septic illness was the cause
more than half of the time for infants under half a year.
"The high number of life-threatening septic illnesses in infants
shows how important a flu vaccination is for family members and
caregivers near a baby," said Terhardt, who is a member of the
Standing Vaccination Committee (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute.
"Infants cannot be vaccinated before they are six months old and can
therefore best be protected from infection in an immunised
environment."
The Finnish study found that blood poisoning due to flu can also
be a danger with older children. It found that one in 10 adolescents
treated in a clinic had a sepsis. The STIKO recommends flu
vaccinations for chronically sick children and youngsters in the
autumn. Among chronic sicknesses are respiratory ailments, problems
in the cardiovascular system, the central nervous system, the
metabolism or the immune system.
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