Doctors have identified cases of simultaneous infection with influenza and COVID-19

Cases of simultaneous infection with influenza and COVID-19 have been identified in Russia. Deputy Director stated this for the Clinical and Analytical Work of the Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor Natalya Pshenichnaya.

“More often, such cases occur in people with weakened immune systems, including young children and the elderly, in whom these viruses can stay and multiply in the respiratory tract for a long time,” RIA Novosti quotes her as saying.

Natalya Pshenichnaya noted that such cases are usually more severe - with the development of viral pneumonia. Acute illness can last two to three weeks or more, and the risk of death associated with viral or bacterial pneumonia is higher.

According to her, the treatment of influenza and COVID-19 is different, so combination therapy focuses on both viruses in such cases. The doctor decides the question of specific therapy methods in each case individually.

There are no specific symptoms of simultaneous infection with influenza and COVID-19 yet. Therefore, testing allows the identification of a combination of diseases, the doctor said.