Complications of swine flu
The swine flu, also called “new flu”, is a variant of the virus that, in addition to the pig, can also infect humans. The course of the swine flu is usually relatively mild, although severe courses have also been documented. If complications occur during the course of the disease, an infection with the swine flu virus can even be fatal.
Since the immune system is weakened by the fight against the virus, there is a risk of infection with other pathogens that can additionally burden the body in addition to swine flu. Thus, as so-called superinfections, diseases, mostly of bacterial origin, can occur and thus represent complications of swine flu.For example, pneumonia, heart muscle inflammation or meningitis can occur, which require intensive antibiotic therapy and should not be underestimated. Depending on the strength of the individual immune system, there is an increased risk of these bacterial infections occurring.
Complications of avian flu
Bird flu is a variant of the influenza virus, which can infect birds under certain conditions as well as humans. As with all variants of the influenza virus, the course of the disease can vary in severity. Depending on the status of the individual immune system it can lead to the development of so-called bacterial super-infections, which can cause additional problems for the body.
These infections can be diseases such as pneumonia, heart muscle inflammation or meningitis. Since the course of the disease worsens massively when such a complication occurs, prompt therapy and control of the affected person is of utmost importance. A further complication that can affect people who fall ill with an avian flu virus is the so-called “cytokine storm”.
Cytokines are proteins of the immune system that play a major role in an inflammatory reaction. Through incorrect regulation of the immune system, some types of the virus can provoke a massive release of these cytokines. The generalized inflammatory reaction that occurs often leads to pneumonia, which can take a severe and life-threatening course.
