Flu season in Finland 2025

  

The flu pandemic has returned. People of all ages and from various parts of Finland have been found to be infected with the virus. A high fever that rises quickly and is accompanied by muscle pain, headache, and general malaise are hallmarks of influenza. Dry cough, sore throat, runny nose, and congestion in the nose are additional symptoms. Children may also experience stomach and intestinal symptoms.

 

The majority of people recover within a few weeks, although unpleasant sequelae do occasionally occur. Children's ear infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia are examples of these sequelae. It can lead to hospitalization and even death.

 Compared to the common cold, influenza causes more complications.  The complications are caused by either by the influenza virus itself or by bacteria such as pneumococcus, staphylococcus, or streptococcus.

 In pregnant women, influenza with a high fever can cause miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy and, as the pregnancy progresses, premature birth.

 People of all ages can develop serious sequelae, but the age of the person affected by how great the risk is.

 Serious sequelae and complications to require hospitalization are most common in people under 4 years of age and over 65 years of age, but for example, the risk of death from influenza in people aged 50–65 is already 10 times higher than people in people 18–49.

 After influenza, the incidence of myocardial infarctions and cerebrovascular disorders has also increased.

 A wave of disease sweeps across the country – Especially seen in children

 

Signs of the disease:

Post-influenza illness, pneumonia, sinusitis or otitis media may suspected if symptoms worsen or return after 5–7 days from the onset of the illness.  The severe earache or severe pressure and pain in the sinuses may be symptoms. Pneumonia may be suspected earlier if the fever is by shortness of breath, difficulty, flank or abdominal pain, or a feeling of heaviness or pain in the chest area.  Coughing may also occur.  In such cases, you should always seek medical attention.

 In addition, unusual fatigue and illness are common signs of bacterial pneumonia. According to Jukka Vakkila, a pediatrician and head of the Finnish Vaccine Service, in a press release, "The first symptom of pneumonia can be a sudden collapse and a feeling of shortness of breath, which is in reflecting an increase in respiratory rate." In addition to pneumonia, a rarer serious sequela is myocarditis.  Its symptoms include prolonged fever, an uneven, rapid pulse, and severe fatigue.

 

How to prevent the disease:

 Is it worth taking medicine to lower a fever?  The doctor answers

 If you are elderly or have an existing medical condition, you should seek medical attention more frequently than usual in the event of influenza. AOP and Adobe stock How to Avoid It The risk of secondary disease increases because influenza weakens the body's defenses and the condition of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.  These make it more likely that bacteria will spread a new infection. If you exercise too soon or don't get enough rest during your illness, you might catch a secondary illness. When you have general symptoms like a fever and muscle aches, you should never exercise. When the disease has improved and at least seven days have passed since the onset of symptoms, vigorous exercise is not recommended. By washing your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water, you can reduce your risk of contracting the flu. Additionally, you can use hand sanitizer. However, getting the flu vaccine is the most effective method for avoiding illness and avoiding influenza. This year, according to to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the flu vaccine offers reasonably good protection, although a new virus variant may weaken protection.

The flu vaccine reduces severe influenza, influenza-related deaths, hospitalizations and institutionalizations, and sequelae such as ear infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, as well as myocardial infarctions and cerebrovascular disorders.

 In children aged 1–5, influenza vaccination reduces ear infections and the need for antibiotic courses by 28 percent.

 Vakkila says that there are also studies that show a link between influenza and acute myocardial infarction. – The effectiveness of the influenza vaccine in preventing myocardial infarction is estimated to be 15–45 percent, i.e. the same as quitting smoking, cholesterol taking medications, or taking blood pressure medications.

 Everyone should get vaccinated every year for very good reasons. Once you get the vaccine, it takes about two weeks for protection to develop.  The protective effect of the vaccine is also affected by age, underlying diseases, and treats that reduce immunity.