National flu epidemic: Patients should be prepared for longer waiting periods

The Ministry of Health records increased pressure on outpatient emergency services or urgent revenue during holidays. Increased pressure is a consequence of the ongoing flu epidemic in all regions of Slovakia. High temperatures and respiratory problems even these days are among the most common causes of emergency response. The Ministry therefore calls on people to pay more attention to the assessment of health problems for which they call an ambulance or visit an emergency or emergency reception.
Prior to Christmas, the Public Health Office declared a nationwide influenza epidemic, which is unusual compared to previous influenza periods. Even during the holidays, people often seek medical help. Stronger influenza activity is, for example, also due to people being more prone to respiratory diseases. This is also due to the relatively low incidence of influenza and similar diseases in the last two years. Nevertheless, the seasonal increase in respiratory diseases in autumn and winter months is not an unconventional phenomenon.
The Ministry of Health therefore advises patients to take longer waiting when a doctor visits. They will get information about the representation of doctors in the ambulance, the case on the pages of the county. At the same time, the Ministry calls on patients, despite the longer waiting times for influenza symptoms, to prioritise a general doctor's visit before making use of emergency or emergency revenues.
This can prevent unwanted situations where patients with commonly managed respiratory disease overload emergency ambulances or emergency reception. In case of mild symptoms, the Ministry recommends staying at home.
What are the symptoms of influenza in adults?

• joint and muscle pain
• evere fatigue
• no appetite
• headache
• chills
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose – is not the first symptom, they usually come on after the appearance of coughing – when the cold is usually the opposite
• vomiting or diarrhoea (especially in children).

When is it necessary to seek medical help?

• if you experience breathing problems or lack of air
• if you feel pressure on your chest or abdomen
• if you have seizures and seizures
• if you do not wet
• if you experience severe muscle pain

• if you have a fever or cough that does not improve but has returned or worsened
• or if you are very weak.

What are the symptoms of influenza in children?
The symptoms of influenza in children are very similar to those seen in adults. However, children also suffer from stomach pain or nausea and vomiting more often when flu is involved.
When is it necessary to seek medical help with children?

• difficulty breathing or very fast breathing
• blue lips or cheeks
• severe muscle pain – child refuses to walk
• Moving between ribs at each breath
• chest pain
• Dehydration is manifested by dry mouth, the child cries without tears, does not pee for more than 8 hours
• epilepsy-like seizures
• the child appears to be --mimo--
• for any fever if the baby is less than 4 months old
• if the baby coughs less than 4 months old
• if its chronic disease worsens
• if the child has birth defects (especially of the heart, lungs or blood vessels)
• or fever above 40 degrees Celsius.

In case the health condition deteriorates so much that it does not allow for an outpatient emergency service (APS) or an institution emergency service (UPS), there is the possibility to contact the emergency call 155. In case the caller's condition requires it, he is sent to the Emergency Health Service (ZZS) ambulance. which transports the patient after examination, if necessary, to a constitutional medical institution.
On arrival at the emergency reception department, patients pass the sorting work where the severity of the condition is assessed. Patients with a serious medical condition that cannot be delayed are also emergency reception solutions, as are patients who are expected to need additional examinations such as sono, X-ray, blood sampling and others. Patients with less severe medical conditions are directed to APS.
Outpatient emergency services are health care that ensures the availability of healthcare to the extent of general outpatient care when a sudden change in the state of health of a person who does not immediately endanger his or her life or any of the essential vital functions.

Emergency health care is such care as is provided to a person in the event of a sudden change in his or her state of health that directly endangers his or her life or any of the essential vital functions. It is therefore not appropriate to use urgent incomes in cases where the course of the disease is not severe, although it may be very unpleasant. Priority on urgent income is given to patients who have been imported by the ZZS vehicle and those whose health conditions are so serious that they cannot withstand delay.
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