Influenza in children serves as a gateway for severe complications in the elderly.

Changes in lifestyle make grandparents to maintain contact with their grandchildren, thus increasing rates of infection.

Ten per cent of the pneumonias are caused by the influenza virus. In the elderly are pneumonia by influenza virus and bacteria that infect the lung secondarily.

Epidemics of influenza usually start touring in Asia and Europe in decline, from north to south, increasing the reaction time range of the countries of the Mediterranean orbit.

Respiratory complications undertake the course of cardiovascular disease which increases the morbidity and mortality rates.

"The flu in children has become the gateway of influenza and other viral infections in the elderly due to changes in lifestyle." This is the main conclusion to be drawn from the thoughts of Victor Bustamante, a member of the Epidemiology Service of the Hospital of Basurto, and drafting a new appointment of the popular initiative "Meetings with health" promoted by the Academy of Medical Sciences Bilbao and the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry of the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU). This is the starting point of the conference given this afternoon at the Library of Bidebarrieta which will demonstrate that "the permanent contact of grandchildren and grandparents, due to the tight schedules of the parents increases the risk of a leap of pathologies virus from childhood to senescence.


Victor Bustamante warns that "it is a proven fact that epidemiological viral epidemics reaching the society through the smallest." At the time of completion percentage, the specialist notes that "approximately 65 percent of cases is the child who introduced the virus into their environment." A study based on the observation concludes that "two or three weeks after hatching, the respiratory illness hits the jump to adults, especially in regard to respiratory diseases."


It is not a minor matter. Not surprisingly, "rates of morbidity and mortality of elderly people who have respiratory problems are significant. Thus, an epidemic of influenza in children, which is a conventional treatment, can become an enormous health problem. " In this risk group of seniors has joined the "chronically ill patients is also a kind of awareness to this epidemic."


Prevention is looming, then, as "the most effective remedy to prevent the spread of the virus. Vaccination of risk groups - people with chronic disease and older than 65 years-is the most recommendable. It should be remembered, "said the expert, that" respiratory problems are added, so normal, the cardiac problems of the elderly, which the extreme risk. " "The increased mortality in this population that is observed in the winter time has to do with the assault by respiratory viruses."


It is not enough to launch a preventive vaccination campaign. Victor Bustamante recommends "intensive surveillance campaign that accentuates the effectiveness of the type of vaccine. It is known that influenza epidemics usually begin in Asia and Europe that run down from north to south, increasing the reaction time range of the countries of the Mediterranean orbit.


Aggravates the situation by the low temperatures of the harsh winter, while Victor Bustamante believes that "the virulence of the virus this year is not higher than in previous courses. It happens, yes, the cold that aggravates the complications and increases the rate of morbidity and mortality of the disease and the onset of pneumonia. "


It is not a minor matter. The flu and colds directly affect previous complications. "On many occasions," the specialist, "are increased heart attacks, strokes and embolisms. Cardiovascular disease suffer from significantly if associated with breathing difficulties. " "It is true that every year there are patients who die from flu, but many more, with other diseases, died with her."