Inside a Hanoi hospital ward for severe influenza A cases

At the infectious disease treatment area of Thanh Nhan Hospital in Hanoi, there are currently around 65 patients, including as many as 35 cases of influenza A under treatment. Most patients are admitted in fairly severe condition, typically on the third or fourth day of illness, with symptoms of marked fatigue and secondary infections. The majority are elderly individuals with underlying health conditions, particularly those with chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.

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After five days in the hospital, although his fever has subsided, Nguyen Ngoc Thai, 73, from Tan Mai ward, remains extremely fatigued, short of breath and requires assisted ventilation. He is among the severe cases who were admitted late, only on the third day of fever, and is now receiving intensive treatment.

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Dr. Nguyen Trong Hung says that patient Ngoc Thai was admitted with fever and shortness of breath, on top of an acute exacerbation of his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). “In the first days after admission, the patient’s COPD exacerbation was very severe, triggered by influenza-related pneumonia. His arterial blood gas results showed CO₂ retention, meaning elevated CO₂ levels in the blood. He was prescribed bronchodilators, and we considered whether non-invasive ventilation would be necessary,” Dr. Hung says.

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The patient shares after getting caught in the rain, he developed a high fever and severe shortness of breath. Although no one in his family had the flu, he still contracted influenza A on top of his pre-existing diabetes. Now he has been hospitalised for five days.

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“When I was admitted, the doctors diagnosed me with lung complications. On the day I entered the hospital, I had respiratory failure and needed assisted ventilation. I have never had influenza A before, and this time it was completely different. Now I feel much better, but when I first arrived, I couldn’t breathe or even walk,” recalls Thai.

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Le Thi Suu, 89, is another influenza A patient. She had been ill for a week, but her family didn’t realize it was influenza A. She took medicine at home, but it didn’t help. It wasn’t until she developed a high fever and extreme weakness that she was rushed to the emergency room. She then lost consciousness.

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After conducting tests, Suu was diagnosed with chronic bronchitis and suspected influenza A amid the ongoing outbreak. Subsequent testing confirmed she was positive for influenza A. She required intensive treatment due to respiratory failure, including continuous oxygen therapy and nebulization for five days.

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Lan Anh, Suu’s daughter, shares, “At home, my mother often suffers from bronchitis, so we usually give her antibiotics and cold medicine. Who would have thought this time it was influenza A? Since she was admitted, I’ve had to stay here to care for her, completely isolated from the rest of the family. It’s been six days, and I haven’t been home. I just hope she recovers soon so we can go home.”

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According to Thanh Nhan Hospital, from the beginning of the year until early November, the department has treated around 500 influenza A patients. Notably, between October and November alone, the hospital admitted 184 patients with influenza A, nearly half of the total cases for the entire year.

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Dr Nguyen Trong Huu, Deputy Head of the Infectious Diseases Unit at Thanh Nhan Hospital, states that the number of cases is likely to continue rising in the coming period, exceeding last year’s figures. He notes that this year’s unusual weather, with heavy rainfall and early onset of damp, humid conditions, creates favourable circumstances for the influenza virus to develop and spread within the community.

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During the current peak flu season, all patients experiencing symptoms such as cough, fever, shortness of breath, along with signs of respiratory infection like sneezing, runny nose, and nasal discharge are advised to visit the nearest medical facility for examination and diagnosis. In particular, individuals with underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, or serious conditions like cancer or immunodeficiency should seek medical attention early to prevent complications and receive timely influenza treatment.

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According to doctors, the “golden window” for treating influenza is within 48 hours of fever onset. Early hospital visits allow medications to work most effectively and reduce the risk of the illness becoming severe. “However, most patients usually come to the hospital on the third or fourth day after symptoms appear, thinking they only have a common cold or sore throat. Many self-medicate with antibiotics from pharmacies to treat a sore throat, without considering influenza A,” says Dr. Hung.