The close link between disease and environment is nowhere better illustrated than in the seasonal changes in weather and their impact on the incidence of influenza.
Every year, with the onset of chilly winds and autumn rains, there is an explosion of the influenza virus and widespread affliction of individuals.
One would have thought that the human race should have evolved sufficient protective mechanisms to render such viruses harmless and to encourage a symbiotic existence beneficial to both virus and its host.
Instead we see thousands, and in bad years millions, of afflicted persons going down with a deadly strain of influenza which from time to time makes its appearance.
What is special about the influenza virus that makes it so variable, so difficult to predict its outcome? Viruses are essentially bits of DNA (or the related RNA) which are packaged into tiny containers which are transmitted through the air through coughs and mere human contact between one individual and another.
As soon as they get inside their victim, they penetrate into the cells of a particular organ, commonly the lung, and there proliferate and start on their path of destruction.
Scientific ingenuity is brought into play year after year to produce vaccines that are effective against these viruses. But unfortunately, viruses have the habit of changing their spots with every season, and this year’s virus, while resembling last year’s, may be sufficiently different to trick the body into thinking it is something new.
Nonetheless, immunisation is the only method we have of ensuring that the spread of the influenza virus is kept under control and prevent it from spreading to produce an epidemic, or even, every few years, a pandemic.
While it is important to ensure that most people are protected by vaccination, it is particularly important for the weaker members in the community to be thus protected. This holds particularly for the very young, the elderly, as well as those who have some chronic disorder which reduces the vigorousness of their immune system.
In particular, there is a particular need for diabetic patients to be protected from the effects of influenza viruses. It has been stated that people with diabetes are three times more likely to die from flu complications than the average person.
They are far more likely to be hospitalised for related complications. Vaccination can prevent the majority of these complications.
Patients may also be advised by their doctors to get the pneumococcal vaccine. In contrast to the above, this is a bacterial infection and needs to be given every five years rather than every year as in the case of viral flu.
The use of anti-viral drugs in suppressing viral influenza has become more common these days with the easier availability of antiviral medications.
In many centres it is recommended that such drugs are given to anyone who has an increased risk of complications, and these include diabetic patients.
It is important that such drugs are administered as early as possible if they are to be of any value in preventing an influenza attack.
One effect of any serious disease is to alter the body metabolism so that it becomes more difficult to control the blood glucose levels in diabetics, which can fluctuate wildly.
It is therefore doubly important to check the blood glucose levels more frequently, ensure that one is taking an adequate amount of food and fluid, and make sure to stick to the diabetic medication.