The objective of this review was to elaborate on changes in the virological characteristics of influenza seasons in Poland in the past decade. The elaboration was based on the international influenza surveillance system consisting of Sentinel and non-Sentinel programs, recently adopted by Poland, in which professionals engaged in health care had reported tens of thousands of cases of acute upper airway infections. The reporting was followed by the provision of biological specimens collected from patients with suspected influenza and influenza-like infection, in which the causative contagion was then verified with molecular methods. The peak incidence of influenza infections has regularly been in January-March each epidemic season. The number of tested specimens ranged from 2066 to 8367 per season from
Influenza has always been and still is the cause of considerable morbidity and, consequently, frequent multiorgan complications, often irreversible and even fatal. It is an acute infectious disease caused by type A, B and C viruses, members of the family Orthomyxoviridae. Infections caused by the influenza virus are reported in every epidemic season. Influenza infections should be considered not only in the aspect of health, but also in the quantifiable, measurable economic aspect. For many years, influenza has been one of the basic priorities of public health. Virological and epidemiological surveillance of influenza, which is implemented in each epidemiological season, is one of the key elements of public health. Virological surveillance involves laboratory confirmation of infection, while epidemiological surveillance involves monitoring of actual and suspected cases of influenza. Laboratory diagnosis is performed to confirm influenza virus antigen in the material collected from the patient, isolate the virus and confirm viral infection based on increased serum antibody levels. Isolating influenza viruses that circulate in a given epidemiological season is necessary to prepare a vaccine against influenza. An early and correct virological diagnosis of respiratory infection, with particular reference to influenza, is currently of great importance in terms of both medical and economic aspects. The paper discusses influenza diagnostic methods currently used in Poland to help physicians in deciding whether laboratory confirmation of diagnosis is justified in the aspect of possible treatment to avoid influenza-induced multiple organ complications.
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