Washington - The World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday patients with severe cases of swine flu may develop viral pneumonia and place a strain on hospital emergency rooms and intensive care units. Speaking at the end of a three-day meeting of the Pan American Health Organization in Washington, WHO officials stressed that most people who contract swine flu, medically known as H1N1 influenza, will recover within a week without medical treatment.
But the WHO is concerned about a small number patients who quickly contract pneumonia in conjunction with the flu. Pneumonia is the most common complication in severe H1N1 cases and a frequent cause of death, along with secondary bacterial infections.
The WHO urged doctors to prescribe antiviral drugs for pneumonia to patients at high risk, such as pregnant women, children under the age of 2 and people with lung diseases.
Those with severe cases begin to deteriorate within three to five days after symptoms emerged and may experience respiratory failure with 24 hours, requiring hospitalization and treatment with a ventilator, the Geneva-based organization said.
