An NHS doctor has issued a stark warning about the deadly signs of pneumonia, following concerns raised when Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s wife, Carrie, was hospitalised after her flu infection developed into the serious lung condition. The NHS is currently grappling with an influx of severe cases, with over 5,000 patients requiring hospital treatment daily.
Earlier this week, NHS Scotland revealed that the number of deaths involving flu in the first week of this year was nearly four times higher than the same period last year. NHS England data indicates that there were an average of 5,408 flu patients in beds each day last week, including 256 in critical care – a rise of 21% from the previous week.
Carrie Johnson spent almost a week in hospital battling flu and pneumonia, after experiencing difficulty breathing due to a chest infection, she shared on Instagram. The wife of the former prime minister admitted she is still not fully recovered and it could take a few more weeks until she feels like herself again.
In her post, she hailed NHS nurses and doctors as “the best people on earth” and strongly advised people to get the flu jab.
TV doctor Mark Porter, known for his appearances on BBC Breakfast and Good Morning Britain, has shared some crucial advice on how to spot if pneumonia develops from your illness. Writing in The Times, Dr Porter warned that flu can lead to complications ranging from ear infections and febrile convulsions to heart failure, paralysis (Guillain-Barré syndrome) and stillbirth.
He emphasised: “it is the impact on the respiratory system that causes the biggest problems.” Recent research from Japan, he noted, revealed 1 in 300 flu infections develop into pneumonia, with it being much more prevalent in older people. He explained: “The odds of recovery vary with the individual and the cause of their pneumonia. Most cases in people with flu are due to secondary bacterial infection and, if sick enough to require hospital admission, then about one in ten will not survive,rising to one in three for those that need intensive care.”
“The older you are, and the more underlying health issues you have, the greater the risk,” Dr Porter added.
He also highlighted that a major issue with flu is that it often makes people feel terrible, “so spotting who is developing worrying symptoms of a more serious infection is much harder than in people with milder viral coughs and colds.”
“The cough itself is a poor indicator of severity. Innocent viral coughs and colds can easily last two to three weeks, sound “chesty” and produce yellow or green phlegm, while a child with pneumonia may just have a nagging dry cough.”
Dr Porter highlighted several warning signs to watch for, saying: “New shortness of breath, particularly if severe enough to be noticeable at rest, should always raise concerns. Chest pain, often on taking a deep breath, is another red flag, as is coughing up blood or blood-tinged phlegm. And check your pulse. A resting heart rate consistently more than 100 in an adult is concerning.”
He also noted that “Fever is traditionally another way to differentiate milder viral causes of cough from pneumonia because temperatures tend to be higher (38.5C or more) in the latter. However, unlike most other respiratory viral infections, flu often causes high temperatures too. And it can also make you feel awful, blunt your appetite and confine you to bed, all signs of more worrying infection, further muddying diagnostic waters.”
Dr Porter added that early detection is key, as many cases of secondary chest infection and pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics at home, leading to a good outcome. He stressed the importance of vigilance, especially for those with underlying health issues such as existing chest disease, which increases the risk of complications.
Furthermore, Dr Porter advised people to seek out a flu vaccination where possible.