Influenza, usually known as the flu, is a respiratory infection caused by one of the influenza viruses that typically is spread by air or by direct contact. Most cases occur during epidemics, which peak during the winter months nearly every year. A particularly widespread and severe epidemic is called a pandemic.Influenza is a viral disease that usually strikes between October and May.
Influenza (flu) is a viral upper respiratory illness that comes on suddenly, causing symptoms such as fever, body aches, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, a dry cough, and a sore or dry throat. The flu is not the same as the common cold; flu symptoms are usually more severe, and you will often miss more work or school than you would with a cold.
Causes:
Influenza is caused by a virus in the human body. It spreads when infected persons cough, sneeze, or even talk around others. The flu spreads quickly anywhere people gather like schools, child-care centers, offices, nursing homes, buses, conferences and cruises when someone who’s infected with the influenza virus coughs or sneezes.
- People can get the virus simply by touching a surface like a telephone or doorknob that has already been infected by a touch from infected person.
- The viruses can pass through the infected air and enter your body through your nose or mouth while breathing.
- Virus can also pass on to the persons if they have touched a contaminated surface, from their hand to their nose or mouth.
Three types of viruses cause influenza:
Type A virus causes the most contagious and severe form of influenza. It is responsible for most pandemic (worldwide) outbreaks of influenza. If untreated, influenza caused by the Type A virus can result in death.
Type B virus, causing a less contagious form of the disease, is responsible for epidemics (outbreaks in particular populations or countries) and some pandemics.
Type C virus, which causes the least contagious form, is responsible only for endemic (local) outbreaks.
Symptoms:
The flu usually begins quickly. The first symptoms are a fever between 102 and 106 °F. (An adult usually has a lower fever than a child.)
Other common symptoms include:
- Body aches
- Chills
- Dizziness
- Flushed face
- Headache
- Lack of energy
- Nausea and vomiting
- Between day 2 and day 4 of the illness, the fever and “whole body” symptoms begin to fade.
Then breathing symptoms begin to increase. The symptom is usually not a dry cough. Most people also develop a sore throat and headache. Runny nose and sneezing are common. It is a clear, watery nasal discharge.
These symptoms (except the cough) usually go away in 4 – 7 days. Sometimes, the fever returns. The cough and feeling tired may last for weeks.Some people may not feel like eating. The flu can make asthma, breathing problems, and other long-term illnesses worse.
Diagnosis:
Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms. Flu is likely to cause fever, coughing, chills and muscle aches. Flu tends to occur during winter months.
Doctors usually assume the diagnosis is flu when you have symptoms of influenza in the winter. If your symptoms or physical examination suggest something other than the flu, your doctor may order a blood test. He or she will swab your nose and throat for influenza testing.
Your doctor may order a chest X-ray. This is likely if he or she suspects that the influenza virus has caused pneumonia or may lead to a bacterial superinfection.
Complications:
If you’re young and healthy, seasonal influenza usually isn’t serious. Although you may feel miserable while you have it, the flu usually goes away with no lasting effects. But high-risk children and adults may develop complications such as:
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis
- Sinus infections
- Ear infections
Pneumonia is the most common and most serious. For older adults and people with a chronic illness, pneumonia can be deadly. The best protection is vaccination against both pneumococcal pneumonia and influenza.
Treatments:
- Patient needs plenty of bed rest and lots of fluids to treat the flu. But in some cases, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication.
- Steam vaporizer can make breathing easier. Painkillers can be helpful in relieving the aches and pains of the flu.
- Warm-water enema should be taken daily during the first three to five days of the treatment.
- Children less than 10 years of age should not be given aspirin; Aspirin has been shown to cause a rare condition known as Reye’s syndrome, which can be fatal.
- During the course of the fever, the natural way of reducing temperature is by means of cold body packs, which should be applied several times a day.
- Patients suffering from flu do not feel hungry. So, they should be encouraged to eat as normally as possible.
- Patients should keep in mind that over activity can cause a return of the infection or secondary infections, so, take rest as much as possible.
Usually, you’ll need nothing more than bed rest and plenty of fluids to treat the flu. But in some cases, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza). If taken soon after you notice symptoms, these drugs may shorten your illness by a day or so and help prevent serious complications. Oseltamivir is an oral medication. Zanamivir is inhaled through a device similar to an asthma inhaler and shouldn’t be used by anyone with respiratory problems, such as asthma and lung disease. Antiviral side effects may include nausea and vomiting. Oseltamivir has also been associated with delirium and self-harm behaviors in teenagers.