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INFLUENZA

Men's Health, Women's Health / By

INFLUENZA

Influenza is a highly contagious, acute viral respiratory infection that affects your throat, nose, and lung and spreads easily from person to person.

  • Influenza is also commonly referred to as ‘the flu’.
  • Anyone can be down with the flu but children under the age of 5, adults that are 65 years and older, pregnant women, people with chronic illness and a weakened immune system are at a higher risk of getting infected.
  • Three different types of influenza viruses exist and affect people, called TYPE A, TYPE B, and TYPE C.
  • TYPE A influenza virus is found in humans and animals. This virus infects the lungs and upper airways and is responsible for the great flu epidemics. Type A can cause severe symptoms and serious complications.
  • TYPE B influenza virus affects only humans and are less severe than type A and causes milder symptoms. Sometimes, type B can cause intense complications but does not cause epidemics.
  • TYPE C influenza virus also affects people but milder than type A and B. People hardly get ill from the influenza type C viruses and it causes no pandemics.
  • The three major types are mostly accompanied by similar symptoms.

CAUSES

The mucous membrane of your nose, eyes or mouth is a passageway for viruses to enter the body. Every time your hands touches one of these areas, you are possibly infecting yourself with a virus. Flu viruses are caused by an indirect or direct transmission from an infected person. This virus can be transmitted by:

  • Inhaling droplets from an infected persons coughs, sneezes or talks
  • Touching a surface that has been contaminated by infected droplets such as telephone or computer keyboard, hands, door handles and remote controls and touching your nose, mouth or eyes.

SYMPTOMS

The most common symptoms of flu are:

  • Dry, persistent cough
  • Body aches and pain
  • Extreme weakness and fatigue
  • Fever over 38 C
  • A headache
  • A sore throat
  • Nasal congestion (runny or stuffy nose)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Chills

Influenza isn’t serious in young and healthy people, but high-risk children, older adult and people with chronic illness may experience complications such as:

  • Pneumonia
  • Ear infections
  • Heart problems
  • Bronchitis

This complication can lead to hospitalization and even sometimes death.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

DIAGNOSIS

A physical exam to look for signs and symptoms may be conducted by your doctor. Your doctor may also order a test that detects the influenza virus. The virus may be confirmed by testing your nose, throat, and sputum. The rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDTs) is the most commonly used and fastest method for diagnosing influenza. In order to detect antigens, a swab sample from your throat or the back of your nose is collected. These tests can yield a result in less than 30 minutes.

TREATMENT

The flu is caused by viruses and so using antibiotics won’t help and should not be taken.

Your doctor may possibly prescribe antiviral medications such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).  These drugs may shorten your illness if taken soon after symptoms are noticed.

Oseltamivir is taken orally while Zanamivir is inhaled through an inhaler similar to an asthma inhaler. People with a respiratory problem such as asthma and lung disease should avoid using Zanamivir

Individuals with flu should:

  • Stay indoors
  • Keep warm and rest
  • Take plenty of fluids
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Quit smoking
  • Avoid contact with other people

The World Health Organization recommends a yearly vaccination against influenza for those at high risk.

Regular hand washing can reduce your risk of getting infected.