Influenza

Influenza, commonly known as the flu is an contagious disease of birds and mammals caused by an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). Influenza is a viral infection which attacks the respiratory system, including your nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs. Though the flu affects all age groups, kids tend to get it more often than adults. Although it's commonly called the flu, influenza is not the same as the stomach virus that causes diarrhea and vomiting. The most common intricacy of influenza is pneumonia , which can be primary influenza viral pneumonia or secondary to bacterial infection.

Basically, influenza is bequeathed from infected mammals through the air by coughs or sneezes, creating aerosols carrying the virus, and from infected birds through their droppings. Influenza can also be transmitted by saliva, nasal secretions, feces and blood. The flu is not the same as the common cold; flu symptoms are generally more acute, and you will often miss more work or school than you would with a cold. The virus can cause infections all year round, but it's most common in the winter in the UK. If you're at high chance of flu, your first line of defense is an annual flu shot. Though the shot doesn't provide 100 percent protection, it can reduce your risk of infection and help prevent severe complications if you do get sick.

Influenza (flu) is an illness caused by a virus that comes on abruptly, and causes symptoms such as fever, body aches, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, a dry cough, and a sore or dry throat. Influenza also may cause myositis, exacerbation of chronic encumber pulmonary disease Reye's syndrome, myocarditis , pericarditis, transverse myelitis and encephalitis. Millions of people, including 500,000 Americans, died in the 1918 influenza pandemic. Presently, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 36,000 Americans die each year of complications of influenza and more than 200,000 are hospitalized.

The most common human vaccine is the trivalent flu vaccine which contains sublimated and inactivated material from three viral strains. Usually this vaccine includes material from two influenza A virus subtypes and one influenza B virus strain. Though it can become a much more serious illness, leading to pneumonia, nerve and brain damage and even death, such complexities are rare. Antiviral drugs can be used to treat influenza, with neuraminidase inhibitors being especially effective.

Causes of Influenza

The common Causes of Influenza :

• A virus which attacks our body's cells, resulting in several effects depending on the strain of the virus.
• Living in stuffy rooms
• Unhealthy way of living
• Lack of adequate exercise
• Stress
• Faulty diet

Symptoms of Influenza

Some common Symptoms of Influenza :

• Cough.
• Ear infection.
• Chills.
• Weakness.
• Sore throat.
• Dizziness.
• Headache.
• Tiredness.
• Fever.
• Diarrhea.
• Loss of appetite.
• Runny nose.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Muscle aches .

Treatment of Influenza

• Take paracetamol or anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen to lower a high temperature and relieve headaches and muscles aches.
• Antiviral Medications can also be used to prevent the flu.
• Influenza is caused by a virus, so antibiotics (like penicillin) don't work to cure it. The perfect way to prevent the flu is to get an influenza vaccine (flu shot).
• Bed rest.
• Drink lots of liquids.
• Reduce the spread of the virus to people at high risk for severe complications of the flu ( high-risk groups ).
• Avoid using alcohol and tobacco.
• Giving aspirin to children and teenagers who have influenza can cause a rare but severe illness called Reye syndrome.