Influenza - Symptoms & Treatment

Influenza, generally known as flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals crusaded by an RNA virus of the family. Orthomyxoviridae is the influenza viruses. In humans, common symptoms of influenza infection are fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, and fragility and fatigue. The incubation period is one to four days long, with an infection period persistent three to seven days. Mortality from a primary influenza infection is exceptionally rare. Ninety percent of all flu casualties are in the sixty-five and older age bracket, with the other ten percent consisting of persons having host factors such as an immunodeficency. Most deaths which involve the flu are charactersticed to secondary bacterial infections that appear after damage to the upper respiratory tract. Millions of people, including 500,000 Americans, died in the 1918 influenza cosmic. Though it's commonly called the flu, influenza is not the same as the stomach virus which causes diarrhea and vomiting. Anyone can get the flu, but young children, older adults, people with enervated immune systems and those with chronic illnesses are especially vulnerable. If you're at high risk of flu, your first line of apologia is an annual flu shot. Tho' the shot doesn't offer 100 percent protection, it can reduce your chance of infection and help prevent serious complications if you do get sick.

Influenza, commonly called the 'flu', is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs caused by a virus. Symptoms of influenza which develops throughout the body are due to the immune response to infection, but the virus usually stays in the airways. Influenza occurs intermittently or in epidemics (usually during the colder months). Epidemics tend to peak within 2 to 3 weeks after initial cases and slacken within 1 month. Influenza is also called the grippe, fowl plague , avian flu, and bird flu.

Symptoms of Influenza

Some common Symptoms of Influenza :

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

Treatment of Influenza

Treatment of Influenza are as follows:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are usually carried on your hands.
• Reduce the severity and continuum of symptoms caused by infection with influenza A or B virus.
• Aspirin to disembarrass fever and muscle pain, and guaifenesin or another expectorant to relieve nonproductive coughing.
• Half a teaspoon of the powder of long pepper, mixed with two teaspoons of honey and half a teaspoon of juice of ginger, should be taken thrice a day.
• If you are still hot, sponge down (or be sponged down!) with lukewarm water.
• Medication for influenza must be commenced within 48 hours of the appearance of symptoms.
• Garlic is an superb remedy for influenza. It is useful as a general antiseptic and the patient should take as much as he can bear.
• Uncomplicated influenza is treated with bed rest, sufficient fluid intake.