In some parts of the world, winter has already begun. And so is the flu season. In fact, health authorities are already alarmed that the flu cases this year is more severe than the previous season..
For that, I am featuring the Influenza in today's issue of Disease in Focus. Influenza, or more commonly known as the flu is an infectious respiratory disease caused by an influenza virus. It can cause mild to severe symptoms that can result to hospitalization and death. Some strains of the virus can also affect animals including birds, horses, and pigs.
The three types of influenza viruses that affect people are Type A, Type B, and Type C. A yearly outbreak of the disease occurs around the world resulting in 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness leading to 250,000 to 500,000 deaths mostly of young, old, and people with other health problems. Places in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere experience outbreaks during winter. An outbreak can occur at any time of the year in central part of the world. Three pandemics were recorded over the last century that killed millions of people. The Spanish Influenza (H1N1) that occured in 1918 killed 50 million people while the Asian Influenza (H2N2) in 1957 caused 2 million deaths. The Hong Kong influenza (H3N2) in 1968 resulted in 2 million deaths. A new type of (influenza A/H1N1) or swine flu caused a pandemic in 2009 that killed 284,500 people mostly from Africa and Southeast Asia. In 2004, the Avian Influenza or bird flu caused by H5N1 killed millions of poultry due to infection and attempts to control the virus from spreading.
Influenza poses a higher threat to a certain group of people including young children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with weak immune system.
If not treated, the flu can lead to complications such as viral pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia, sinus infections and bronchitis. It can also worsen previous health conditions like asthma or heart failure.
Symptoms and Transmissions
About **33%** of people infected with influenza do not show symptoms or *asymptomatic*. Those who are not can show symptoms one or two days after infections. Early symptoms include chills and fever (38 - 39 °C) accompanied by aches and body pains.Other symptoms include cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, fatigue, headache, rash, and vomiting. Children may have diarrhea and abdominal pain.
These are very similar to the symptoms of common cold but they are different because they are caused by different virus.
The virus can spread through the air from people’s coughs and sneezes. You can also acquire the disease by touching your mouth or eyes after touching an infected object or surface. People who have influenza can also pass the virus to other people before or during the time they have the symptoms.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Influenza can be diagnosed by medical and physical examinations. Your doctor may study your symptoms and may refer to flu activity occurring in your area.Testing the throat, sputum, or nose for the virus can be done to confirm the infection. A Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Test (RIDT) can confirm infection within 30 minutes but is not 100 percent accurate.
People who have the flu are advised to take plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids. Paracetamol are usually given to relieve patients of fever and body pains. Taking aspirin during flu infection is not recommended for children and teens because it can lead to a rare but fatal disease of the liver called Reye’s syndrome.
Antibiotics cannot treat influenza because it is a viral disease but it can be given to patients to deal with serious complications like bacterial pneumonia.
Antivirals such as neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir) and M2 protein inhibitors (amantadine and rimantadine) are used to treat influenza.
Prevention
Proper hand washing and wearing of surgical mask will reduce the risk. The World Health Organization recommends getting vaccines or flu shots annually. A flu shot may work against three or four types of influenza. Since the virus mutates, the vaccine may not be effective next year.Previously on Disease in Focus:
Listeriosis
Scarlet Fever
Norovirus
Sepsis
Gonorrhea
Disclaimer: Disease in Focus is written to provide general information but should not be used as basis for diagnosis and treatment. If you have symptoms of any disease discussed here, please seek advice from medical professionals.
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