Influenza, commonly known as "the flu", is an infectious disease caused by an influenza virus. Symptoms can be mild to severe. The most common symptoms include: a high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pains, headache, coughing, and feeling tired. These symptoms typically begin two days after exposure to the virus and most last less than a week. The cough, however, may last for more than two weeks. In children, there may be nausea and vomiting, but these are not common in adults. Nausea and vomiting occur more commonly in the unrelated infection gastroenteritis, which is sometimes inaccurately referred to as "stomach flu" or "24-hour flu". Complications of influenza may include viral pneumonia, secondary bacterial pneumonia, sinus infections, and worsening of previous health problems such as asthma or heart failure and is an acute disease of the respiratory system.
Therefore, the influenza vaccine is adjusted every year as well.
The flu is prevalent in cold seasons, especially in autumn. People with the flu often stay out of their regular work for a few days, and if they are not careful, they can easily spread the disease to their associates.
Three types of influenza viruses affect people, called Type A, Type B, and Type C
The flu is usually caused by influenza viruses A and B. Each year, various types of influenza virus are prevalent.
How is the
1-Person-to-person
Flu is highly contagious. When sneezing, coughing or speaking, tiny virus-containing droplets of secretion
from the patient's nose or throat will get into the air and can be inhaled by others nearby.
The viruses are passed on via the hands as well if they have come into contact with virus-containing
secretion. When touching the mouth, nose or eyes afterwards, the flu viruses can enter the body through
the mucous membranes.
2-Via contaminated objects
The pathogens can also adhere to door handles, holding grips, stair railings or similar objects and are
passed on from there via the hands.
Signs and symptoms?
Symptoms of influenza may include:
1- Fever and extreme coldness (chills shivering, shaking (rigor))
2- Cough
3- Nasal congestion
4- Vomiting
5- Runny nose
6- Sneezing
7-Body aches, especially joints and throat
8-Fatigue
9- Headache
10- Irritated, watering eyes
11- Reddened eyes, skin (especially face), mouth, throat and nose
12- Petechial rash
13- In children, gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain, (may be severe in children with influenza B)
Who is most at risk?
Older persons, pregnant women and persons with a chronic underlying illness are at higher risk for severe
progress of the flu.
The best protection from flu is vaccination. It should be administered every year, best in the months October and November.
The vaccine composition is reviewed and adjusted every year to protect from the virus strains that are expected to circulate.
The German Permanent Vaccination Commission (STIKO) recommends a flu vaccination for persons who are in particular danger of severe progression:
People 60 years and older
Pregnant persons from the second third of pregnancy onwards; in case of chronic underlying illness
from the first third of pregnancy
Children, teens and adults with increased health risk due to an underlying condition, e.g. chronic disease of the respiratory organs, heart or circulatory conditions, liver or kidney diseases, diabetes or other metabolic diseases, chronic neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, congenital or acquired immune system deficiencies, HIV infection
Employees and residents in seniors' residences and nursing homes
Persons with a strongly increased risk of being infected themselves or infecting others, such as medical staff or personnel in organizations with frequent contact with the public
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water! Carefully dry your hands with a clean cloth after washing.
Do this particularly after contact with patients or objects that patients touched.
Touch the mucous membranes of eyes, mouth and nose with your hands as rarely as possible.
Avoid shaking hands during flu waves and keep distance from sneezing or coughing persons.
Where possible, avoid close contact with patients, also at home
source by:
1-https://www.infektionsschutz.de/erregersteckbriefe/grippe-influenza/
2-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza
3-http://chetor.com/79099-%d8%a2%d9%86%d9%81%d9%88%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%b2%d8%a7/
