Influenza

Influenza General Information

This disorder (also commonly called flu), is an infectious disease that affects mammals and birds. The presence of this condition is caused by a set of viruses that belong to the Orthomyxoviridae family (the RNA viruses). The name of this medical condition derives from the Italian term with the same spelling that means “influence” (in Latin, the term is influentia).
In most cases, Influenza is transmitted from affected persons through the air (through simple sneezes or coughs that create aerosols that are known to contain the RNS viruses). Other ways of transmission include: droppings of affected birds, blood, fae\ces, nasal secretions, saliva, and so on. Some patients have developed their medical condition after coming in contact with contaminated surfaces. The viruses that cause this medical condition are able to remain infection for seven days at the average temperature of the human body. They can remain more than a month at 0 degrees Celsius and for much longer if the temperature is very low. However, they are easily inactivated through detergents and / or disinfectants.

Influenza spreads around the world, triggering seasonal epidemics. The 20th century brought us three major epidemics of this disorder that were responsible for the death of tens of millions of patients. We are familiar with 5 forms of the virus that is known to trigger this medical condition: type A, type B, type C, Thogotovirus and Isavirus. The effects of this medical condition in the case of humans are much more dangerous than those that are due to a common cold. Weak and / or old patients who have been diagnosed with flu are prone to experience the most severe (lethal) effects of this disorder. The presence of this disease can worsen any existing chronic clinical disturbances.

Influenza Symptoms

Most patients who have been diagnosed with this medical condition (flu) complained of symptoms such as fever, chills, sore throat, severe headache, muscle pains, weakness, coughing, general discomfort, and so on. However, more severe (dangerous) clinical cases that involved patients with Influenza pneumonia were also reported (and this is thought to have been a direct consequence of this medical disorder). The presence of pneumonia can be very dangerous, especially in the case of elderly patients and / or children, as this is a severe, life-threatening medical disorder. Although Influenza can be sometimes confused with the presence of the well known common cold, all patients must be aware that flu is a much more dangerous medical condition that is caused by a complex virus. Other symptoms that have been associated with the presence of this medical condition included vomiting and / or nausea (that were very common especially among children).

Influenza Treatment

Patients who have been diagnosed with flu ought to rest well, keep themselves well hydrated (drink plenty of fluids), avoid the use of tobacco, avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages, and follow all the instructions that their personal health care provider has prescribed them. The most commonly employed medicine in the therapy of Influenza is acetaminophen (Paracetamol) which is able to ease some of the symptoms of this medical condition (especially muscle aches and / or fever). Teenagers and children who present fever or any other flu-like symptoms should avoid the use of aspirin (or other similar products), as this medicine is not recommended in the case of Influenza (especially in the form of flu that is caused by the type B virus), as the patient becomes prone to developing a rare but life threatening medical condition (infection) that affects the patient’s liver (Reye’s syndrome). 

As this medical condition is caused by a virus, a therapy with antibiotics is useless; however, such medicines may be prescribed to treat bacterial pneumonia or any other secondary medical conditions (infections). In some clinical cases, the therapy with antiviral drugs was beneficial; however, the virus can easily develop resistance to the usual (common) antiviral medication. The most common antiviral drugs are adamantane derivates (M2 inhibitors) and neuraminidase inhibitors. Oseltamivir (commonly known under the trade mark Tamiflu) and also Zanamivir (commonly known under the trade mark Relenza) are some of the most popular neuraminidase inhibitors. Such medicines are supposed to stop the virus from spreading in the human organism. In most cases, a therapy with these medicines is effective in the treatment of Influenza type A and B. Furthermore, it has been proven that the intake of such drugs is able to reduce the complications and / or symptoms that can be triggered by a case of flu.