Do you know the prevalence of the flu? Just a little stuffy nose, cough, and exhaustion, right? But are you aware of just how lethal it may get? A billion flu cases are estimated to be diagnosed annually. Up to 3 to 5 million instances may progress to more serious problems. Worldwide, there are between 290000 and 650000 influenza-related respiratory fatalities every year. Is the flu really a big concern?
Flu, commonly known as influenza, is a viral infection that affects the respiratory system, including the nose, throat, and lungs. Flu is an infectious disease, and flu viruses enter the human body through the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, or mouth. Although flu mostly goes away on its own, it can occasionally have fatal complications.
While colds take time to develop, flu symptoms can come on suddenly. The symptoms might be mild or severe, and they can even be life-threatening. The flu symptoms include:
It’s important to keep in mind that not everyone who has the flu will have a fever. Flu without fever is rare but happens.
Although the two illnesses can first be confused, there are certain similarities and differences between them.
After performing a physical examination and confirming the symptoms, the doctor may take a throat swab to test for the presence of the virus. Viral culture, serology, rapid antigen testing, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunofluorescence assays, and rapid molecular assays are a few of the different types of diagnostic tests that are available for the flu.
Flu viruses come in four different subtypes: A, B, C, and D. Every year, influenza epidemics caused by types A and B affect around 20% of the population and are responsible for body pains, coughing, and high fevers. The type C virus is less harmful and exhibits only very minor flu symptoms.
Type A
The type A virus, which typically causes severe flu outbreaks, is constantly evolving. Common hosts for the virus include animals like wild birds. The infectious type A2 virus is another kind of the type A virus that is spread by people.
Type B
Only humans can contract the type B virus, which is less dangerous than the type A virus. Type B has less severe symptoms than type A, but it still has the potential to be extremely harmful. There are no variations of this virus, and it does not cause pandemics.
Type C
When exposed to a type C virus, people often do not get ill. The symptoms of type C are so subtle that they can escape human detection. Pandemics are not brought on by type C viruses.
Type D
This particular virus was just recently identified in cattle. No studies exist that demonstrate this particular virus may infect people.
Flu viruses are contagious even before symptoms appear and can spread for up to 7 days.
When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, the virus is spread through droplets in the air. Additionally, utilising contaminated objects like towels, phones, keyboards, and other items can spread germs.
The influenza virus is constantly evolving. If a person has already been exposed to a virus, their body has already produced antibodies to combat that particular strain of virus. It is killed as soon as it enters the body. The same antibodies, however, might not shield people from a newly evolved influenza strain that differs from earlier viruses.
Symptoms of the flu can start 2 days after infection and continue up to 7 days. Some symptoms, such as coughing, might continue for up to two weeks. The virus can also be spread for up to a week by someone who is asymptomatic. Severe complications may even lead to kidney failure. After the symptoms have passed, persistent fatigue and a lingering feeling of exhaustion may last for an additional 5 to 7 days. This is known as post-viral syndrome.
Even though the flu’s initial symptoms can be quite uncomfortable, they are still manageable and less severe. However, in severe circumstances, several life-threatening problems can arise. These consist of:
In order to stop the flu from spreading, some prevention strategies can be used. These include:
The following factors can raise the risk of flu infection or its complications:
Rest and fluid consumption are the main treatments for flu, allowing the body to combat the illness on its own. The symptoms may be treated with paracetamol. An yearly flu shot can lessen complications and aid in prevention.
There are two varieties of immunisation:
The influenza virus evolves and mutates throughout time, displacing earlier strains. In order to ensure that your body builds up protection against the most recent strains of the virus, it’s crucial to get a flu vaccine every year.
Flu symptoms may get worse over time, raising the possibility of complications. Seek medical help right away if the symptoms do not go away on their own after a week or seem to get worse over time.
Some warning signs and symptoms of an emergency are:
https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/advanced-reading-types-of-flu-viruses
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/symptoms-causes/syc-20351719
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/15107#when-to-see-a-doctor
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/symptoms.htm
About Author –
Dr. Hari Kishan Boorugu, Consultant Physician & Diabetologist, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad
Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a condition that arises when the muscles…
Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty, or PTCA, is a minimally invasive surgery that opens blocked or…
Ankle ligaments are crucial cords that link foot bones to lower leg bones, ensuring stability…
Supermarkets today are flooded with a variety of cooking oils, each with different characteristics, such…
మాట్లాడటానికి, తినటానికి మరియు ముఖం అందంగా కనిపించటానికి నోరే కీలకం. శరీర పోషణకు అవసరమైన ఆహారం, పానీయాలు లోపలికి చేరేది…
అండాశయ తిత్తులు అనేవి అండాశయాల లోపల లేదా వాటి ఉపరితలంపై ద్రవంతో నిండిన సంచి లాంటి నిర్మాణాలు. ఆడవారికి రెండు…