How Dangerous is Influenza? let us analyze the dangers? Cure-Precautions

Influenza (flu) is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. There are two main types of influenza viruses (A and B) and each type has many different strains. The disease caused by these viruses is often collectively referred to as "flu".

Influenza can range from mild to very serious, depending on a variety of factors, including viral strains, the patient's age, and the patient's health. Certain groups are at higher risk of serious flu complications.

Symptoms

Flu symptoms may appear suddenly and include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, constant pain, headache, and fatigue. Vomiting and diarrhea may also occur, but these symptoms are more common in children than in adults.

Transfer

Influenza is first transmitted through infected respiratory drops - and is through the air, cough or sneeze. It is important to remember that some people who are infected will not experience any symptoms (this is called asymptomatic infection) but will still be contagious. They can infect others without knowing that they are infected. Even patients who experience flu symptoms can become infected just one day before and one week after.

Any important note about the spread of influenza has to do with its frequent genetic mutations. New strains of influenza virus appear more often, and the previous infection with a different strain does not guarantee future immunity against the infection. That's why the antigen in the Mosaic flu vaccine usually changes every year - to try to protect against any flu strains currently circulating. (For more information, see "Available Vaccines and Vaccination Campaigns" below.)

Treatment and care

In general, flu patients are encouraged to stay at home and rest, both for recovery and to avoid spreading the infection to others. In mild cases, treatment is limited to relieving the symptoms of the disease: over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be used to reduce fever and/or relieve pain, and cough medicine or drop throat. Can be used to reduce inflammation and cough. Drinking extra fluids helps prevent dehydration.

Physicians may prescribe an antiviral medication for serious cases, or for people who are at high risk of complications. However, many strains of circulating influenza have become resistant to available antiviral drugs. Vaccination is one of the first ways to prevent flu.

Complications

Pneumonia is the most common complication of influenza infection. Significantly, it is caused by a secondary bacterial infection such as Haemophilus influenza or Streptococcus pneumonia. It can also cause flu and infection, worsen existing medical conditions, such as chronic lung disease, or heartburn.

Although any flu patient may experience complications of the disease, certain groups are at higher risk of flu complications than others: the elderly, young children, people with asthma, and pregnant women. There are those who are at higher risk of complications. In a particular flu season, people aged 65 and over account for 90% of flu deaths. (Some global influenza behaviors differ significantly from what is expected in this regard; the H1N1 epidemic of 2009, H1N1 influenza caused approximately 90% of deaths in people under 65 years of age.)

Vaccines available

As new strains of influenza emerge more frequently, the seasonal flu vaccine usually changes every year. Each season's vaccine is usually designed to protect against several strains of influenza: two "A" strains, and one or two "B" strains, depending on the vaccine. From start to finish - the selection of breeds for the vaccine, the final product - the process of preparing for the Mosaic flu vaccine can take up to eight months.

Influenza Surveillance Centers around the world monitor the year-round trends of circulating influenza strains. Genetic data is collected and new mutations are identified. Then the World Health Organization is responsible for selecting breeds that are probably similar to those that are circulating in the coming winter flu season. For the northern hemisphere, this decision is made in advance in February. In some cases, one of the breeds used in the previous year's vaccine may be re-selected if that breed is still circulating. From this point on, vaccine preparation and production can take place.

Four to five months after the breed selection (within June or July in the Northern Hemisphere), the vaccine breeds that have been developed are tested separately for purity and potency. Only after the completion of individual testing are the breeds mixed into a single Mosaic vaccine.

In the event of a global outbreak, an additional vaccine is developed to protect against a specific toxic or widespread outbreak of influenza. The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine was needed after the breeds had already been selected for the seasonal flu vaccine so that a separate vaccine could be created.

The inactivated flu vaccine is the most common flu vaccine available and can be given to children 6 months or older. These are vaccines that are injected. A live, weakened influenza vaccine is available in some countries for people over 2 and under 50. A live vaccine is given inside the nose.

Vaccination recommendations

In some countries, early mumps influenza vaccination is recommended for all or most people over the age of 6 months. The World Health Organization encourages countries that have the resources to implement national influenza recommendations to offer vaccines to at-risk groups: pregnant women, children aged 6 to 59 months, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases. Individuals and healthcare workers.