Influenza - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Influenza is a virus which causes a severe form of respiratory tract infection with generalised bodily symptoms. It is a viral infection of the lungs characterized by fever, cough, and severe muscle aches It spreads around the world in epidemics and is responsible for much ill health as well as many deaths. It's all around us, especially during the winter and early spring. And yet, as common and widespread as influenza (also known as "the flu") can be, its potential to cause hospitalizations and death is often unappreciated. . The illness even has its own season - from November to April, with most cases occurring between late December and early March. The most effective way to protect yourself from the flu is to be vaccinated each year in the fall. Regular hand washing is another way to help minimize your risk.

Influenza is not a case of low fever and sniffles that keeps you home in bed for a day and a gastrointestinal upset ("stomach flu") . Influenza was responsible for the most devastating plague in human history - the "Spanish" flu that swept around the world in 1918 killing 675,000 people in the U.S. and an estimated 20-50 million people worldwide. Influenza is a severe but usually relatively brief respiratory infection, influenza is caused by three groups of viruses, calIed A (which includes Asian flu), B, and C. Each group has variant viruses but all produce similar symptoms that vary only in intensity.

Even in the young and healthy, influenza produces a prostrating disease of a few days duration and one not soon forgotten. Influenza, commonly known as "the flu," is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract. Usually, after two or three days, symptoms begin to subside rapidly and fever is over (but sometimes fever may last as long as five days without complications). Fatigue, weakness, and excessive sweating may persist for several days or sometimes several weeksafter other symptoms are gone. No one at the time even knew what disease agent was causing the pandemic. Not until 1930 (in pigs) and 1933 (in humans) was it established that influenza is caused by a virus . It is possible for bacterial infection to occur as a complication when flu weakens body defenses. The risk is greater for the elderly and chronically ill. Bacterial infection of the breathing tubes and sometimes pneumonia may be indicated when fever, cough, and other respiratory symptoms last beyond five days.

Causes of Influenza

Here are the list of the possible causes of Influenza:

• The flu is caused by three types (strains) of viruses - influenza A, B and C.
• Influenza A can cause moderate to severe illness in all age groups and infects humans and other animals.
• Influenza B causes milder disease and affects only humans, primarily children.
• Lying in bed with chills, a spiking fever and that run-over-by-a-truck feeling, you're not likely to care much about the habits and history of flu viruses.
• Influenza is caused by a virus which attacks our body's cells, resulting in various effects depending on the strain of the virus.
• Type A is the most common flu. It changes often and causes a new epidemic, or mass outbreak of flu, every few years. An epidemic usually peaks within 2 or 3 weeks after the first cases occur.
• The influenza virus changes often, so having flu caused by one strain does not give you full immunity to other strains.

Symptoms of Influenza

The first symptoms, which often develop suddenly, an: chilliness and fever up to 102° or 103°F. Other early symptoms include prostration and generalized aches and pains, which are most pronounced in the back and legs. Headache is common and is often accompanied by sensitivity to light. Respiratory symptoms-sore throat, burning below the breastbone, nonproductive cough, and sometimesnasal discharge-may be mild at first but later may become more pronounced. Some sign and symptoms related to Influenza are as follows:

• If you start to develop cold symptoms but starting more rapidly and rather more violently, with higher fever and severe aches and pains, often in the back and muscles, then you may well be developing influenza.
• muscle aches
• dizziness
• runny nose
• nausea or vomiting
• weakness
• Typical flu symptoms include headache, fever, chills, cough and body aches. Intestinal symptoms are uncommon.
• Symptoms of Reye's syndrome are nausea and vomiting, and more seriously, neurological problems such as confusion or delirium.

Treatment of Influenza

Treatment of Influenza are as follows:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often carried on your hands.
• If you are still hot, sponge down (or be sponged down!) with tepid water.
• wear layers, since the flu often makes them cold one minute and hot the next (wearing layers - like a T-shirt, sweatshirt, and robe - makes it easy to add or subtract clothes as needed)
• Garlic is an excellent remedy for influenza. It is useful as a general antiseptic and the patient should take as much as he can bear.
• Reduce the severity and duration of symptoms caused by infection with influenza A or B virus.
• Half a teaspoon of the powder of long pepper, mixed with two teaspoons of honey and half a teaspoon of juice of ginger, should be taken thrice a day.