Flu, an acute, infectious viral disease of the respiratory tract. The term flu arose in Italy in the 15th century, where an epidemic of the disease was ascribed to the “influence [flu] of the stars.” It is known commonly as flu or grippe. Flu is extremely contagious, often spreading on an epidemic scale; outbreaks typically occur from late autumn through early spring seasons. and the population’s state of immunity.
Symptoms and Course of the Disease
The disease is characterized by a rapid onset after infection, the incubation period is 1-3 days. The predominant symptoms are high fever, dry cough and muscle and headaches. Symptoms from the intestine does not occur (“stomach flu” is thus an incorrect term). Patients with uncomplicated flu usually recover after about a week. In the most severely ill can be a primary, that is. caused by the virus, pneumonia of the serious nature arise. Complications occur, and most common is an intercurrent bacterial pneumonia.
The new influenza A/H1N1 in 2009 have similar symptoms but in many cases a very mild, flu-like syndrome. A small number of people, however, had severe pneumonia, either triggered by the virus or virus in combination with bacteria. In a few cases have been amplified as the lungs of inflammatory fluid is sufficient to allow spontaneous respiration or ventilator does not function adequately. Treatment with oxygenation outside the body (ECMO) has then had to be resorted to.
The diagnosis of influenza is based partly on the epidemiology and symptom, and the isolation of viruses and / or detection of antibodies against this virus. Mortality from influenza infections can be high in certain patient groups. This particularly applies to older, often due to other, underlying diseases and intercurrent bacterial infections. In younger patients, mortality rates are very low and is concentrated among those who develop the severe form of primary pneumonia.
Diagnosis
Flu can be diagnosed by using a nasal wash or throat swab to obtain a sample of the flu virus from a patient and then cultivating it in the laboratory. Several other laboratory flu tests also exist. Yet most commonly doctors diagnose flu simply based on a patient’s symptoms and whether or not the surrounding community is currently undergoing a flu epidemic.
Prevention
Vaccination is an effective method of preventing flu in all age groups. Flu vaccines are prepared with inactivated type A and type B viruses. Thus a person who is vaccinated develops antibodies against the viruses without developing the acute form of the disease. Sometimes mild flu symptoms, such as muscle ache and fever, may appear after vaccination. A person’s immunity to flu falls rather rapidly a few months after vaccination or recovery from the disease. Vaccinations are therefore necessary each year, preferably in the fall.
Antiviral drugs are sometimes prescribed for use in addition to vaccination. These medications include amantadine and rimantadine, which defend against type A flu. The drug seltamivir is used to prevent types A and B. If taken within two days after the onset of flu, these three drugs (as well as a fourth antiviral medication, zanamivir) can shorten the duration of flu symptoms by a day.
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