Flu (Influenza)

Overview

Flu also known as influenza is a contagious viral infection that attacks your nose, throat and lungs. The flu virus is extremely small and is visible through electron microscope. The flu virus uses its age spikes like a key to get inside your cells and the virus travels from person to person or animals.

What is Flu?

The flu, caused by the influenza virus, leads to symptoms such as head and body aches, sore throat, fever, and severe respiratory issues. It's most prevalent during winter months, often resulting in widespread illness (an epidemic). While the flu typically resolves on its own, it can cause serious illness in some individuals. To prevent severe cases, it is crucial to get the flu vaccine if recommended. Vaccination helps protect not only yourself but also those around you, reducing the overall impact of the flu during peak seasons.

How to check if you have Flu?

The flu shares symptoms with other respiratory infections which are often misunderstood by other infections or diseases. An infected individual goes through fever, cough, chills, sweating, body aches, headache and also experiences fatigue and other respiratory symptoms such as runny or stuffy nose. It’s important to focus on the fact that symptoms can vary from person to person and not everyone with the flu is likely to experience the same symptoms. It is recommended to take immediate medical intervention for early recovery from the virus.

Distinguishing between a cold and the flu can be challenging due to their similar symptoms. However, one key difference is the onset and intensity of symptoms. Flu symptoms tend to appear suddenly and are more severe compared to the gradual onset of a cold.

Types of Flu

It’s necessary for an individual to know what type of flu he/ she falls under. There are various types of flu, but the most common type is influenza type A virus, and studies suggest that major people have type A flu virus. While it can become a part of your health at any stage but knowing what type of flu has caught you up is essential. Types of flu includes:

Influenza A: This type of virus is considered as the most diverse viruses and can infect various animals. Influenza A viruses are known for mixing their own genetic material, hence creating new strains. This process can result in major viruses which might cause pandemics.

Influenza B: This type of virus primarily infects humans and cause seasonal flu. Influenza B can cause similar symptoms like influenza A but it doesn’t experience new strains and it doesn’t lead to pandemics.

Influenza C: This type of virus also infects the humans but they cause mild respiratory symptoms. Influenza C is less common and is not associated with any seasonal pandemics.

The determination of the types is necessary for doctors to prescribe suitable medications to the individuals.
It’s important to focus that early detection is really essential for immediate treatment of flu. Flu has great chances of healing when detected early and survival rates of flu are high. While you can never eliminate the risk of acquiring flu but it can be treated and can be kept under control.

Symptoms of Flu

The symptoms vary from person to person, it’s important to know what your body is indicating, and some common symptoms and signs of flu includes:

• Headache
• Chills
• Shortness of breath
• Tiredness and weakness
• Dry and continuous cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Eye pain
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue

Note: It is recommended to use nasal drops, injections intradermal shot to cure flu and shortens the duration of the illness.

Every person might experience the same symptoms, many individuals might misunderstand these symptoms with the common cold. Since the symptoms vary from person to person, many people can start noticing these symptoms at earliest stages and most of them aren’t even aware of any of this.

Causes of Flu

Flu can be caused by the influenza viruses. The development is influenced by the various factors and environmental factors play a major role in the scenario. Key causes include:

• If an infected individual touches the door handle and a noninfected individual touches the same door handle, it is a possible cause of infection.
• The virus can spread all over the body when an individual touches their eyes, nose or mouth.
• The flu is more prevalent in winter months and it is considered that flu cases are high during this time due to temperature, humidity.
• Individuals with low immunity or who have been exposed to influenza before are vulnerable to catch the virus.
• Spending time in close distances increases the risk of catching influenza. Individuals in crowded places are more vulnerable to catch the virus.

These factors are the bridging gap and can also influence the virus to interfere in our day-to-day task. Early intervention and detection would help in curing this aggressive virus at the early stage.

There are many risk factors which can influence the development of flu. Risk factors include:

Age: Infants and young children are at a great risk of catching up with the influenza virus as their immune system has not been developed fully and the elderly comes under the radar as well due to their weakened immune system.

Weakened immune system: Individuals with weakened immune system due to chronic conditions like HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy is at a great risk of developing the flu virus.

Chronic illnesses: Individuals with chronic medical conditions like asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, weakened immune system are more vulnerable to catch the virus.

Pregnancy: Pregnant women are at the higher risk of catching flu due to the persistent changes in their immune system. Vaccination of the flu is recommended before pregnancy to avoid complications.

Occupational risk: Healthcare staff working in crowded can catch and transmit flu very easily and it is recommended to avoid exposure to crowded areas during infection.

Obesity: This factor contributes to the severe flu complications. Individuals with BMI of 40 or higher than 40 are at great risk of catching up with flu.

Lack of vaccination: When an individual fails to receive annual vaccination of flu increases the risk of getting infected with the influenza virus.

Environmental factors: Cold weather and seasonal factors are the highest contributors which spreads the flu virus. Winters increases the risk of transmission of flu virus as an individual tends to stay indoors thereby leading to flu.

It’s essential to be aware of these risk factors to take timely preventive measures such as having regular checks ups and keeping up with these factors.

Tests and Treatments for Flu

The customization of the treatments is the right approach and the identification of triggers will be the best information for the individuals, so that they can stay away from the causing agents. Severity of flu must be kept under immediate consideration to provide effective treatment for the betterment of an individual.
To understand what your body is trying to tell you, doctors will run certain tests to diagnose what the actual problem is. Your current symptoms will make an easy way for doctors to identify the problem. Following are the possible outcomes to diagnose flu:

Physical exam: Doctors will conduct a physical exam and look for symptoms and recommends a test that detects influenza viruses.

• An individual can be diagnosed on the basis of the symptoms.
• PCR (polymerase chain reaction) can be done to identify the influenza’s strain.
• Covid-19 test is also getting common while testing for influenza.

Since, there is no cure for flu, the treatment of flu ultimately alleviates the symptoms and shortens the duration of the illness. The immune system of an individual, age factor and other health factors play a crucial role. Here are the following treatment options for the individual:

Rest and hydration: This treatment option is recommended to allow an individual’s body to recover. By having fluids throughout the recovery phase such as water, herbal tea can help in relieving symptoms and will also help in preventing dehydration.

Antiviral medication: Antiviral drugs are recommended to cure severe flu symptoms. These drugs help in reducing the symptoms and duration of the illness and also relieves cough and cold.

Isolation and prevention: Isolation is considered necessary to prevent the virus from spreading. Since, flu is a communicable virus and can be spread while coughing or sneezing, so covering your mouth while coughing and sneezing and disposing of tissues properly can prevent the risk of spreading the virus.

Regular check-ups: Regular follow-ups not only ensure that you are recovering but also checks the side-effects of the prescribed medication or also keep a track if they are catching any other potential illnesses.

Flu’s treatment is considered to start with the antibiotics but its alternatives involve rest and hydration throughout the phase. These treatment options include the optimum stage of an individual affected with flu. Regular check-ups are essential to track the signs of recurrence if there’s any and it’s essential for an individual to take a safe path of immediate intervention to prevent potential side-effects and the risk of flu.

Prevention for Flu

The risk of getting affected by flu is higher if you live unhygienically, but preventive measures are always recommended to save an individual from early influence and interference of flu in their life. Preventive measures include:

• Annual vaccination
• Good respiratory hygiene
• Avoid touching face
• Handwashing
• Maintain distance
• Disinfect surroundings
• Promote a healthy lifestyle
• Staying home to prevent the spreading of virus
• Using face masks
• Precautions while traveling
• These possible preventive measures can help in reducing the impact of this chronic disease flu. Early intervention and detection are preferable for a successful treatment.