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An Alternative Medicine Network |
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| Common Illness
Amebiasis |
Influenza (flu) What is influenza (flu)? Influenza or flu is a viral infection of the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs. There are two main types of virus: A and B. Each type includes many different strains which tend to change each year. When does influenza occur? Influenza occurs most often in the winter months. Illnesses resembling influenza may occur in the summer months but they are usually due to other viruses. Who gets influenza? Anyone can get influenza, but it is most serious in the elderly, in people with chronic underlying illnesses (such as cancer, emphysema or diabetes) or those with weak immune systems. How is it spread? Influenza is highly contagious and is easily transmitted through contact with droplets from the nose and throat of an infected person during coughing and sneezing. What are the symptoms of influenza?
Headache How soon do symptoms appear? The incubation period for influenza is one to five days. How is influenza diagnosed? Usually, a doctor will diagnose a case of the flu based on typical symptoms of fever, chills, headache, cough and body aches. Specific lab tests to confirm the flu are costly and time consuming and are usually limited to outbreak or disease surveillance efforts. When and for how long is a person able to spread influenza? The contagious period varies, but probably begins the day before symptoms appear and extends for a week. Does past infection with influenza make a person immune? Generally, no. The viruses that cause flu frequently change, so people who have been infected or given a flu shot in previous years may become infected with a new strain. Because of this, and because any immunity produced by the flu shot will possibly decrease in the year after vaccination, people in high-risk groups should be vaccinated every year. What are the high-risk groups? The following groups are at increased risk for serious illness with the flu and should receive vaccine: - all people 65 years of age and older; - adults and children with long-term heart or lung problems; - residents of nursing homes and other institutions housing patients of any age who have serious long-term health problems; - people who have kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, anemia, severe asthma, cancer or immunological disorders and other medical conditions for which they are under the close supervision of a doctor. Others who should receive vaccine include household contacts of high-risk people and health care workers who provide care to high-risk patients. What is the treatment for influenza? Rest and liquids are usually adequate. A prescription drug called amantadine may prevent or reduce the severity of influenza type A, but is not effective against type B. What can be done to control or prevent influenza? Routine immunization against influenza is the most important control measure. Influenza vaccines may be available (flu shot) through your personal physician or local health department. When influenza type A occurs, amantadine may be prescribed for certain individuals. Because new influenza viruses often appear, the effectiveness of the vaccine sometimes varies from one year to the next. Nevertheless, studies have shown that even in years when new strains emerge, people in high-risk groups who obtain annual flu shots tend to have milder illness and are less likely to be hospitalized with complications due to influenza A.
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