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What is Influenza?

Influenza or flu, is a respiratory sickness that is caused by a virus. Influenza is highly contagious and generally spreads by the coughs as well as sneezes of a person who is infected. You may easily catch a flu through a touch of the infected person, say for instance, by shaking hands.

In influenza, adults tend be contagious 1–2 days prior to getting symptoms and they remain in the body up to 7 days post becoming ill. Simply put, you may spread the virus of influenza even before you know that you are infected.

In most cases, influenza gets alright on its own. However, influenza and the complications related to it can be deadly. Mentioned below are the categories of people who are at a higher risk to develop flu complications:

  • Young children who are under age 5 but especially those under 2 years
  • Adults who are 65 years or more than that
  • Any resident of long-term care facilities and nursing homes
  • Expectant mothers and women who delivered a child up to two weeks postpartum
  • People who have weakened immune systems
  • People having chronic illnesses, such as kidney disease, asthma, diabetes, heart disease and liver disease

Runny nose, fever, sore throat, sneezing, coughing, headache, muscle pain, etc. are some of the common symptoms of Influenza.

Causes of Influenza

Influenza causes are known easily. These influenza viruses travels through the air in droplets when you get in contact with someone who has an infection via coughs, sneezes or even talks. These germs can be inhaled directly or you may also get them through objects such as a telephone. It may then transfer to your mouth, eyes or nose. People who catch the influenza virus are most likely contagious from the first day or even before getting the symptoms until about five days post the influenza symptoms begin. Children as well as people who have weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of getting contagious for a longer time.

Influenza viruses keep changing constantly, with newer strains that appear regularly. In case you've caught an influenza in the past, remember that your body might have already made antibodies for fighting to that particular strain of the virus. There are higher chances of these antibodies preventing the infection in case you the future influenza viruses are alike to those that you've encountered before. This might be either by having the influenza disease or by vaccination. However, these antibodies against influenza or flu viruses that you've encountered in the past may not be able to protect you from newer influenza subtypes which can be very different immunologically from the one’s that you had before.

Types of Influenza

There are generally 4 types of seasonal influenza viruses which are types A, B, C and D. Influenza A and B viruses circulate easily and further cause seasonal epidemics of disease.

  • Influenza A viruses are further categorised into subtypes as per the combinations of the hemagglutinin (HA) and the neuraminidase (NA), the proteins that are on the surface of the virus. In humans, currently the viruses that circulate are subtype A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) influenza viruses. Pandemics are caused only because of influenza type A viruses
  • Influenza B viruses are not categorized further into subtypes, but they can be easily broken down into lineages. Currently the influenza type B viruses that are circulating belong to either B/Yamagata or B/Victoria lineage.
  • Influenza C virus is very rarely detected. This usually causes very mild infections.
  • Influenza D viruses generally affect cattle and are therefore not known to infect or cause any illness in people.

Treatment

What should you do in case your Influenza worsens?

It is better that you visit a doctor in case your influenza worsens. He may conduct a physical exam and ask you certain questions to understand the signs and symptoms of influenza. The doctor may also possibly suggest a test that would help in detecting the influenza viruses.

What are the available Influenza treatment options?

Antiviral drugs are the best influenza treatment that can help in reducing the influenza symptoms and therefore shorten the time if you are sick by 1 or 2 days. Some of the serious influenza complications such as pneumonia may also be prevented by these antiviral drugs. People who are at high risk of catching serious influenza complications, influenza treatment with the help of antiviral drugs can actually mean the difference between milder or any serious illness that possibly may resulting in a hospital stay.

Your doctor may also suggest expectorants in case of mucus or chest congestion. Antihistamines may be given in case of cold and allergy.

Are there any natural or homemade remedies for Influenza?

In case you do not get influenza treatment, it may typically go off within a week. However, this is the time when you can definitely try some home remedies that would help you ease out the influenza symptoms.

  • Soup. Warm chicken soup helps in case of a flu by giving relief to your sore throat and offer hydration and electrolytes. It also reduces inflammation by the movement of white blood cells into your body.
  • Honey. Usually, many natural cold and cough medicines has a very important ingredient honey. Honey is one of the most effective cough suppressant and you can consume it by adding few spoons of it in your tea.
  • Ginger. You may add few slices of ginger into your tea. You may also boil ginger in water and sip the same. Thus will ease out your sore throat and therefore suppress a cough. It may also be helpful in case of nausea.
  • Probiotics. This may increase the good bacteria in your gut while your body fights against an infection.
  • Remember, rest is most vital in helping you recover from a flu infection. There, rest and get sleep as much as you can.

    When to see a doctor?

    In most of the cases, people when they catch influenza or a flu, gets treated at home easily and therefore may rarely see a doctor.

    If you have influenza symptoms and feel that you are at risk of complications, it is better that you see a doctor right away. You may reduce the length of influenza symptoms by taking antiviral drugs within the first 48 hours, thereby preventing any further serious complications.

    Influenza prevention is better and is easy too. All you need to do is get a flu shot yearly, practice good and healthy habits, take antiviral drugs, try maintaining your immune system, quit smoking, etc.

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