INFLUENZA
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is
an infectious disease that attacks your respiratory system, including
your nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae that infect the respiratory tract of many animals, birds, and humans. Influenza (flu) infection can cause a more severe illness with a mortality rate (death
rate) of about 0.1% of people who are infected with the virus.
The cases of influenza become more acute in winter season. A majority of
influenza cases occur between December and March.
Causes:
In virus classification, influenza viruses are RNA viruses that make up
three of the five genera of the family Orthomyxoviridae:
- Influenzavirus A
- Influenzavirus B
- Influenzavirus C
These viruses are only distantly
related to the human parainfluenza viruses, which are RNA viruses
belonging to the paramyxovirus family that are a common cause of
respiratory infections in children such as croup, but can also cause a
disease similar to influenza in adults. Flu viruses travel through the
air in droplets when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes or
talks. You can inhale the droplets directly, or you can pick up the
germs from an object, such as a telephone or computer keyboard, and
then transfer them to your eyes, nose or mouth.
Risk Factors:
- Infant or young child
- Over age 50
- A resident of a nursing home or other long term care
facility
- Chronic disorder, such as diabetes or heart, kidney or lung
disease
- Weakened immune system, such as from medications or HIV
infection
- Pregnant during flu season
- Working in a health care facility where more likely to be
exposed to the flu virus
- Children on long-term aspirin therapy also may be at
greater risk.
Symptoms:
Typical clinical features of influenza include
1.Fever (usually 100-103ºF in adults and often, even higher in
children),
2.Respiratory symptoms such as
3.Cough,
4.Sore throat,
5.Runny or stuffy nose,
6.Headache,
7.Muscle aches, and
8.Fatigue, sometimes extreme.
Although nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can sometimes accompany
influenza infection, especially in children, gastrointestinal symptoms
are rarely prominent. Most people who get the flu recover completely in
one to two weeks, but some people develop serious and potentially
life-threatening medical complications, such as pneumonia. In an
average year, influenza is associated with about 36,000 deaths
nationwide and many more hospitalizations. Flu-related complications
can occur at any age; however, the elderly and people with chronic
health problems are much more likely to develop serious complications
after the conventional influenza infections than are younger, healthier
people. However, the novel H1N1 virus has initially developed a
different pattern of infection. Unfortunately, the pattern of infection
is similar to that of the 1918 "Spanish flu" pandemic in which young
people (pregnant individuals, infants, teens, and adults through age
49) are the most susceptible populations worldwide.
Investigation:
1.Complete Blood Examination.
Treatment and Management:
1.Drink plenty of water, juices and warm soup to prevent dehydration.
2.Rest- gets more sleep to fight immune system against flu.
3.Crowded places should be avoided.
4.Use of handkerchief while sneezing and coughing must be encouraged to
avoid spread of infection.
5.Homoeopathy-homeopathy has proved to be of use in serious epidemics
or pandemics. It is routinely used and prescribed for the prevention
and as treatment with an effectiveness that has been recorded in
several scientific publications. The medicine is selected on the basis
of holistic approach. The whole organism is taken into consideration
while prescribing medicine on the basis of the homeopathic law of
similars.
Please E-mail dr_ramanand@rediffmail.com for any questions/treatment