Seasonal Influenza | Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Influenza:-

The word Influenza comes from the Italian language meaning "Influence". Influenza, Commonly known as The Flu is an infectious disease caused by an influenza virus.

Symptoms:-

Symptoms can be mild to severe. Symptoms of influenza can start quite suddenly one to two days after infection.
The most common symptoms include: a high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pains, headache , coughing and felling tired. These symptoms typically begin two days after exposure to the virus and most last less than a week. 

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The cough, however, may last for more than two weeks. In children, there may be nausea and vomiting, but these are not common in adults. Nausea and vomiting occur more commonly in the unrelated infection Gastroenteritis, which is sometimes inaccurately referred to as "stomach flu" or the "24-hour flu". Complications of influenza may include Viral Pneumonia, secondary bacterial pneumonia, Sinus infections, and worsening of previous health problems such as asthma or heart failure.

Three types of influenza viruses affect people, called Type A, Type B, and Type C.

A person may be infectious to others both before and during the time they are showing symptoms.The infection may be confirmed by testing the throat, sputum  or nose for the virus.

How flu spread:-

Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

The first and most important step in preventing flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. Frequent hand washing reduces the risk of viral spread.
Staying away from people who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes also helps in prevention against Flu.

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