MyWiki:VideoWiki/Influenza
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Definition
[edit source]Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by an influenza virus.[1]
Symptoms
[edit source]The most common symptoms include: high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pains, headache, coughing, sneezing, and feeling tired.[1][2]
Timing of symptoms
[edit source]These symptoms typically begin two days after exposure to the virus, and most last less than a week.[1] The cough, however, may last for more than two weeks.[1]
Symptoms in children
[edit source]In children, there may be diarrhea and vomiting, although [3] these symptoms are more commonly caused by the unrelated illness, gastroenteritis (otherwise known as the stomach, or 24 hour flu).[3]
Complications
[edit source]Complications of influenza may include viral pneumonia, secondary bacterial pneumonia, sinus infections, and worsening of previous health problems, such as asthma, or heart failure.[4][2]
Causes
[edit source]Influenza viruses are classified into four types. Types A, B, and C, affect humans.[4][5] Type D does not, but is believed to have the potential for it.[5][6]
Airborne spread
[edit source]Usually, the virus is spread through the air, from coughs or sneezes,[1] over relatively short distances.[7]
Surface spread
[edit source]It can also be spread by touching surfaces contaminated by the virus, and then touching the mouth or eyes.[2][7]
Infectious period
[edit source]A person may be infectious to others both before, and during, the time they are showing symptoms.[2]
Diagnosis
[edit source]The infection may be confirmed by testing the throat, sputum, or nose for the virus[4] with a rapid test, although people may still have the infection even if the results are negative.[4]
Prevention
[edit source]Frequent hand washing, or wearing a surgical mask, reduces the risk of viral spread.[8][8]
Vaccination
[edit source]Yearly vaccinations against influenza are recommended by the World Health Organization, for those at high risk.[1]
Vaccine effectiveness
[edit source]The vaccine is usually effective against three or four types of influenza,[1] is usually well-tolerated,[1] but only effective for a single season, since the virus evolves rapidly.[1]
Antiviral drugs
[edit source]Antiviral drugs such as the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir, have been used to treat influenza,[1] but the benefit to otherwise healthy patients does not appear to be greater than the risks,[9] and no benefit has been found in those with other health problems.[9][10]
Epidemiology
[edit source]Influenza spreads around the world in yearly outbreaks, resulting in three to five million cases of severe illness, and 250 to 500 thousand deaths.[1] About 20% of unvaccinated children, and 10% of unvaccinated adults are infected each year.[11]
Geography
[edit source]In the northern and southern parts of the world, outbreaks occur mainly in the winter, while around the equator, outbreaks may occur at any time of the year.[1]
Highest risk of death
[edit source]Death occurs mostly in the young, the old, and those with other health problems.[1] Larger outbreaks, known as pandemics, are less frequent.[4]
History
[edit source]In the 20th century, three influenza pandemics occurred.
Spanish flu
[edit source]The Spanish influenza in 1918 that resulted in 50 million deaths,
Asian influenza
[edit source]The Asian influenza in 1957 that killed two million,
Hong Kong influenza
[edit source]and Hong Kong influenza in 1968, that resulted in one million deaths.[12]
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Swine flu
[edit source]The World Health Organization declared an outbreak of a new type of influenza A, called H1N1, or swine flu, that resulted in a pandemic during 2009, and 2010.[13]
Other animals
[edit source]Influenza may also affect other animals, including pigs, horses, and birds.[14]
References
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