Influenza, Flu Treatment, Influenza Symptoms, Flu Cures

Influenza or flu, one of the most prevalent ailments of our time is a respiratory infection caused by a variety of flu viruses. Flu outbreaks usually begin suddenly and occur mainly in the late fall and winter. Due to its contagious nature, it spreads through communities creating the impact of an epidemic. Flu requires immediate attention as its occurrence in elderly people, newborn babies, and people with certain chronic illnesses can lead to life-threatening complications.

Influenza is a common ailment but its impact can be fatal. Each year, about 36,000 people die from influenza, and 114,000 people are hospitalized. New variants of influenza arise each year and therefore a new vaccine must be made and given each year. Immunization is 70 to 90 percent effective in preventing influenza in healthy people under the age of 65.

The single best way to prevent the occurrence of flu especially for individuals at high risk for serious complications is to get a flu shot each fall without fail. The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.

Usage of antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu, Amantadine, Rimantadine, Relenza, and Peramivir has been approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating the flu. These antiviral treatments last for 5 days and must be started within the first 2 days of illness. These drugs also make a person less contagious.

Awareness, preparedness and vaccination are the most effective way of overcoming flu and its ill effects.

Influenza is not limited to any specific breed or race. Apart from inflicting the human race, it also attacks other form of living creatures such as birds, dog, swine and lot more. The only difference is the type of virus which infects them. Though flu vaccine is the only option available for preventing flu but its effectiveness ranges between 70 to 90 percent in healthy young adults. In case of the elderly and people with certain chronic illnesses, the vaccine sometimes doesn't prevent illness altogether, but does reduce its severity and the risk of serious complications and death.

Flu viruses are normally classified into three groups or types - Influenza A, Influenza B, and Influenza C. Influenza A is the most prevalent form of flu and associated with the most serious of epidemics and pandemics. Influenza A virus is essentially a bird flu virus that has recently shifted into mammals. Influenza B on the other hand is restricted to humans and is slightly milder in comparison and has rarely been associated with epidemics. Type C is the mildest form of all and it's normally transmitted from person to person via contagious droplets that are spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs. The best part about this form of flu is that it has never been associated with epidemic outbreaks.

In recent times, incidence of avian influenza or bird flu, a particular strain of influenza A has been witnessed in several Asian countries for the last couple of years. It's gradually taking the shape of a pandemic by spreading its wings to other continents. These outbreaks are associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) which has resulted in illness and death in humans as well.

A pandemic outbreak is usually referred to an infectious disease that affects people over an extensive geographical area. Some pandemics are mild by nature and some are fierce. If the virus replicates much faster than the immune system learns to defend against it, it will cause severe and sometimes fatal illness, resulting in widespread death. Flu pandemics emerge unpredictably in every generation and the last three striking pandemics occurred in 1918, 1957 and 1968 causing widespread death. Adequate steps are required to be taken to prevent the pandemic at the onset.