Every thing you want to know about Influenza

Influenza

-          an acute viral infectious disease affecting the respiratory system.

Etiologic Agent: RNA containing myxoviruses, types A, A-prime, B, and C.

Incubation Period: 24 to 48 hours

Period of Communicability

• The disease is communicable until the 5^th day of illness and up to seven days in children.

Mode of Transmission:

4. Through airborne spread among crowded populations.

5. Droplet

3. Influenza virus persists for hours in dried mucus.

         Pathology/Pathogenesis

Influenza virus

Invades respiratory mucosa

Damages ciliated epithelium of the tracheobronchial tree

The patient becomes vulnerable to secondary infection

Other organisms give rise to severe reactions – producing edema of the respiratory tree

Passage with serosanguinous discharge

complications

Clinical Manifestations

·         Onset is sudden chilly sensation, hyperpyrexia, malaise, sore throat, coryza, rhinorrhea, myalgia, and headache.

·         Severe aches and pain usually at the back associated with severe sweating may manifest.

·         Sometimes there are gastrointestinal elements with vomiting.

·         The worst symptoms usually last from 3 to 5 days before the condition begins to improve.

·         Influenza makes everybody feel terrible , but most people recover.

Management

1. Stay at home

2. Drink plenty of fluids

3. Take the following to relieve fever and headache:

a.       Paracetamol

b.      Aspirin, unless contraindicated; should not to be given to children below 16 years old

c.       Ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory drugs

4. Sponge down with tepid water

5. Isolate patient to decrease risk of infecting others

6. Limit strenuous activity specially in children

7. Watch out for complications especially among people at risk.

Preventive Measures

·         Immunization

·         Avoidance of crowded places

·         Educate the public and health care personnel regarding the basic personal hygiene

·         People who should receive the vaccine annually:

a.       the elderly

b.      people who have poor immunity

c.       those with DM, lung disease, kidney disease, heart disease or liver disease