The shortened word for the disease 'influenza' is known as the 'flu.' Other than man, it also affects birds and mammals. It can be identified by common symptoms like fever, sore throat, pain in muscles, headache, coughing, irritation in the eyes and fatigue. Generally confused with the common cold, flu can also be dangerous and cause death if the condition worsens. Children affected mostly suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea and pain in the abdomen. It must be understood that flu cannot be distinguished from common cold or other viral and bacterial disease only on the basis of symptoms which the patient exhibits. Only a thorough medical checkup and tests can help distinguish the type of flu and the suitable remedy can be administered by a medical professional. There are antiviral influenza drugs that are used to treat flu.
The virus is divided into three types, designated A, B and C. The first two are associated with respiratory illness and may cause death. Type C causes mild respiratory problems and can be easily cured with vaccines. The majority of health reports point at curing the health problems caused by the A and B virus.
In the early stages of infection, it is usually confused with common cold but influenza is identified with high fever and extreme fatigue. In cases of humans affected with bird flu, diarrhea can be the symptom. It can also easily affect persons (especially sick children and elderly as they have low immune power and even pregnant women) and persons suffering from asthma, heart disease and diabetes. It can be life threatening in cases of persons affected with HIV or patients whose immune power is medically suppressed to help transplants. Persons who have chronic problems can develop further complications like sinus, infections in the ear, worsening of pulmonary diseases like bronchitis and dehydration. Other symptoms include a running nose, burning sensation in chest etc. If proper treatment is not given, they can contract bacterial or viral pneumonia can prove fatal.
Seasonal flu usually occurs in the winter season as there are more chances of spreading infection. Measles and pertussis or whooping cough, may help in the transfer of flu among children. The other diseases that are confused with the flu and can cause similar type of symptoms include the respiratory syncytial virus, which causes illness in young children and elderly people above 85 years. The other type of complication that occurs mostly in children is called as the 'Reye's syndrome' when patients develop symptoms such as severe vomiting, confusion, loss of consciousness and dehydration which may cause swelling of brain.
The virus is divided into three types, designated A, B and C. The first two are associated with respiratory illness and may cause death. Type C causes mild respiratory problems and can be easily cured with vaccines. The majority of health reports point at curing the health problems caused by the A and B virus.
In the early stages of infection, it is usually confused with common cold but influenza is identified with high fever and extreme fatigue. In cases of humans affected with bird flu, diarrhea can be the symptom. It can also easily affect persons (especially sick children and elderly as they have low immune power and even pregnant women) and persons suffering from asthma, heart disease and diabetes. It can be life threatening in cases of persons affected with HIV or patients whose immune power is medically suppressed to help transplants. Persons who have chronic problems can develop further complications like sinus, infections in the ear, worsening of pulmonary diseases like bronchitis and dehydration. Other symptoms include a running nose, burning sensation in chest etc. If proper treatment is not given, they can contract bacterial or viral pneumonia can prove fatal.
Seasonal flu usually occurs in the winter season as there are more chances of spreading infection. Measles and pertussis or whooping cough, may help in the transfer of flu among children. The other diseases that are confused with the flu and can cause similar type of symptoms include the respiratory syncytial virus, which causes illness in young children and elderly people above 85 years. The other type of complication that occurs mostly in children is called as the 'Reye's syndrome' when patients develop symptoms such as severe vomiting, confusion, loss of consciousness and dehydration which may cause swelling of brain.
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