What are the symptoms of influenza? How to treat and prevent it. What is influenza?
Influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. Symptoms include sudden high fever, headache, body aches, and fatigue.
Symptoms of influenza
For those who are sick with the flu, when symptoms appear. They usually occur immediately with a high fever of 38 – 41 degrees Celsius. A feeling of heat and cold, aches and pains in muscles and various parts of the body, especially in the upper arms, sciatica, and thighs. Then there will be a headache, pain in the eyeballs when moving, and tears will come out when exposed to light. Then you will feel tired, have no appetite, and a bitter taste in your throat. In addition, you will have a sore throat. A stuffy nose, a runny nose, a dry cough, a feeling of fullness in the stomach, nausea, and the urge to vomit. However, in some cases, you may not have a stuffy nose or a cold at all.
In addition, there are other symptoms as follows:
- In severe cases of influenza, complications may occur. Such as a runny nose or thick, yellow, or green phlegm, earache, tinnitus, shortness of breath, wheezing, severe coughing, chills, lethargy, dizziness, confusion, and/or heart failure.
- Symptoms of influenza usually appear for about 1-7 days, with the most common being 3-5 days. Coughing and feeling weak may last for about 1-4 weeks, even if other symptoms have subsided.
- In some patients, after recovering from the flu. They may experience vertigo due to inflammation of the balance organ in the inner ear.
How are the symptoms of the flu different from the common cold?
In general, the symptoms are quite similar to the common cold. But they may be more severe and last longer, such as a high and longer fever, more body aches, more fatigue. And they tend to be sudden, rather than gradual like the common cold.
The flu can last 6-10 days, while the common cold may only last a few days. In addition, the flu carries a higher risk of complications. So sometimes people with the flu may need to be hospitalized to monitor their symptoms, prevent complications, and spread the virus. Depending on the doctor’s discretion.
Causes of Influenza
The cause of the flu is the flu virus . You read that right! That’s the สมัคร UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีสำหรับสมาชิกใหม่name we call it. The flu virus is a virus called Influenza Virus that is found in the saliva, mucus, and phlegm of sick people. This virus is classified in a group of viruses called Orthomyxovirus.
Influenza strains
As we know, there are many strains of influenza. They can be divided into two main types:
- Influenza A
- Influenza B strain
The C strain is less virulent and does not cause outbreaks, so it is not included in the influenza group.
However, influenza A can be further divided into many subtypes. As we see in the news, such as A(H1N1), A(H1N2), A(H3N2), A(H5N1) and A(H9N2), based on differences in the viral proteins called hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). Which are the causes of that influenza.
The influenza strains that have been prevalent in the past 20 years and have caused deaths are influenza A strains H1N1 and H5N1, for example.
Who is at risk of getting the flu?
Regardless of gender or age, people can be at risk of getting the flu if their immune system is not good enough. However, people who are at higher risk than others are those with underlying diseases such as chronic lung disease, asthma, heart disease, diabetes , and the elderly.
How is the flu transmitted?
It is transmitted through infection by coughing, sneezing, talking, breathing of an infected person, including saliva from sharing the same spoon, glass, or even touching objects that an infected person has touched. After covering their mouth with their hand when sneezing or coughing.
Normally, the influenza virus is found in the nasal mucus, saliva, and sputum of an infected person. The infection can occur through inhalation of droplets of sputum that an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through contact, in which the virus may be on the hands of an infected person, objects such as drinking glasses, plates, bowls, handkerchiefs, towels, books, or telephones. In addition, the infection depends on the environment. When a normal person touches the hands of an infected person, objects, or environments contaminated with the virus. The virus can easily be transmitted to that person’s hands. When the person rubs their eyes or picks their nose. The virus can enter the body and cause the influenza virus.
In addition, the influenza virus can also be spread through the air. The virus is carried in droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can be spread over long distances and suspended in the air for a long time. Then, when a healthy person inhales the air containing these droplets, or when these droplets come into contact with the mucous membranes in the eyes or mouth, without having to cough or sneeze directly, they can become infected with the influenza virus. This is why the flu can spread so quickly. The most contagious period is within the first week of illness.
Complications of influenza
There are many factors that cause complications from influenza, but the most obvious one is the different physical conditions, which will increase the risk of developing various diseases according to the condition. People who are at risk of complications and are easily infected with other influenza strains include newborns, people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, people who are undergoing treatment for a long time, people who take care of patients closely, and people with low immunity.
For patients with chronic diseases, when they get the flu, they are at risk of developing complications while they are sick. There is also a high risk that the influenza virus will exacerbate symptoms of existing diseases, such as allergies, diabetes , lung and heart diseases, neuromuscular diseases, etc.
Symptoms of complications found in influenza patients
- Rapid breathing
- Having trouble breathing
- Take short breaths
- Unknowingly
- Called but didn’t wake up
- No response
- Pain or tightness in the chest and abdomen
- Acute dizziness
- feel chilly
- Frequent vomiting
- When the flu symptoms subside, it is easy to get it again.
In children, parents must observe and watch out for complications that occur, such as poor fluid intake, inability to eat, darkening of the skin, fever with itchy rash, and unprecedented allergic reactions, etc.
Other complications that may occur while sick with the flu include infections in various organs such as ear and sinus infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, myocarditis, pneumonia, heart attack. In addition, there are some additional complications that are found but are rare, such as otitis media, tonsillitis, meningitis, sinusitis, febrile seizures, and encephalitis.
Treatment of Influenza
Many people may have known that the flu is a disease that has no direct cure. We can only treat the symptoms, such as giving fever-reducing medicine, giving sore throat medicine, etc.
In the case of influenza, the doctor will treat the symptoms and closely monitor the symptoms. If the symptoms are severe, the doctor will consider using drugs that suppress the replication of the virus, such as Amantadine or Rimantadine.
How to prevent influenza
- You can get a flu vaccine at general hospitals.
- Maintain good health and strength at all times. Eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, and get enough rest.
- Avoid contact with people who have the flu for a while to prevent the spread of the virus from one person to another.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before eating or handling food.
- Those who have the flu should wear a mask or when sneezing or coughing, cover their mouth with a tissue and crumple it up and throw it in the trash. They should also stay home from school and work to recover quickly and avoid spreading the virus to others.
That’s it, the flu is no longer a scary thing. However, don’t be complacent. Anyone who thinks they may be at risk of getting the flu can get a flu vaccine at a hospital near their home.