What You Should Know About Influenza Virus
Influenza, commonly known as flu, is a contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract. Influenza A, B, and C are the three types of viruses that cause this epidemic. Type-A influenza is considered to be the most dangerous as it can cause widespread outbreaks of flu. The virus infects the lungs and the upper respiratory system, causing fever, body aches, and pain. The onset of flu also causes loss in appetite, nausea, and dry cough. These symptoms may last for a week, and you may need to stay in bed until they are gone.
Influenza is a very common illness that affects many people every year, usually during winter. As an infected person coughs or sneezes, the flu virus gets transmitted through small droplets of saliva. When a healthy person gets infected by the flu virus, he or she starts to show symptoms within 1-4 days. Flu can also spread through touching common surfaces such as door handles and other items that have been handled by an infected person.
Influenza virus
Type-A influenza virus mostly affects animals and birds. It can also cause damage to human population. Type B and C influenza viruses are not dangerous and show only mild symptoms in human beings. Influenza type-A and -B viruses include strains that are different from the original virus, but retain some of its characteristics. Flu caused by one strain does not give full immunity to the other strains, as the virus keeps changing constantly through a process called antigenic drift. This is the reason a different vaccine is needed every year to help prevent flu.
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Influenza symptoms
Apart from fever, body aches, and pain, the other symptoms of flu are headaches, tiredness, sore throat, runny nose, weakness, and diarrhea. Although flu lasts for a week or less, the immediate symptoms may disappear in 3 days. But symptoms such as cough or severe weakness may persist for a few more days. Infected people can transmit the flu virus even a day before the symptoms start, and they remain infectious for 5-6 days. People with weak immune systems, especially those who are old or very young, may carry the infection for a slightly longer period of time. Current subtypes of influenza type-A viruses are H1N1 and H3N2. Swine flu is an infection caused by H1N1 virus. In 2009, swine flu was first detected in pigs. Recently, a H1N1 vaccine has been developed to ensure against the swine flu infection.
Tamiflu – Influenza Treatment
It is important to treat flu, as it can lead to pneumonia or other complications especially in old people, infants and people with long-term health issues. Tamiflu is one of the most effective medications for treating influenza. It slows down the spread of the flu virus. Oseltamivir, the active ingredient in Tamiflu, works by detaching the flu virus from its host cell. It attacks the virus at its roots and prevents it from multiplying in the body. It also helps the natural antibodies fight off the virus.
One of the most important things about oseltamivir is that it doesn’t have any serious drug reactions with other medications. Under medical supervision, Tamiflu can be taken along with one or more medications that treat other health conditions. It should be taken within 48 hours after the symptoms appear. You should take the medicine as per your doctor’s recommendation. If you miss a dose, you should not take the missed dose. Taking Tamiflu exactly as directed can be an effective influenza treatment.