The minute influenza symptoms are detected you are going to want to obtain medical treatment for the disease. Without the help of the right health care professional, it will be impossible to get rid of the viral infection. Whether you are in the acute or in the late stage of influenza, you need to pay close attention to the influenza virus symptoms and find a means to treat it.
Influenza symptoms treatment is made possible in three different ways. These three treatment forms should work together in order to help with avoid fatalities the disease.
Symptomatic Management
The influenza symptoms treatment can be addressed to in a symptomatic way. For instance, headaches experienced with influenza can be treated with the intake of analgesics. Fever could also be relieved taking an asprin or sponge baths. If fatigue is present, you can opt for either bed rest or a body massage. The symptomatic management as an influenza symptoms treatment works best when done often throughout the day and night until the symptoms are eased. Of course, this kind of treatment should be reported to your medical doctor.
Drug Management
This influenza symptoms treatment involves the usage of drugs. Each type of influenza strain has a corresponding anti viral medicine. The doctor typically prescribes and issues the release of such forms of drugs. If the drugs are given within 48 hours of symptom emergence, influenza can be relieved as early as one to two days. It is prudent to take into account that these meds sould not be used as a replacement for flu vaccinations, which are given yearly.
Some of the most used anti viral meds include Zanamivir and Oseltamivir; both are used to treat influenza A and B strains. The drugs are proscribed by your doctor and are usually sold under the prescription of a licensed health professional. You have to ask your general practitioner about the side effects of these drugs.
Home Remedies
Lastly, you need to follow some useful home remedies for the influenza symptoms treatment. First of all, you will need as much rest you can get in order to recuperate from the illness without difficulty. It is also important to boost your immune system by taking nutritional supliments and or citrus fruits and juices. Water also very important in your influenza symptoms treatment. Additionally, you have to comply with the treatment course of therapy given by your physician. If you strictly implement all these, you will be assured a safe recovery from the influenza disease.
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Avian Influenza first occurred in Italy, but nowdays is spread along the world. It is an infectious disease caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. All birds are supposed to be susceptible to the avian influenza, but particularly domestic poultry.
Recombined with the human influenza viruses form a totally new influenza virus to which people do not have protection that spreads in the population and that causes serious illness and death in humans. Bird Flu is an infectious disease of birds that can also affect people. It can present mild or severe forms of illness.
The only subtype that can cause severe illness to people is Influenza A /H5N1 virus, initially it affects chickens, ducks and other birds by the process of mutation they can become highly pathogenic. If the bird flu virus recombines with a human flu virus and mutate it may become possible the transmission from human to human as happened in Asia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia Thailand, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Eygpt, China, and Iraq where people died.
Bird flu affected Australia in 1997 but, was eradicated. Water birds are supposed to carry the avian influenza type A virus inside their intestines and to distribute it in the environment through bird faeces. In highly contagious forms results in severe epidemics and rapid death. In Hong-Kong it has been declared pandemic.
H5N1is considered to be dangerous because it mutates rapidly and aquires genes from viruses infecting other animal species and human. The more affected were the birds of avian influenza the more dangerous was the infection for human beings, transmited by migratory birds. This could be the start for influenza pandemic.
Symptoms and treatments
Patients usually develop fever, sore throat, cough, severe respiratory distress and viral pneumonia. The people which were affected are of all ages in different states of health. Luckily, there are rapid tests for diagnosing all influenza strains. Antiviral drugs have some limitations, although they are effective in the treatment and prevention of influenza A virus strains. If a new virus subtype occures, it takes some time to produce a new vaccine to be efficient.
The World Health Organization (WHO) makes reports and updates regarding new human cases of infection with bird flu. It is also important to question patients if they had direct or indirect contact with sick chickens or other birds. Not allowing chickens to roam freely, correctly informate the community, advise public not to catch, get near or keep in captivity wild birds are important requirements in order to prevent a catastrophal pandemic.We must wash hands with soap and water before and after handling chicken meat. Cook chicken well, not to let chickens roam freely, do not place chickens, ducks and pigs together in one area.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) makes reports and updates regarding new human cases of infection with bird flu. The only subtype that can cause severe illness to people is Influenza A /H5N1 virus, initially it affects chickens, ducks and other birds by the process of mutation they can become highly pathogenic. Because highly pathogenic viruses can survive for long periods in tissue, water and in the environment, especially when temperatures are low is transmitted very easily in chickens and other birds through direct contact with feces and secretions from infected birds, eggs, feed, water, cages equipment, vehicles and clothing. Public health authorities monitor human illnesses associated with avian influenza. In Hong-Kong occured for the first time infection both in humans and poultry and were killed about 1.5 million chickens.
In China and Hong-Kong avian influenza A (H9N2) virus infection affected two children who recovered. The source was unknown, but suspected the poultry.
In Virginia, 2002 an outbreak of H7N2 among poultry was descovered but,with no human victims. Canada, 2004: human infections among poultry workers with H7N3.
Thailand and Vietnam human infections with H5N1. Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey, 2006: Human infections with H5N1 occurred as a result of contact with infected poultry and with infected death swangs. Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, 2005 two persons have been infected with H5N1 as result of consuming uncooked duck blood. China two cases of patogenic infections with avian influenza A (H5N1) have been confirmed in a family travelling through China. Netherlands, 2003 were reported outbreaks of influenza A (H7N7) in several farms, after which in pigs and people, 90 people were confrmed with bird flu virus H7N7 in association with cases of eye conjunctivitis, one death occured at a veterinarian with acute respiratory distress syndrome and other complications after having direct contact with infected poultry. In New York, 2003 there has been registered one case a patient with respiratory symptoms which recovered in few weeks and tests confirmed it had been avian influenza A (H7N2) virus. Signs and symptoms of bird flu in humans are similar to other influenza viruses: sore throat and cough, fever, muscle weakness and/or pain, eye infections, with life-threatening complications such as: severe viral pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, multi- organ failure.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests the following antiviral agents supposed to prevent and treat avian influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir, and zanamivir. They may be not always effective it has been demonstrated that viruses are resistent to amantadine and rimantadine. In the United States they are not in use any more for the treatment or prevention (prophylaxis) of influenza A. Specialists are monitoring the resistence of avian influenza A viruses to influenza antiviral medications.
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Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) – Influenza medication
Tamiflu is an antiviral drug that has been approved in more than 80 countries. It is manufactured by Roche and is used for the treatment and prevention of influenza. This medication is also approved for the treatment of bird flu.
About Tamiflu (Oseltamivir)
The active ingredient in Tamiflu is oseltamivir. It is used for treating adults and adolescents suffering from influenza. Tamiflu helps patients whose flu symptoms are not more than two days (48 hours) old. Tamiflu is also used to reduce the chance of getting influenza in people because of infection.
Tamiflu for influenza treatment
Tamiflu reduces the duration of influenza by approximately one to one and a half days and reduces the risk of developing flu-related complications, such as chest infections, pneumonia and others that require antibiotics.
Tamiflu is indicated for the treatment of viral infections especially influenza virus. Tamiflu can treat influenza A and influenza B. It can decrease influenza symptoms such as weakness, headache, cough, fever, and sore throat in just the first day of intake. Tamiflu can also help in the prevention of influenza and protects you even if you have been in touch with an infected person. World Health Organization has also recommended Tamiflu as the treatment to be taken in case of bird flu pandemic as it has been found to be effective in treating the new threat of bird flu.
Working of Tamiflu
Tamiflu works by binding to the neuraminidase on the surface of the virus particles and stops it from spreading further. When neuraminidase blocks the virus in this way, newly formed viral particles are not released from the infected cells. This prevents the flu virus from spreading and contaminating other cells. Tamiflu helps confine infection to a smaller area. This makes the symptoms of the infection less severe and makes it is easier for the immune system to kill the virus.
Dosage of Tamiflu
For influenza and bird flu treatment, the dosage of Tamiflu is:
75mg of Tamiflu for adults to be taken twice a day for up to five days
30-75mg of Tamiflu for children to be taken twice a day for up to five days
A paediatrician must determine the dose for infants
For prevention of influenza and bird flu, the dosage of Tamiflu is:
75mg Tamiflu tablets for adults once daily for at least 10 days
30mg Tamiflu tablets for children once daily
A paediatrician should determine dosage for infants
Side effects of Tamiflu (Oseltamivir)
Tamiflu is a well tolerated medicine. The most common side effects of Tamiflu are nausea and vomiting. Other side effects of Tamiflu are diarrhoea, abdominal pain, dizziness, headache, and insomnia. If you experience any side effects of Tamiflu or they become specifically persistent and bothersome, inform your doctor immediately.
Precautions for Tamiflu
Before you take Tamiflu, tell your doctor if you have any of the following medical conditions:
Heart problem
Kidney problem
Other viral infections besides Influenza A or Influenza B
Lung problem
Liver problem
Other serious medical problems that need constant medical attention
It is best to tell your doctor about all your current medical conditions and the drugs you are taking to avoid any drug complications.
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