Influenza, also known as the flu, is a viral infection of the respiratory system that primarily affects the throat, bronchi, nose and the lungs. This infection can last for a week or so. Sudden aching muscles, sore throat, headache, severe malaise and even high fever characterize it. Like other fevers, the cardinal symptoms are high temperature, stiffness of the limbs and a sore throat.
Influenza spreads fast. It is spread by direct contact through the air. The virus easily passes on from person to person – through droplets or small particles produced when infected people sneeze or cough. Most people infected by influenza recover without medical treatment. However, in the very young, the elderly and those with other serious medical conditions, the infection can lead to severe complications. The underlying condition can be pneumonia or death.
Fever is the main symptom of influenza. It can last from 3-7 days. Fever can be as high as 103-105 degrees F or 39.5-41°C. In the absence of fever, patients usually feel better but so much sweating is present. Fever can also result to dehydration since body water is lost in the onset of high temperatures.
When experiencing influenza, patient should take only liquid food for 2 to 3 days. Solid foods may be avoided temporarily. Fruit juices and vegetable are also very beneficial as well as one or two glasses of hot water. You can also apply cold compresses on the head.
A person with influenza should be covered with light clothing when there is fever present. This is in order for the heat in the body to get out. Get rid of extra clothes and blankets from an influenza patient unless they start to feel cold or they start to shiver.
Washing the patient’s skin with warm water or wash cloth can lessen fever. You can also help him take a shower. Do not use alcohol or cold water. Sweating is a good sign that the body is losing heat. Monitor the fever with a clean and good thermometer. Normal body temperature is 98.6°F (37.0°C) though it varies between the time of day and in people with different body weight and other factors. Body temperature with fever is 101.5°F (38.6°C).
Widespread influenza or an outbreak happens every now and then, as it had been an epidemic for the past years – claiming numerous lives.
Staying healthy and having strong body resistance are the best ways to avoid influenza. However if you feel your resistance is down or low, you should avoid public and crowded places, especially during epidemics. In this case, avoid theaters, shopping centers and markets. Keep distance from people with fever and those who are coughing or sneezing. Do not expose yourself to too much wet and cold weather. Avoid becoming over-worked, rundown or tired.
As usually advised, drinking alcohol and smoking can lower your resistance. So avoiding them is the best therapy. A healthy diet and a good, clean lifestyle can increase as well as maintain good and strong body resistance.
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You’ve heard of “The South Beach Diet” and “The Mayo Clinic Diet” but have you ever heard of “The Influenza Diet?” If not, you are missing out on a “real treat” and a terrific opportunity to help you lose and keep off those excess holiday pounds. By the way, it isn’t a diet that you can readily plan on starting, but it is one that forces itself upon you quietly and suddenly.
‘Tis the season to put on weight! Yes, there is something about the month of December that convinces people that what they eat during that month will soon be forgotten by January. You’ve heard the joke: December calories do not get counted! Okay then, when your scale shows your weight has shot up by 13 lbs., who [or what] are you going to say counted the excessive baggage now resting around your gut? Hmmm?
Here a diet, there a diet So, which diet are you going to try? One that omits carbs? Another that restricts sweets? A third one that requires you to sip, not eat your daily nutritional intake? Sounds like fun for someone…maybe the author of the book [or her publisher], the diet club, or the gym pushing the diet.
Did you get your flu shot yet? If you got a flu shot this year, likely you won’t get the flu. Unfortunately, that doesn’t protect you from the dozens of flu-like illnesses roaming our planet at any given time. Now for a real treat: if you contract an illness that attacks your intestine, plan on being laid up for several days. Also plan on losing a bunch of pounds as even the thought of food will make you sick! Yes, like it or not you are on “The Influenza Diet” or one of its many cousins. Ride the diet for what it is worth…drink plenty of water, munch on a few saltine crackers, because other than that you won’t be able to “stomach” anything else at least for several days.
When your appetite returns, gradually resume eating and return to your pre-holiday good eating habits. If the urge to splurge comes upon you, think back to those days when your very bones ached, your stomach churned, and the “porcelain throne” was your frequent companion. If that doesn’t set off a quiver in your liver, than nothing else will. Enjoy the lost pounds and your successful completion of The Influenza Diet.
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Influenza, commonly known as “the flu”, is an infectious disease generally caused by viruses. The viruses responsible for causing the flu during viral outbreaks are very contagious and they can easily be contracted by entering in contact with infected people. Flu viruses are airborne and they can be transmitted through coughing, sneezing or simply by breathing the same air with contaminated individuals. You can also acquire flu indirectly, by entering in contact with contaminated objects. Thus, impeccable hygiene during flu seasons is recommended as an effective means of preventing infection with flu viruses.
Although most people experience no problems in overcoming seasonal maladies such as influenza, the elderly are very susceptible to developing serious complications such as bronchitis, otitis, heart disease and pneumonia. In the case of people with already existent conditions (asthma, chronic bronchitis) and people with weak immune system, flu can degenerate into serious pulmonary diseases such as viral pneumonia. Considering the fact that flu viruses primarily affect the respiratory system, people with respiratory sensibilities are exposed to a high risk of developing pneumonia during the flu seasons.
Pneumonia involves inflammation and infection of the lungs that triggers an overproduction of mucus at the level of the respiratory tract. Common symptoms of pneumonia are: difficult, shallow breathing, chest pain and discomfort that intensify with deep breaths, wheezing, exacerbated productive cough and moderate to high fever. Doctors sustain that the occurrence of pneumonia is strongly related to previously acquired infectious diseases such as the flu, which can degenerate into a wide range of complications. There are many forms of pneumonia, most of them triggered by viral infectious agents. Some types of pneumonia are caused by the same viruses responsible for causing influenza or other common seasonal maladies.
Statistics indicate that around 30-50 million Americans are confronted with influenza during winter outbreaks. While most of these people have no difficulties in coping with the illness, the elderly and people with special conditions (weak immune system, already-existent respiratory affections) often develop serious complications, requiring hospitalization. Recent studies indicate that influenza accounts for more than 115.000 hospitalizations in the United States each year. Viral pneumonia and other serious diseases associated with complicated flu are responsible for causing 20.000 annual deaths.
It is important to note that common medications and remedies used in the treatment of flu can’t prevent or overcome viral pneumonia. Pneumonia is a serious infectious disease that requires rigorous treatment with specific medications. If you experience possible symptoms of pneumonia, it is very important to quickly contact your doctor in order to receive the correct medical treatment.
Considering the fact that flu and other seasonal contagious diseases can trigger exacerbated symptoms and lead to serious complications in certain categories of people, it is best to take measures in preventing the occurrence of such maladies in the first place. Doctors strongly recommend people with pronounced susceptibility to infections to get the influenza vaccine every year, before flu outbreaks. Flu vaccines can also prevent against certain forms of viral pneumonia that are caused by common flu viruses. However, flu shots can’t prevent the occurrence of bacterial or atypical pneumonia, which require a different type of vaccine. In addition to the influenza vaccine, the categories of persons exposed to a high risk of developing pneumonia should receive a pneumococcal vaccine as well. A single dose of pneumococcal vaccine offers lifetime protection against various forms of pneumonia and the vaccine can be administered at any time of year.
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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. 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. The disease may affect the birds in two form: a mild one and a highly lethal one.
The lethal form manifests as a severe disease, rapid contagious and a high mortality rate in 48 hours. It has been named”chicken Ebola” because of the massive internal haemorrhaging. All 16 HA and 9 NA subtypes are known to infect waterfowl, but in wild birds routine testing will always find new viruses those are inactive viruses. Highly pathogenic viruses have a genetic mark which distinguishes them from other viruses, by combining sets of amino acids the low pathogenic viruses transform in highly pathogenic ones.
Avian influenza viruses are easily transported from farm to farm even to new geographical areas by migratory birds and by contaminated people, vehicles, equipment, feed, and cages. Viruses survive for quite long in low temperatures, in high temperatures viruses have been shown to survive fewer days. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recommends vaccination against outbreaks. Control measures are of all infected or exposed birds, proper disposal of carcasses, the quarantining and rigorous disinfection of farms, and the implementation of strict sanitary, or biosecurity, measures.
Outbreaks are difficult to control and present a high risk of infection, poverty is a determining factor for transmission of bird flu when butchering and preparation of poultry meat for cooking. Restrictions on the movement of live poultry, both within and between countries, are another important control measure. In small rural areas an outbreak is hard to be detected because usually people are disinformed and tend to think that thing aren’t so bad and that it could only be a natural death, not even thinking of avian influenza so they do not alert the authorities. The owners may even want to protect their birds when culling because if the avian influenza virus is found the birds will be killed and the farmers won???t be recompensated. Control is far more difficult under poultry production systems in which most birds are raised in small backyard flocks scattered throughout rural or periurban areas.
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