Influenza

What is influenza?
Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious condition that is caused by the influenza virus. A virus is the smallest type of organism. The human body fights such viruses by forming protective antibodies. The flu virus attacks the nose, throat and lungs.

Causes of influenza
Flu viruses travel through the air in droplets when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes or talks. You can inhale the droplets directly, or you can pick up the germs from an object, such as a telephone or computer keyboard and then transfer them to your eyes, nose or mouth.

Influenza viruses are constantly changing, with new strains appearing regularly. If you've had influenza in the past, your body has already made antibodies to fight that particular strain of the virus. If future influenza viruses are similar to what you had before, either by having the condition or by vaccination, those antibodies may prevent infection or lessen its severity.

People at higher risk of developing flu complications include:

• young children
• older adults
• pregnant women
• people with weakened immune systems
• people with chronic conditions.

Signs and symptoms of influenza

• Fever above 38° C
• Aching muscles, especially in your back, arms and legs
• Chills and sweats
• Headache
• Dry cough
• Fatigue and weakness
• Nasal congestion

Treatment of influenza

If you think you may have the flu:

• drink plenty of fluids - have water, juice and warm soups to prevent dehydration
• rest - get more sleep to help your immune system fight infection
• get medication - you can take over-the-counter pain relievers (e.g. Panado) to relieve the fever and aches.

Complications of influenza
Some people may develop complications caused by the flu, such as pneumonia, dehydration and worsening of chronic conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes.
You should visit your clinic or doctor if you:

• have trouble breathing or are short of breath
• feel pain or pressure in your chest or belly
• get dizzy suddenly
• feel confused
• have severe vomiting.

Take your child to the doctor if he/she:

• starts breathing fast or has trouble breathing
• starts to turn blue or purple
• is unable to take adequate fluids by mouth
• will not wake up or will not interact with you
• is so unhappy that he/she does not want to be held
• gets better from the flu but then gets sick again with a fever or cough
• has a fever with a rash.

There are steps you can take in your daily life to help protect you and your family from getting the flu:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth as germs are spread in this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Practice good health habits such as:

o getting plenty of sleep and exercise 
o managing your stress
o drinking plenty of fluids 
o eating healthy food.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after use.
• For the group of people at risk, take your yearly influenza vaccine.

References
1. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention  
2. Up To Date
3. Mayo Clinic