|
| General
Illness Information |
Medical
Term: |
INFLUENZA
|
|
Common
Name: |
|
| Description: |
| A specific acute contagious, viral illness
causing fever, runny nose, cough, headaches, generalized aches
and pains, malaise and upper respiratory
infection. |
| Incubation period is 24-48
hours. |
| Main types: A, B, & C, but can mutate to
different forms. |
| Can affect most ages, especially
infants. | |
| Causes: |
| Infection by myxovirus class of
viruses |
| The viruses spread by personal contact or
indirect contact. | |
| Prevention: |
| Avoid risks listed above. |
| Visit your doctor for a yearly influenza
vaccine injection if you are over age 65 or have chronic heart
or lung disease. The vaccine only protects against two or
three specific strains of influenza A. |
| Avoid unnecessary contact with persons who
have upper-respiratory infections during the flu
season. | |
|
| Signs
& Symptoms
Sudden onset of: |
| Chills. Moderate to high
fever. |
| Muscle aches, including
backache and headache. May last for days. |
| Cough, usually with little or
no sputum. |
| Sore throat. |
| Hoarseness |
| Runny nose. |
| Fatigue. |
|
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| |
| Risk
Factors |
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|
| Diagnosis & Treatment
Diagnosis is generally made by history and physical
examination and confirmed by laboratory studies, such as blood
tests( ELISA antigen test) and culture of nasopharyngeal swab;
X-rays of the chest (only for complications). |
|
General Measures:
To relieve nasal congestion, use
salt-water drops (1 teaspoon of salt to 1 quart of
water).
To relieve a sore throat, gargle often
with warm or cold, double-strength tea or salt water or commercial
products.
Use a cool-mist humidifier to increase
air moisture. This thins lung secretions so they can be coughed up
more easily. Don't put any medicine in the humidifier, it does not
help. Clean humidifier daily.
To avoid spreading germs to others, wash
your hands frequently, especially after blowing your nose or before
handling food.
Use warm compresses or heating pad for
aching muscles. |
| Medications: |
 |
For minor discomfort, you may use
non-prescription drugs, such as acetaminophen, cough syrups,
nasal sprays or decongestants. |
|
Do not take aspirin. Some research
shows a link between the use of aspirin (especially in
children) during a virus illness and the development of Reye's
syndrome (a type of encephalitis). |
|
An antiviral drugs, amantadine or
rimantdine, for seriously ill persons or for those at greatest
risk from complications may be
prescribed. | |
| Activity: |
|
Rest is the best medicine. If you
are in good health, rest helps your body fight the
virus. | |
| Diet: |
|
Appetite is usually lacking. You
may just want liquids at first, then progress to small meals
of bland starch foods (dry toast, rice, pudding, cooked
cereal, baked potatoes). |
|
Drink at least 8 glasses a day
(especially if you have a high fever). Extra fluids, including
fruit juice, tea and non-carbonated drinks, also help thin
lung secretions. | |
| Possible
Complications : |
|
Bacterial infections, including
bronchitis or pneumonia. |
|
These can be especially dangerous
for immuno-compromised patients, chronically ill persons or
those over age 65. | |
| Prognosis |
| Spontaneous recovery in
7 to 14 days if no complications occur. If complications
arise, treatment with antibiotics is usually necessary, and
recovery may take 3 to 6
weeks. | |
| Other |
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