Influenza

Original Editor - Lucinda hampton

Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton, Kim Jackson, Rishika Babburu and Oyemi Sillo  

Introduction

Influenza is a communicable viral disease that affects the upper and lower respiratory tract. A wide spectrum of influenza viruses causes it. Some of these viruses can infect humans, and some are specific to different species.

These viruses

• Transmissible through respiratory droplets expelled from the mouth and respiratory system during coughing, talking, and sneezing.
• Can be transmitted by touching inanimate objects soiled with the virus and touching the nose or eye.
• Can be transmitted before the patient is symptomatic and until 5 to 7 days after infection.
• Take a few days for most of the healthy patients to recover fully from.
• Complications (eg pneumonia and death) are common in certain high-risk groups eg young children, the elderly, immunocompromised, and pregnant females.

Symptoms of influenza include

• Runny nose
• High fever
• Cough
• Sore throat.

Influenza spreads rapidly and efficiently in seasonal epidemics. Flu epidemics occur every autumn and winter in temperate regions and affect a significant portion of adults and children, but seasons differently impact age groups and severity

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