Influenza

Flu is the most common infectious disease on earth. The causative agents of influenza are viruses that are poorly resistant in the external environment; at room temperature they die within a few hours; at 60°C they collapse within a few minutes. Disinfectants (alcohol, formalin, sublimate, acids, alkalis), sunlight, and ultraviolet rays have a detrimental effect on them.

Infection with influenza, like other acute respiratory viral infections, occurs through airborne droplets or through household items (towels, dishes).

The first signs of the flu are chills, fever, severe headache, aches in muscles and joints, pain when moving the eyes. Already on the first day, a sore throat, dry cough, and nasal congestion appear. The face and eyes turn red, appetite decreases, and sleep is disturbed.

Influenza is severe in the elderly, children, and people with chronic diseases. Possible complications: pneumonia, otitis media, exacerbation of chronic diseases.

For treatment, antiviral drugs, antipyretics, plenty of fluids, and vitamins are used. Antibiotics are prescribed only when a bacterial infection occurs.

For prevention, vaccination, antiviral drugs are used, and patient isolation measures and disinfection are also observed.

Influenza (Latin grippus; French grippe from gripper - to grasp; synonym: epidemic, influenza) is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory tract, caused by influenza viruses and characterized by general intoxication and damage to the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.

Influenza is an acute respiratory viral infection and is characterized by a sudden onset, fever, general intoxication, and damage to the respiratory tract (rhinitis, pharyngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis). The disease usually lasts about 5 days and ends with recovery. However, some patients may experience complications such as pneumonia, otitis media, etc.

Influenza is caused by RNA viruses of the Orthomyxoviridae family. There are 3 serotypes of influenza virus - A, B and C. Influenza viruses A and B are of greatest epidemiological importance, since they cause seasonal epidemics. Influenza C virus causes only sporadic illness.

Influenza is characterized by high contagiousness (the ability to spread) and a tendency to cause epidemics covering large areas. Influenza epidemics occur annually during the cold season and are seasonal.

Diagnosis of influenza is based on clinical manifestations, as well as laboratory confirmation of the presence of the virus using ELISA, PCR and virus isolation in cell culture.

Treatment of influenza is mainly symptomatic. Antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs are used. For etiotropic therapy, antiviral agents (neuraminidase inhibitors, ion channel blockers) are used.

Prevention of influenza includes hygiene measures, the use of personal protective equipment, and vaccination. Flu vaccines are updated annually based on circulating strains of the virus.

Influenza is an acute infectious disease with an aerosol transmission mechanism of the pathogen, characterized by the massive spread of epidemic rises or pandemics of morbidity among the population. A characteristic feature is an acute onset with a sharp increase in temperature to high numbers and severe intoxication. Influenza has many synonymous names: influenza (from the Latin influencia - “influence”, due to the introduction of antigens into the body), flue, grip, influensa, grippatitus, griposa, grippe, grippecke, grippen, grippy, grypy, gripe, gypped. This disease was first described in 1580 by Fracastoro, a professor at the University of Padua, in his book “On Contagious Medicine,” but it became widespread in 1789, when Edward Jenner tried to isolate “rabies” from chicken droppings and thus create a vaccine against the contagious disease. According to Rosstat, in October–November, 3,891 cases of the disease in children were identified in Moscow in 2018, that is, 82% of the sick were children from 0 to 14 years old. From a very early age, a child, due to his inability to adapt to external conditions, is exposed to a severe infectious attack. The risk group consists of children under 5 years of age, especially in the first year of life, suffering from chronic diseases (severe heart defects, unbalanced nutrition, impaired metabolism). Currently, the main places where influenza spreads are schools and kindergartens; here, 12-15 cases of seasonal epidemic growth are added every day. Children are physically weakened, do not yet have sufficient immunity, are always greedy, curious, and open to the world. Adults, especially those between the ages of 18 and 40, go to work, knock on the offices and wardrobes of their colleagues, and transmit the disease through the air and with household items. Most often in the spring, influenza epidemics are associated with a widespread respiratory virus of the influenza group. In this situation, the fight against influenza takes on special importance - a decrease in the incidence of influenza among schoolchildren opens up the prospect of freer education for children during the most stressful time - the end of the third quarter. The disease among adults reduces their ability to work, worsens family living conditions, and often causes incapacity for the entire holiday. Vaccinations are widely used to prevent influenza, but 70–80% of vaccines are not effective enough due to annual mutations of the influenza virus. It is capable of not only changing antigens, but also creating antigenic variations at the cellular level. The remaining 19–20% is used for general vaccination. This 2% is very small, and the number of cases of the disease becomes much smaller due to this.

Influenza is an acute infectious disease of the human respiratory tract caused by influenza viruses. Influenza viruses have a fairly low viability and do not tolerate low temperatures well. As a rule, the influenza virus dies at +35 °C within 2-3 hours. A room with high humidity levels also reduces the risk of contracting infections. A temperature of 56 degrees Celsius kills the virus within an hour, and ultraviolet radiation destroys it after 5 minutes of exposure.

Influenza viruses typically attack the respiratory system, which can lead to serious complications including pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and respiratory failure. Although influenza is a common infection, it can cause severe illness accompanied by a high fever. The influenza virus is highly lethal. Every year, influenza affects about 500 million people in the world, of whom 2 million die from complications associated with the disease, but in countries with properly organized medical services and preventive measures, deaths from this disease are reduced to 80 thousand. If treatment is not started promptly or is not started at all, the mortality rate increases to more than 40%. Currently, there are several ways to combat this disease. One of the most effective methods of prevention and control is vaccination. It allows you to form stable immunity to the influenza virus, preventing the development of the disease and reducing its likelihood in healthy people. The immune system protects the body from repeated influenza infections. The vaccine can be given as nasal drops, spray or inhalation, followed by staying at home in quarantine until the body has built up natural immunity against the influenza virus. It should be remembered that refusal to vaccinate can entail very serious consequences, which are discussed above.