NURSE

Influenza

What is influenza?

Influenza or the flu is caused by a virus that infects the respiratory tract. There are two main types of influenza virus - type A and type B. Within each type there are many related strains which can change each year.

What are the symptoms of influenza ?

Influenza symptoms include rapid onset fever, chills, sore throat, runny nose, headache, non-productive cough, and body aches.

How is influenza diagnosed ?

Usually the diagnosis of influenza is based on typical symptoms including: fever, chills, sore throat, runny nose, headache, cough, and body aches. Laboratory testing of the nose and throat specimens of the patients blood can confirm the illness.

Who can get influenza ?

Anyone can get influenza, but it is most serious in the elderly, people with an underlying chronic illness, or people with a weakened immune system.

How is influenza spread ?

Influenza is highly contagious and can be spread easily from one person to another. It is spread through the contact with droplets from the nose and throat of an infected person during coughing and sneezing. The time period between exposure and the onset of the illness is usually one to five days.

When and for how long is a person able to spread influenza ?

The period during which a person with influenza is contagious, varies, but generally it starts the day before symptoms appear and extends for a week. Previous infection with influenza usually does not make a person immune. The circulating influenza virus strains frequently change. Therefore, people who have had influenza or received a flu shot in the previous years may become ill from a new viral strain.

What can be done to prevent the spread of influenza ?

The best way to prevent the spread of influenza is for high risk individuals and household contacts of high risk persons to receive an immunization each year. Additionally, anyone who provides health care to persons at high risk of developing complications should be vaccinated for influenza. Students and other people living in institutional settings are encouraged to receive the vaccine. The influenza vaccine may also be given to anyone who wishes to reduce their risk of becoming ill with influenza. For the best protection during the flu season, the vaccine should be given in the fall. An anti viral medication may be prescribed to decrease the duration of influenza symptoms and to prevent high risk persons and their care givers from getting influenza during an outbreak.