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Flu Facts

Influenza, popularly known as the flu, is caused by the RNA viruses of the family orthomyxoviridae. The common misconception among people is that influenza and the common cold are one and the same. In reality, they are caused by different viruses---and the flu is a bit more severe than the common cold.

  1. How it Spreads

    • The flu spreads to other people through the air. Actions such as coughing and sneezing are largely responsible for releasing air-borne germs. Additionally, touching objects that have been touched by a person infected with the flu makes it easy to spread the virus. You have to be extremely cautious around a person who has the flu. Kids are at a higher risk of getting the flu than adults. Nearly 100,000 people in the USA get the flu annually, and 36,000 of them die every year because of it.

    Flu Season and Symptoms

    • You are at a higher risk of getting the flu from November to April. The flu attacks the respiratory tract of the human body and there are many symptoms associated with it. Fever, headache, tiredness, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, and body aches are some of the commonly occurring symptoms that would let you know if you have the flu.

    Types

    • Flu viruses are actually classified into three types: type A, type B, and type C. Type A flu virus is the most powerful of all and is known to cause the most serious epidemics. Type B is also capable of causing epidemics, but the consequences are comparatively milder than those caused by type A. Type C is the least powerful of the three, as it has never caused any serious epidemic.

    Prevention

    • Flu injections and pills are available in pharmacies and government health care centers. You can get a flu shot or a flu nasal spray vaccine in order to prevent getting it. Moreover, there are three antiviral drugs used to treat the flu: amantadine, rimantadine, and oseltamivir. These antiviral drugs are meant just for prevention and not vaccination. Other healthy habits---such as using handkerchiefs, avoiding close contact, keeping your hands clean and germ free---can be very useful in preventing the flu.

    Complications

    • Unchecked and untreated, the flu may lead to some serious complications. Reye's syndrome, which affects children and adolescents, is a serious cause of concern. Among adults, untreated flu can lead to pneumonia, which is a life-threatening condition. Hence, be alert and safeguard yourself from the flu. It is a trivial ailment in its initial stages. Leaving it untreated will cause major problems.

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