What Are the Causes of Influenza?

Influenza, commonly called the flu, is a type of viral infection that causes a person to feel feverish, cough, experience aches in the body and head, and feel abnormally fatigued. According to MedicineNet.com, people who get the infection--and use medications and other treatments to stop the infection--recover in 1-2 weeks, but some people die. MedicineNet.com reports around 20,000 people die each year from influenza.

Types

• Influenza is caused by three strains of the influenza virus--A, B, and C. According to the Mayo Clinic, influenza A causes deadly influenza pandemics every 10 to 40 years. Examples of pandemics caused by this strain include the H1N1 or swine flu. Influenza B is responsible for small, localized outbreaks that occur every flu season, or around the winter. Influenza C is a less serious, smaller virus that can cause mild respiratory illnesses, but usually does not cause any symptoms.

  Both influenza A and B are responsible for causing influenza.

Transmission

• The influenza virus spreads when an infected person sneezes or coughs, expelling small droplets containing the virus into the air. A healthy person can inhale the droplets if he is near a person who sneezes or coughs. The droplets can also land on objects, such as a keyboard, desk, or door handle, which contaminates it with the virus. A healthy person who touches this objects and then his lips, nose, or eyes transfers the virus into the body, causing influenza.

Symptoms

• According to MedicineNet.com, the symptoms of influenza include a fever between 100° F to 103° F, coughing, a sore throat, nasal congestion or a runny nose, a headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. In children, the temperature of the fever is sometimes higher and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Treatment

• The cause of influenza, the influenza virus, is eliminated by taking antiviral drugs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), amantadine, remantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir are used to inhibit the influenza virus. It stops influenza by deactivating an enzyme that allows the virus to grow.

  The symptoms of the virus, including nasal congestion, fatigue, dry cough, and fever are reduced by getting more sleep and drinking plenty of liquids. Water, juice, or warm broth or soup are good liquids to drink. For adults, pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help reduce muscle aches and headaches.

Prevention

• People can prevent the cause of influenza, the influenza virus, by getting an annual influenza vaccination before the start of flu season in October or November. This allows the body to build up an immunity to the influenza virus, decreasing the risk of developing influenza. According to the Mayo Clinic, the vaccine is 70 to 90 percent effective against the virus.

  An alternative to the vaccine, called FluMist, can also protect people from the virus. Unlike the vaccine, which is an injection, FluMist is a nasal spray. FluMist is less effective however, with only a 30 to 57 percent effectiveness against the influenza virus.

  People can also avoid catching the influenza virus by washing their hands frequently using an alcohol-based hand gel, exercising regularly, and avoiding crowds during the flu season. Eating a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains also helps, which improves the immune system.