Influenza virus meaning

Influenza is a viral infection that affects mainly the nose, throat, bronchi and, occasionally, lungs. Infection usually lasts for about a week and is characterized by sudden onset of high fever, aching muscles, headache, and severe malaise, non-productive cough, sore throat, and rhinitis. The virus is transmitted easily from person to person via droplets and small particles produced when infected people cough or sneeze. Influenza tends to spread rapidly in seasonal epidemics. Most infected people recover within one to two weeks without requiring medical treatment. However, in the very young, the elderly, and those with other serious medical conditions, infection can lead to severe complications of the underlying condition, pneumonia, and death. All age groups can be affected but there are groups that are more at risk than others. • People at greater risk of severe disease or complications when infected are: pregnant women, children under 59 months, the elderly, individuals with chronic medical conditions (such as chronic cardiac, pulmonary, renal, metabolic, neurodevelopmental, liver or hematologic diseases) and individuals with immunosuppressive conditions (such as HIV/AIDS, receiving chemotherapy or steroids, or malignancy). • Health care workers are at high risk of acquiring influenza virus infection due to increased exposure to the patients and risk further spread particularly to vulnerable individuals. In terms of transmission, seasonal influenza spreads easily, with...

Rebecca Nelson / Taxi / Getty Images Parainfluenza vs. Influenza Although parainfluenza and influenza both cause respiratory illnesses, they are caused by different viruses. Parainfluenza is caused by the human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs), whereas influenza is caused by one of four different types of influenza virus: A, B, C, and D. Parainfluenza Influenza (flu) Symptoms Cough Sore throat Sneezing Fever Congestion Ear pain Lack of appetite Fever or feeling feverish and chills Cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Muscle or body aches Headaches Fatigue (tiredness) Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children) Cause Human Parainfluenza Viruses (HPIVs) Influenza Virus A, B, C, and D Diagnosis Review symptoms Throat culture, nasal swab, and imaging tests as needed Review symptoms Nose and throat swab tests Treatment No treatment with mild symptoms OTC remedies Steroids or inhaled bronchodilators for more severe symptoms OTC remedies Influenza antiviral drugs Prevention Wash hands Sanitize surfaces Cover mouth when coughing or sneezing Stay home when sick Annual flu vaccine Wash hands Sanitize surfaces Cover mouth when coughing or sneezing Stay home when sick In most cases, symptoms are not severe and may be similar to the common cold. Sometimes, however, symptoms can progressively worsen and may lead to lower respiratory infections in the main bronchial tube of the lungs (bronchitis), the smaller air passages (bronchiolitis), or the lung itself (pneumonia). Children under...

or influenza A : moderate to severe influenza that in humans is marked especially by sudden onset, fever, sore throat, fatigue, muscle aches, Influenza A virus of the genus Influenzavirus A) infecting humans and various animals (such as birds or pigs), and that may occur in seasonal epidemics or sometimes pandemics following mutation in the causative virus Recent Examples on the Web The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that RSV kills between 100 and 300 children a year in this country — in the range of and some years more than the pediatric death toll of influenza. — Helen Branswell, STAT, 24 May 2023 And a potential next step is also significant: learning whether the dogs can successfully identify two strains of influenza, another important cause of illness and death in nursing homes. — Carolyn Barber, Fortune, 8 May 2023 Nanjing Agricultural University virologist Shuo Su and his colleagues identified two dogs in southern China with different mutant strains of the influenza C virus, which infects almost all humans—mostly as children—and usually causes mild illness. — Ida Emilie Steinmark, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2023 ReutersThe New York Times 5 FDA authorizes 1st at-home flu/COVID combo test The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized the first over-the-counter, at-home test that can detect both influenza and COVID-19. — Justin Klawans, The Week, 25 Feb. 2023 Your employer may also require you to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or in...