Is influenza a dangerous

Flu or influenza is a contagious (spreads from person to person) viral illness that affects the respiratory tract (the nose, throat and lungs). Type A influenza is generally considered worse than type B influenza. During flu season, you must have heard the terms “ • Type A influenza: This is the cause of most flu cases. It is the only influenza virus causing flu pandemics (a large number of flu cases affecting most of the world). It is further divided into various subtypes based on the two surface proteins (hemagglutinin or H and neuraminidase or N) such as • Type B influenza: This generally causes seasonal flu infections and only affects humans. It does not change as rapidly in its genetic and antigenic characteristics as type A influenza. • Type C influenza: This causes mild illness and is not involved in causing flu epidemics. • Type D influenza: This mainly infects cattle and is not known to cause illness in humans. Which flu is worse, A or B? Type A influenza is generally considered worse than type B influenza. This is because the symptoms are often more severe in type A influenza than in type B influenza. Type A influenza is more common than type B influenza. Researchers suggest that most adults have considerable immunity against type B influenza. Thus, type B influenza is less common in adults than type A influenza and when it occurs, it is less severe as well. Children, however, may develop severe disease following type B influenza. It is noteworthy that just like ...

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Bird flu has been making headlines over the past month, resulting in millions of bird deaths, driving up poultry and egg prices, and raising public concern over potential human infections. According to the experts, however, bird flu is unlikely to become the next human pandemic. In its current variations, it simply lacks the ability to spread among people the same way that COVID-19 did. According to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the H5N1 While scientists are keeping a close eye on animal influenza variations for any mutations that may make the "Bird flu is fairly unlikely to be the next pandemic," Natasha Spottiswoode, MD, Ph.D., told the University of California San Francisco. "To become a pandemic, a UCSF biochemist Joe DeRisi agreed. "There have been thousands of outbreaks in birds and dozens in other animals, and the virus hasn't spilled over into humans," DeRisi told the university. "That gives us some confidence that the biological barrier that the virus would have to cross between birds and us is high. That doesn't mean it can't be surpassed—we know it can—but it isn't likely. There's reason not to panic, but there's also reason to be cautious." That being said, scientists are concerned about other viruses being carried by birds. According to one CDC expert, the shear number of viruses carried by birds is a concern in general. It's not just H5N1 bird flu hat has scientists concerned. "The current situ...

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A flu shot is a vaccine for preventing influenza. Influenza, or the flu, is a seasonal virus that affects the respiratory system. Vaccination is important for people at risk of severe illness from the flu. Flu shots can have some mild side effects, such as pain and bruising at the injection site. However, getting the flu vaccine every year is the best option to prevent flu from spreading and causing severe illness. In this article, we discuss the benefits and risks of flu shots. Share on Pinterest PeopleImages/Getty Images Flu shots are very safe. Over the past Before The FDA also ensure that all vaccines contain substances that comply with their strict The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA continuously monitor the safety of flu shots. They use the The flu can • older adults • young children • pregnant women • people with certain underlying health Flu vaccinations are vital for anyone at risk of severe complications. Other benefits of flu shots include: • reducing the severity of symptoms in those who do get the flu, potentially preventing the symptoms from disrupting daily life • lowering the risk of passing the flu onto high risk individuals • reducing the risk of • preventing The • 6.16 million illnesses • 3.18 million medical visits • 90,904 hospitalizations • 5,747 deaths Flu shots also allow the development of Flu shots are, therefore, important for protecting others from severe illnesses. Some possible downsides to flu shots include: • onl...

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Adults who have fevers over 105 degrees need medical attention to prevent serious, long-term consequences. Brain Damage and Death While high fevers, especially those that last a long time, can lead to brain damage and death, this is extremely rare. Brain damage can occur if a fever goes above 107.6. A Word From Verywell Adults are usually able to determine when our symptoms are making us feel so bad that we need to seek medical treatment. But if you aren't sure, learn how to check your cold and flu symptoms, evaluate a fever, and know the situations when you should see a healthcare provider for a fever. There are a couple of ways to check for a fever, but they are less accurate than using a thermometer. Chills, sweating, unusually red skin, or a back and chest that feel hot can all be signs of a fever. Touch is considered an inaccurate way of measuring temperature, but these methods might give you an idea of whether a fever is present. •

Approximately 120,000 people have been hospitalized for the flu in the last couple of months, the CDC reported. Nine out of 10 adults hospitalized with flu had at least one underlying medical condition. People with complications of the flu end up in the hospital most often because the virus develops into pneumonia, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, professor of medicine and an infectious disease physician at the University of California, San Francisco. Bacterial pneumonia may develop when the flu virus spreads to the lower respiratory tract, leading to breathing difficulties that may require supplemental oxygen. Warning signs of pneumonia While many of the symptoms of influenza, such as fever and body aches, overlap with pneumonia, there are some clues that may indicate a more serious lung infection may be brewing. A cough with yellow or green sputum, increasing fever, and pain in the chest when taking a deep breath or coughing are warning signs of pneumonia. Some patients with pneumonia may also go on to develop sepsis, a complication that could lead to organ failure and death, especially if not treated promptly. Pneumonia from the flu is not limited to just older people, said Dr. Jonathan Grein, an infectious disease physician and director of hospital epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. "Unfortunately, we do sometimes see young healthy people presenting with really severe pneumonia as well," Grein said. "It can occur in anybody." Influenza and pneumonia c...

Type A influenza is a common infection that can cause widespread flu outbreaks. It can cause fever, body aches, chills, fatigue, and other symptoms. Common symptoms of type A infection can be confused with other conditions. While in some milder cases the flu can resolve on its own without significant symptoms, severe cases of type A influenza can be life-threatening. Types A and B influenza are the more common forms of this infection, routinely causing seasonal outbreaks. Type C influenza usually only causes mild respiratory infections. Type B influenza can be just as severe as type A influenza but is less common throughout the flu season compared to type A. Humans are the natural host for type B infection. Type B viruses mutate much slower than type A infections and are categorized by strains, but not subtypes. The B virus strains take longer for their genetic makeup to change than influenza A. This drastically reduces the risk of a widespread pandemic due to type B influenza. Type A influenza can be dangerous and is known to cause outbreaks and increase your risk of disease. Unlike a type B infection, type A viruses are categorized by subtypes and strains. Influenza A mutates faster than influenza B, but both viruses are always changing, creating new strains from one flu season to the next. Past flu vaccinations will not prevent infection from a new strain. Wild birds are the natural hosts for a type A virus, also called avian flu and bird flu. This infection can also sp...