What are the causes and effects of influenza?

What are the causes and effects of influenza?

What Causes the Flu? The flu is caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. These viruses spread when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk, sending droplets with the virus into the air and potentially into the mouths or noses of people who are nearby.

Does influenza have long term effects?

They include viral or bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and ear infections and sinus infections, especially in children. The flu can worsen long-term medical conditions, like congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

Where does influenza come from?

Most influenza viruses that infect humans seem to originate in parts of Asia, where close contact between livestock and people creates a hospitable environment for mutation and transmission of viruses.

What is definition of influenza?

Influenza is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs. Influenza is commonly called the flu, but it’s not the same as stomach “flu” viruses that cause diarrhea and vomiting.

Can influenza damage lungs?

Patients who survive influenza A (H7N9) virus infection are at risk of physical and psychological complications of lung injury and multi-organ dysfunction.

Can the flu damage your organs?

Other possible serious complications triggered by flu can include inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), brain (encephalitis) or muscle tissues (myositis, rhabdomyolysis), and multi-organ failure (for example, respiratory and kidney failure).

Where does influenza live in the body?

While influenza is typically found and fought within your respiratory system, sometimes your cells need to fight a little harder to fend off the virus, which means branching out of the respiratory system and into your bloodstream as well.

Is influenza serious?

Influenza (flu) is a serious disease caused by a virus. Influenza can make your child feel miserable. Fever, cough, shaking chills, body aches, and extreme weakness are common symptoms.

What viruses cause influenza?

Influenza A and B viruses are the most common causes of influenza-like illness (ILI), but other pathogens also cause ILI, including influenza C viruses, parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial viruses, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

How does influenza affect the immune system?

His results demonstrated that the influenza virus triggers a bodily response that causes a rise in serum glucocorticoid levels, leading to systemic immunosuppression. Such effects render the body vulnerable to bacterial infections that would otherwise be innocuous.

Does the flu cause long term lung damage?

The proper functioning of influenza-specific T cells is critical for efficient clearance of the virus from the lungs. When T cell function declines, such as with increasing age or during use of immunosuppressive drugs, viral clearance is delayed. This results in a prolonged infection and greater lung damage.

How long does it take to recover from influenza?

In general, healthy people usually get over a cold in 7 to 10 days. Flu symptoms, including fever, should go away after about 5 days, but you may still have a cough and feel weak a few days longer. All your symptoms should be gone within 1 to 2 weeks.

What are the permanent effects of the flu?

The most common complication of the flu is pneumonia. It can also cause serious muscle and central nervous system complications. Of those who get the flu, between 3,000 and 49,000 will die from it or from complications. Most of these deaths happen in people ages 65 and older.

Is it normal to feel sick after the flu shot?

Some believe you can catch the flu from the flu shot, but that’s just a myth. It’s normal to have some side effects like soreness where the shot was given. It’s rare, but you may also get a low grade fever or feel some aches. They will probably only last 1 to 2 days, and then you’ll be back to normal.

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