This ppt describes about influenza, causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

1. Influenza
Dr.K.Sudha Rameshwari, D.Litt.

2. • Influenza or flu is caused by a virus that leads
to respiratory illness.
• It is highly contagious (transmisible) and
spreads easily through coughs and sneezes of
an infected person.

3. Causes
• 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.
• You can also get flu by touching a surface or object
that has flu virus on it and then touching your own
mouth, eyes or nose.
• The flu can spread before know sick, beginning 1
day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days
after becoming sick.
• Some people, especially young children and people
with weakened immune systems, might be able to
infect others for an even longer time.

4. Symptoms
• At first, the flu may seem like a common cold with a runny nose,
sneezing and sore throat.
• But colds usually develop slowly, whereas the flu tends to come
on suddenly.
Common signs and symptoms of the flu include:
• Fever
• Aching muscles
• Chills and sweats
• Headache
• Dry, persistent cough
• Shortness of breath
• Tiredness and weakness
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Eye pain
• Vomiting and diarrhea,
• but this is more common in children than adults

5. Flu Risk Factors
• Influenza is a very serious illness for anyone at high
risk. Certain diseases that place people at high risk
include:
• chronic lung diseases such as asthma, COPD,
bronchiectasis, or cystic fibrosis
• heart disease
• chronic kidney disease
• diabetes or other chronic metabolic disorder
• severe anemia (including sickle cell anemia) diseases
(HIV, AIDS) or treatments (steroids, chemotherapy)
that suppress immunity
• liver disorders
• children and adolescents who are receiving long-term
aspirin therapy

6. Diagnosis
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is more
sensitive to identify the influenza strain.
Rapid molecular assay.
In this procedure, doctor swabs nose or throat. The test
will detect influenza viral RNA within 30 minutes or less.
 A diagnosis based on your symptoms or other flu tests.
 Diagnostic tests available for influenza include
• viral culture,
• serology,
• rapid antigen testing,
• reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-
PCR),
• immunofluorescence assays, and
• rapid molecular assays.

7. TREATMENT
As influenza is caused by a virus, antibiotics are useless, unless the flu has progressed to
other illnesses caused by bacteria.
Some of the common symptoms like a headache and body pains can be treated with the
help of painkillers / a paracetamol.
Common antiviral prescriptions include:
■zanamivir (Relenza)
■oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
■peramivir (Rapivab)
These medications, known as neuraminidase inhibitors, reduce the ability of the
influenza virus to spread from cell to cell, slowing down the infection process.
• Though effective, these medications can cause side effects such as nausea and
vomiting.
People suffering from influenza should:
• Keep your hands protected from germs with the help of Dettol Liquid Handwash or Hand
Sanitiser
• Take rest and keep yourself warm
• Consume plenty of liquids
• Abstain from drinking alcohol
• Stop smoking
• Keep separate utensils for the one who is infected and make sure that you wash those
utensils with Dettol Multiuse Hygiene Liquid

8. Prevention
• Health experts and government agencies worldwide say that the best
way to protect you from influenza is by getting vaccinated every year.
• Two types of vaccinations are available.
1. The flu shot and
2. the nasal-spray flu vaccine.
• The flu shot is given with the help of a needle, usually in the arm.
This procedure is approved for anyone above the age of 6 months.
• The nasal-spray flu vaccine is made of live, weakened flu viruses that
do not make you ill.
• There are three types of influenza viruses – A (H3N2) virus, A (H1N2)
virus, and B virus. As viruses adapt and evolve, so do the vaccines.
The best way to prevent the flu is through annual vaccinations.
Other ways to prevent spreading this disease include:
●washing your hands regularly
●avoiding large crowds, specifically during a flu outbreak
●covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
●staying home if you develop a fever and for at least 24 hours after it go
away

9. Reference
• https://www.dettol.co.in/common-
infections/bacteria-viruses/influenza-
symptoms-diagnosis-and-prevention/
• https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-
is-Influenza.aspx