Key Facts about Influenza

Influenza, popularly known as flu, is a viral infection. It is characterized by high fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, muscle and joint pain. Common cold is a less severe disease, where fever is mild with running nose and mild headache. Unfortunately, flu viruses mutate (change) each year. So you aren’t protected from getting the flu forever. In young children, we can see impaired respiration; dehydration, altered mental status, and irritability signify serious disease. However, 20% to 30% of people carrying the influenza virus have no symptoms.

Dr. Ritabrata Kundu, Professor of Pediatrics, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, Dr Raja Dhar, Consultant Pulmonologist, Fortis Hospital, Kolkata, Dr. Jaydeep Choudhury, Professor of Pediatrics, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata and Dr.Prabhas Prasun Giri, Pediatric Intensives’, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata provided the information below to public awareness.

Influenza may occur any time of the year, but it is usually more common during monsoon season and during winter months in some places. These viruses cause an infection in the respiratory tract, nose, throat and lungs. The virus is inhaled or transmitted, usually via your fingers, to the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, or eyes. It then travels down the respiratory tract. Risk groups for severe influenza include children aged below 5 years age, pregnant women, elderly people and individuals with underlying health conditions such as asthma, or chronic heart or lung diseases, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. Secondary bacterial pneumonia is a frequent complication of influenza, particularly in risk groups. The annual attack rate of influenza is estimated at 5–10% in adults and 20–30% in children.

Diagnosis of influenza requires laboratory confirmation, which is not available in most of the centers. Antibiotics don’t work on viruses, so they won’t help someone with the flu get better. Sometimes doctors can prescribe an antiviral medicine to cut down how long a person is ill from the flu. These medicines are effective only against some types of flu virus and must be taken within 48 hours of when symptoms start. There is only one drug available for treatment. But, it can be procured only after confirmatory tests and from specific drug centers.It is important to create awareness among the public about the symptoms, its ill effects and the need for timely action within 72 hours for successful treatment and prevention of fatalities. 

Flu can be prevented by following these steps:

1.   Avoid contact when you are sick keep distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

2.   Stay home when you are sick-if possible stay home from work, school. It will help prevent others from catching your illness.

3.   Cover your mouth and nose-this prevents others from getting sick.

4.   Clean your hands always. Washing hands will often help to protect from germs.

5.   Avoid touching your nose, eyes, or mouth- germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs.

6.   Practice healthy habits like getting plenty of sleep, be physically active, drink plenty of fluids. 

7.   The most effective method of protecting young children below one year, elderly above 65 years and pregnant women from lethal infections such as influenza is through vaccination.