Information on influenza virus

Influenza Virus

Influenza virus is a respiratory virus affecting the throat, nose, airways and sometimes lungs And there are different types of these viruses that evolve and change from year to year, For some people, the flu is disturbing and its symptoms recede in a few days. But in some people the flu may lead to health complications that may lead to death, About 5% to 10% of adults develop the flu around the world. While children are infected between 20% and 30% each year, There are three types of viruses that cause the flu, and these viruses are Virus A, Virus B and Virus C, Species A and B cause seasonal epidemics every winter, while virus C causes mild respiratory symptoms only and does not cause epidemics, It should be noted that stomach flu, which is gastroenteritis, is not a type of flu.

What are the symptoms of flu virus?

There are many symptoms of people infected with the flu virus, where these symptoms differ from those of the common cold, and there are two types of symptoms; Symptoms that appear surprisingly are the most common and symptoms that appear when the flu is not treated, include flu symptoms on both of what comes:

Common flu symptoms: Many common symptoms occur in conjunction with the virus, such as coughing, runny nose, sore throats, sneezing, fever, headache, fatigue, general body fatigue and chills.

Symptoms appear when the flu is not treated: sometimes the flu symptoms disappear on their own and do not need treatment But if it lasts for more than a week without improvement, you should see a doctor, Because influenza may cause serious complications leading to death, symptoms can also occur if left untreated such as ear infection, nausea, vomiting, feeling abdominal pain, feeling dizzy, feeling chest pain, having an asthma attack, developing pneumonia, bronchitis and heart problems.

Are there ways to avoid infecting the flu virus?

There are no guaranteed measures to avoid infection with influenza virus, but many steps and procedures can be followed to reduce infection and increase the strength of the immune system such as smoking cessation, because smokers have a high response to viruses, as these preventive measures to avoid infection with influenza include both:

Getting a flu vaccine: Seasonal flu vaccines eliminate about four or three types of viruses that cause the flu.

Following good healthy habits: Following healthy habits reduces the incidence of flu such as washing hands thoroughly, sanitizing surfaces, using paper wipes when sneezing and discarding them immediately and not touching the mouth, nose or eyes before clearing hands.

Taking some antiviral drugs: Antiviral drugs work to combat the influenza virus and prevent its proliferation in the body.

Immune system preservation: The immune system is the first line of defense of the body, so strengthening the immune system is one of the ways to prevent influenza.