INFLUENZA Essay examples - 1179 Words

Influenza, also known as â€Å"the flu,† is a virus that infects the respiratory tract. Although Influenza is not as severe as many viral infections its almost the worst for viral infections of the respiratory tract. Typically, when someone is infected with influenza they experience fever (usually 100 ° to 103 °F in adults, but even higher in children) and causes a cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and also headaches, muscle aches, and usually extreme tiredness. There are sometimes other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea but usually only in rare cases with young children. One other note: The term â€Å"Stomach flu† isn’t really caused by the influenza virus. The average recovery time from the flu is about 1-2 weeks, although†¦show more content†¦Although Type A viruses undergo both types of changes, Type B only go through the more gradual Type B. Antigenic shift occurs only occasionally, but when it does large numbers of people or even entire populations have no antibody against the virus. Although this is potentially lethal, the virus can only start a pandemic if it is able to be spread easily. Throughout the 20th century there were three pandemics, one in 1918, one in 1957, and one in 1968. Each of which resulted in large numbers of deaths. The 1918 pandemic was known as the â€Å"Spanish Flu† and was Influenza strain A(H1N1) and it caused the highest known influenza death rate known, 500,000 Americans and 20 million people worldwide. The 1957 pandemic was known as the â€Å"Asian Flu† and was Influenza strain A(H2N2) and caused 70,000 U.S. deaths. The 1968 Pandemic was known as the â€Å"Hong Kong Flu† and was Influenza strain A(H3N2) and caused 34,000 deaths in the U.S. The emergence of the â€Å"Hong Kong Flu† in 1968-1969 marked the beginning of the A(H3N2) days. When this virus first emerged it had the lowest mortality rate in the 20th century. Although this virus first emerged with such a small death rate, it still continues to kill people to this day. Just as when the A(H2N2) virus appeared in 1957 causing the disappearance of the A(H1N1) virus, the appearance of the A(H2N3) virus caused the disappearance of the A(H2N2) virus. After being dormant for almost 30 years, the A(H1N1) virus reappeared and todayShow MoreRelatedInfluenza As An Influenza Virus1426 Words   |  6 PagesINTRODUCTION: Influenza, more commonly known as the ‘flu’, is a chameleon like infectious disease, that presents itself with varying characteristics from year to year, due to the wavering identity of the strain. â€Å"Like HIV, influenza is an RNA virus, constantly changing its appearance and adept at eluding recognition by the human immune system† (Schneider, 2014). From its inception of 1918, influenza claims an average of 250,000 to 500,000 people worldwide, annually. Little is known of the virus’sRead MoreThe Epidemic Of Influenza And Influenza1412 Words   |  6 Pagessecond to a variety of reasons, some that could be prevented others where that is not the case. However, experts agree that influenza and influenza related deaths could be significantly prevented if people took the influenza vaccine annually. The influenza virus is a deadly virus that has been killing people since the 1900s; in 1918 the first recorded epidemic of a strain of influenza known as th e Spanish flu killed approximately 50 million people (Pandemic Flu History). Because people did not know whatRead More INFLUENZA Essay1582 Words   |  7 PagesINFLUENZA Introduction One can claim that influenza is an infection that has victimized people from just about every generation that we have known. The term Influenza comes from the Latin word influentia, first used by the Italians in the 1600s. It is a highly contagious infection particulary of the respiratory tract.In addition to us humans, influenza can occur in pigs, horses, and several other mammals as well as in certain wild and birds. It can also jump from specie to specie as observedRead More INFLUENZA Essay924 Words   |  4 Pages INFLUENZA nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A virus called an Orthomyxovirus causes influenza. Often called flu, sometimes-even grippe. It is a very contagious disease, and it infects many parts of our bodies. This also includes are lungs. A person can get influenza if someone coughs, sneezes, or even talks around you while they are infected. Influenza is sometimes considered serious in some cases but can be prevented and treated. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; When you get the â€Å"flu† in the lungsRead MoreAvian Influenza ( Influenza )2106 Words   |  9 PagesAvian Influenza (H5N1) In this task, the investigation will be done is about the emerging infectious disease and the name of disease will be researched is avian influenza. Avian Influenza is also known as bird flu, is a type A influenza virus. It is lethal to poultry and is potentially fatal in humans. Avian Influenza is defined as emerging infectious disease (Bird flu (avian influenza), 2012). Water birds such as wild ducks are believed to be the carriers of all avian influenza type A virusesRead MoreThe Great Influenza1092 Words   |  4 PagesTHE GREAT INFLUENZA The book The Great Influenza by John Barry takes us back to arguably one of the greatest medical disasters in human history, the book focuses on the influenza pandemic which took place in the year 1918. The world was at war in the First World War and with everyone preoccupied with happenings in Europe and winning the war, the influenza pandemic struck when the human race was least ready and most distracted by happenings all over the world. In total the influenza pandemic killedRead MoreEssay on Influenza568 Words   |  2 PagesInfluenza Essay Influenza is a disease also known as ‘the flu’ which is most common in the U.S. Influenza is caused by a contagious virus that is spread by fluids of coughing, sneezing and direct eye contact from surfaces where serious infection and death occur around the world mostly in winter. Someone who gets the disease, inhale the virus or touch the germs from objects including computer keyboards and telephones and then touching their mouths and nose. Influenza viruses spread from person toRead More Influenza Essay example617 Words   |  3 Pages Influenza nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Influenza, normally called â€Å"the flu†, the influenza virus causes an infection in the respiration tract. Even though the influenza virus can sometimes be compared with the common cold. It also can cause a more severe illness or death. During this past century, pandemics took place in 1918, 1957, and 1968, in all of these cases there where unfortunately many deaths. The â€Å"Spanish flu† in 1918, killedRead MoreInfluenza A H1N1 Virus1818 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction In 1918-19 approximately 50 million deaths were a detriment of the Spanish H1N1 virus pandemic; a respiratory virus. According to the World Health Organization, the second Influenza A H1N1 pandemic in 2009 spread to more than 200 countries causing more than 18 000 deaths. Before the World Health Organization had announced the official end of the pandemic in August 2010, in July 2009 the World Health Organization sent out a phase 6 warning that H1N1 could soon be a global pandemic.Read MoreThe Pandemic Of Influenza And Vaccination2024 Words   |  9 PagesINTRODUCTION Every year, millions of people start talking about the influenza virus and getting their vaccines as the flu season approaches, which starts around the October-November period and reaches its peak between December and March. Therefore, public health officials around the world- and in the U.S in particular- are constantly challenged by properly preparing for the annual influenza dilemma, given that this viruses, and other respiratory viruses, are a serious health threat to the U.S population