Influenza

INFLUENZA

• Mary Stephanie V. Jose

INFLUENZA • Italian: influenza, meaning "influence", ( Latin: influentia). "influence of the cold". • Commonly called “the flu” • It is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract that can be caused by a variety of viruses. • Source: Discharges from the mouth and nose of infected person.

Influenza Virus • The influenza virus spreads easily from person to person, mainly when an infected person coughs or sneezes. • Viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs cause influenza

types of Influenza Virus

• Influenzavirus A • Influenzavirus B • Influenzavirus C

Influenza A virus (H5N1) virus

• Wild aquatic birds are the natural hosts for a large variety of influenza A • The type A viruses are the most virulent human pathogens among the three influenza types and cause the most severe disease.

Influenza B virus • Influenza B almost exclusively infects humans and is less common than influenza A. • Lower than type A • and consequently is less genetically diverse, with only one influenza B serotype

Influenza C virus • Commonly infects humans and pigs and can cause severe illness and local epidemics • Less common than the other types and usually seems to cause mild disease in children • does not spark epidemics.

Mode of transmission • Direct contact • Droplet infection • Articles freshly soiled with discharge of the nose and throat of the infected person • airborne

What are flu symptoms? • fever • chills • respiratory symptoms such as • dry coug h • sore throat • runny or s tuf fy nose • headache • muscle aches •• extreme Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can sometimes fatigue

accompany influenza infection, especially in children.

Is there treatment for influenza? • People with the flu are advised to get plenty of rest, drink plenty of liquids, avoid using alcohol and tobacco and, if necessary, take medications such as paracetamol (acetaminophen) to relieve the fever and muscle aches associated with the flu. • avoid taking aspirin during an influenza infection (it may cause fatal disease of the liver) • influenza is caused by a virus, antibiotics have no effect on the infection.

How to prevent Influenza? • Education of the public as to sanitary hazard from spitting sneezing and coughing. • Avoid use of common towels, glasses and eating utensils.

How to prevent Influenza? • Vaccination

*** made from inactivated (killed)

flu viruses, which cannot cause infection.

 It reduces the average person's chances of catching the flu by up to 80%  the flu shot contains killed flu viruses that will not cause the flu, but will prepare the body to fight off infection by the live flu virus.

Types of the Influenza Vaccine Flu vaccines are available as a shot or nasal mist.

• intramuscular (IM) injection influenza vaccine

Types of the Influenza Vaccine • Nasal Mist (FluMist®)

When Should I Get the Influenza Vaccine?  The influenza vaccine is a yearly vaccination  the viruses that cause the disease change every year.  influenza viral genes continually change  Another reason is that antibody produced by the host in response to the vaccine declines over time, and antibody levels are often low one year after vaccination.

Public Health Nursing responsibilities • Isolate patient during acute stage. • Report the case to local Health Officer immediately • Instruct patient to go to bed in the beginning of the attack and not to report to work w/o the approval of the physician.

Nursing Care • Keep patient warm • Keep patient away from persons suffering from respiratory tract infection to prevent pneumonia. • Teach and demonstrate proper sneezing and cough technique • Clothing soiled with throat and nose discharge should be boiled 30 mins. Before laundry

Influenza/Flu vs. Common cold