Dealing With Influenza - A Layman"s Guide
The fact sheets about flu can sometimes be very confusing to you either because you are a layman who is not familiar with medical jargons, or you just want specific information.
In either case, this article is going to provide you with relevant and helpful information which you can use as guidelines in your battle against the flu virus.
Knowing the influenza virus Influenza is caused by 3 types of RNA viruses, all belonging to the same family called Orthomyxoviridae.
Among the 3 types, the influenza A virus is the most dangerous and can infect a large human population with fatal outcomes.
The 2009 swine flu outbreak was caused by a subtype of the influenza A virus known as H1N1.
Another subtype, H5N1, was responsible for the bird flu outbreak in 2004.
Pigs, birds and domestic poultry are most likely to carry the type A flu virus.
The type B virus mostly affects humans and can be dealt with easily.
It is also less common than the type A infection.
Both type A and type B infections can cause mild or severe respiratory problems.
Severe human pandemics occur when the population is exposed to particular viral subtypes (such as H1N1 or H5N1) against which it has very little or no resistance.
The type C flu virus can infect humans, dogs and pigs, causing mild to severe health problems.
Knowing the flu symptoms To deal with flu effectively, you must first know its symptoms.
The symptoms of flu are often confused with that of common cold.
Typical flu symptoms include:
Dealing with flu Most people who get infected with the flu virus recover fully within a couple of weeks.
But those who do not can develop severe health conditions requiring immediate treatment.
The good news is that you have Tamiflu oseltamivir to get relief from flu.
This medicine is available only on prescription, so you have to contact your doctor as soon as you experience the flu symptoms.
How does Tamiflu work? Flu gets from bad to worse because the virus that causes it replicates inside the body and affects the healthy cells.
Oseltamivir prevents the virus from replicating and in doing so, reduces the severity of the flu symptoms.
This medicine also helps you get immune to the flu virus.
Who can take Tamiflu? The drug is prescribed for adults and children aged 1 year or more.
But the medicine must be taken within a day or two from the onset of symptoms.
People with heart, kidney or respiratory conditions, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, should seek medical advice before taking Tamiflu.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines or if you have recently taken a flu shot.
What are the common side effects? Getting allergies or rashes is the most common side effect of Tamiflu.
You should inform your doctor immediately if you experience such discomfort.
Children and adolescents may behave unusually after taking this medicine.
They must be kept under watch during the course of treatment.
In either case, this article is going to provide you with relevant and helpful information which you can use as guidelines in your battle against the flu virus.
Knowing the influenza virus Influenza is caused by 3 types of RNA viruses, all belonging to the same family called Orthomyxoviridae.
Among the 3 types, the influenza A virus is the most dangerous and can infect a large human population with fatal outcomes.
The 2009 swine flu outbreak was caused by a subtype of the influenza A virus known as H1N1.
Another subtype, H5N1, was responsible for the bird flu outbreak in 2004.
Pigs, birds and domestic poultry are most likely to carry the type A flu virus.
The type B virus mostly affects humans and can be dealt with easily.
It is also less common than the type A infection.
Both type A and type B infections can cause mild or severe respiratory problems.
Severe human pandemics occur when the population is exposed to particular viral subtypes (such as H1N1 or H5N1) against which it has very little or no resistance.
The type C flu virus can infect humans, dogs and pigs, causing mild to severe health problems.
Knowing the flu symptoms To deal with flu effectively, you must first know its symptoms.
The symptoms of flu are often confused with that of common cold.
Typical flu symptoms include:
- high fever
- cough
- sore throat
- headache
- runny nose
- muscle aches
- extreme fatigue
Dealing with flu Most people who get infected with the flu virus recover fully within a couple of weeks.
But those who do not can develop severe health conditions requiring immediate treatment.
The good news is that you have Tamiflu oseltamivir to get relief from flu.
This medicine is available only on prescription, so you have to contact your doctor as soon as you experience the flu symptoms.
How does Tamiflu work? Flu gets from bad to worse because the virus that causes it replicates inside the body and affects the healthy cells.
Oseltamivir prevents the virus from replicating and in doing so, reduces the severity of the flu symptoms.
This medicine also helps you get immune to the flu virus.
Who can take Tamiflu? The drug is prescribed for adults and children aged 1 year or more.
But the medicine must be taken within a day or two from the onset of symptoms.
People with heart, kidney or respiratory conditions, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, should seek medical advice before taking Tamiflu.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines or if you have recently taken a flu shot.
What are the common side effects? Getting allergies or rashes is the most common side effect of Tamiflu.
You should inform your doctor immediately if you experience such discomfort.
Children and adolescents may behave unusually after taking this medicine.
They must be kept under watch during the course of treatment.
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