Signs and Symptoms of Influenza

Signs and Symptoms of Influenza

Influenza is a viral, highly contagious respiratory illness resulting in mild to severe symptoms in patients commonly known as ‘Flu’. This disease usually spreads by the coughs and sneezes of the person who is infected by influenza virus. Adults become infectious from one before the appearance of the symptoms to 7 days after the illness. Flu becomes epidemic when large no of people in the country get affected by this disease and which lasts for some weeks. This disease affects persons irrespective of their age as well as gender. 

There are three types of influenza which can affect humans. The virus causing this disease is a RNA virus though the virus can only be detected by a specialized type of polymerase chain reaction. Special test of throat, sputum and nose can confirm that whether a person is affected by this virus or not. Influenza virus not only affects humans, but also affects other animals like pig, horse, birds etc. The contamination of this virus in our body can be prevented by frequent washing of hands by soap as the substances present in soap can inactive the virus as well as using of surgical musk. 

There are some vaccines which are evolved now days which prevent persons from this disease. There is a more chance of being affected by this disease when the person is already suffering from kidney disease, diabetes or cancer etc.

There are some unique after effects which we can found in persons who are affected by any disease. Like the same this disease also has some typical signs and symptoms. It is reported that no such specific symptoms found in 33% of people who are affected by this disease. 

Some of the unique symptoms of this disease are discussed in the following:

 
  • Fever is the most common symptom of the influenza disease. The body temperature of the affected patients varies ranging from 100°F to 103°F. As a result of it many people confined to bed for several days. Flu can be identified by high fever with a sudden onset and extremely fatigue.
  • The fever finally results into headache, severe pain in back as well as legs. The patients feel very weak.
  • Runny or stuffy nose followed by sore throat is an important symptoms carried by this disease which persists from few days to almost one week.
  • The fever affects the gastro-intestinal system of the human body in directly. As a result of it gastric system starts mal-functioning which results into vomiting. In children this may result up to diarrhoea as well as abdominal pain too.
  • Severe pains arise in the body joints as well as throats.
  • Irritation of eyes starts which finally result into watery eyes all the time during the illness. Eyes also become reddened.
  • Reddened skin (Especially face), mouth, throat & nose are one of the easily noticeable symptoms of this disease.
  • Appearance of petechial rash is a unique characteristic of this disease.
  • As a symptom of this disease child starts shivering when they have high fever more than 101°F.
  • The feeling of tiredness and gloom continues ranging from one week three or four weeks.

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