What is flu?
It is a type of infection that affects the nose, throat and lungs, which are parts of the respiratory system. Influenza, also called influenza, is caused by a virus. Influenza, which is usually a self-healing disease, sometimes develops fatal complications. These complications are more common in some groups. Risk groups include the following.
- Especially babies and toddlers under 1 year of age
- Women planning to become pregnant
- Pregnant women
- Giving birth during the flu season
- Adults over 65 years of age
- People living in collective living areas such as nursing homes and military barracks
- Those with a weakened immune system
- Those with a body mass index over 40
- Disorders and conditions of the nervous system that change the way the brain processes information
- People with asthma, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease and diabetes
- People who have had a stroke
- People under 20 years of age who have been treated with aspirin for a long time
Flu diagnostic methods
A physical examination and identification of flu symptoms are sufficient for the diagnosis of influenza. However, additional tests may be ordered to detect influenza viruses. In seasons when flu is common, tests are usually not required and flu can be diagnosed based on symptoms.
Causes of flu
Influenza is an infection caused by a virus. This is why viruses spread through the air in droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. The virus is transmitted to healthy people by direct inhalation of these droplets or by touching the nose, eyes or mouth after touching infected surfaces.
Because viruses are constantly changing and new strains are emerging, contagiousness is always high. However, influenza with a certain type of virus causes antibodies to form in the body. This greatly reduces the chance of catching the flu in the future from the same virus. Therefore, flu vaccinations also help to reduce the risk of getting the flu. However, as antibody levels decline over time, immunity to the virus develops, leading to a decrease in immunity in the future.
Flu symptoms
The first symptoms of flu include runny nose, sneezing and sore throat. This is why the first symptoms are similar to those of the common cold. However, influenza is a much more rapidly progressive disease and has a worse clinical picture than the common cold. Other symptoms of the flu include the following.
- Fire
- Muscle pain
- Tremor
- Sweating
- Headache
- Dry, persistent cough
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue and weakness
- Nasal obstruction
- Eye pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Complications of influenza
Young and healthy people do not usually have serious complications caused by the flu. In this way, it disappears spontaneously and without leaving any permanent effect within 1 to 2 weeks. However, there is a possibility of serious complications in people at high risk. These complications include the following.
- Lung inflammation
- Bronchitis
- Asthma exacerbations
- Heart problems
- Ear infections
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome
- Pneumonia
Flu treatment methods
Since flu is one of the self-healing diseases, plenty of fluids and rest are usually sufficient for recovery. However, if there is a serious infection or a high risk of complications, antiviral drugs may be prescribed to treat the flu.
Some medicines are taken orally, while others are taken with the help of inhalers and should not be used by people with chronic breathing problems such as asthma or lung disease. In addition, patients with serious conditions can receive intravenous treatment during hospitalization. Such treatments can help shorten the duration of the illness by as little as one day and prevent serious complications. However, side effects of these medicines can include nausea and vomiting. Therefore, they are recommended to be taken with food.
Home remedies
Some lifestyle changes and home remedies are sufficient to treat the flu. These methods will help alleviate the symptoms caused by the flu. Among the methods that can be applied are the following.
- To prevent dehydration, drink plenty of fluids such as water, warm soup and fruit juice.
- Rest and sleep are extremely effective in helping the immune system fight infections. Depending on the symptoms, the activity level needs to be modified.
- For flu-related fever and pain, certain painkillers and antipyretics may be preferred. However, in children and young people with flu symptoms, some common medicines should be avoided because of the risk of reye syndrome. Although this syndrome is rare, it is known as one of the serious complications of the flu.
- Patients are advised to stay at home as much as possible to prevent the spread of the flu. If you need to leave the house for any reason, you should wear a mask and wash your hands frequently.
Types of flu
Influenza is divided into different types. With the exception of stomach flu, other strains cause the respiratory system to be affected. Different virus families form the basis of these diversifications.
Swine flu
Swine flu, one of the influenza A viruses, is also called H1N1 flu. Swine flu, which was introduced in the 2009-2010 flu season, is so named because the virus family infects pigs, birds and humans.
In 2009, the World Health Organization declared swine flu pandemic and in August 2010 declared the pandemic over. Swine flu, which has killed more than 284,000 people in that time, has gradually become one of the strains causing seasonal flu. For this reason, the seasonal flu vaccine also provides protection against swine flu.
The symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of normal flu. However, adults should seek urgent medical attention if they have the following symptoms
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Symptoms of iteration such as chest pain and inability to urinate
- Persistent dizziness
- Seizures
- Worsening of existing medical condition
- Severe weakness or muscle pain
If the following symptoms occur in children, medical attention should be sought immediately
- Difficulty breathing
- Pale gray or blue skin lips or nail beds, depending on skin color
- Chest pain
- Dehydration
- Severe muscle pain
- Seizures
- Worsening of existing medical condition
Spanish flu
Another type of flu caused by influenza A viruses is the Spanish flu. The H1N1 virus first infected a bird species and then spread to humans. The Spanish virus flu spread rapidly, infecting approximately 500,000,000 people worldwide because few people were immune to the disease when it first appeared. In 1918 and 1919, this amounted to about a third of the world's population. In addition, the Spanish flu killed 50,000,000 people. It was particularly deadly for children under 5 and adults over 65. The Spanish flu pandemic, which lasted for nearly 40 years, eventually killed many adults in their twenties.
The symptoms of Spanish flu are similar to those of influenza. However, in a Spanish crisis, there is a sudden and rapid rise in fever and loss of appetite. Among the reasons why the Spanish flu spread so much and was so deadly were the fact that there was a world war at the time it was seen, a significant number of doctors were at the front, medicine was not as advanced as it is today, and the virus reached the lungs quickly.
Asian flu
The Asian flu pandemic first spread from China in 1957-1958. It was caused by H2N2 viruses, one of the subtypes of the influenza A family. Considered to be one of the deadliest pandemics, the Asian flu caused the deaths of 1-4 million people during the pandemic. It subsequently caused a pandemic again in 1968. However, in the second period, more people were affected due to the immunity of people who had previously contracted Asian flu. The virus that caused the outbreak in the second period was the H3N2 virus.
During the second pandemic, different parts of the world were affected in different ways. In Japan, for example, more people were affected but the lethality was lower. But fewer people were affected in the United States. But the mortality rate was much higher. The Asian flu in the second period was also called Hong Kong flu.
Fujian flu
Fujian flu, first seen in 2002-2003, was first seen in the Fujian region of China. Fujian flu, one of the H3N2 virus strains, was added to the standard flu vaccine in 2004.
Bird flu
Avian influenza, a type of influenza transmitted from birds to humans, is transmitted by contact with the feathers or feces of infected birds. There is no evidence that avian influenza, one of the influenza A viruses, can be transmitted from human to human. The H5N1 strain of avian influenza was first seen in 2003 and affected Azerbaijan, Turkey, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Egypt, Iraq and China.
Stomach flu
Stomach flu, also called viral gastroenteritis, is not the same as the common flu. Because classical influenza affects the respiratory tract and stomach flu affects the intestines. For this reason, the symptoms it causes include the following.
- Watery diarrhea
- Bloody diarrhea in case of severe infection
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Stomach pain
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Low-grade fever
