{"id":19805,"date":"2020-04-29T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-29T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zovon.com\/?p=19805"},"modified":"2020-05-01T23:14:40","modified_gmt":"2020-05-01T17:44:40","slug":"flu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zovon.com\/?p=19805","title":{"rendered":"Flu – Symptoms, Risk Factors, Prevention and OTC Medication"},"content":{"rendered":"

Overview and Statistical Facts<\/span><\/h2>\n

Influenza, commonly known as flu, refers to a respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. These viruses are present in the air and infect a person by entering through nose or mouth. Flu can be serious or even fatal for newborn babies, elderly people and people suffering from chronic diseases. Gastroenteritis is commonly known as ‘Stomach flu’ or ’24-hour flu’ which is not caused by influenza viruses.<\/span><\/p>\n

Flu and cold are both respiratory illnesses but are caused by different groups of organisms. Generally, flu is more severe than common cold. The symptoms of flu tend to start more suddenly, are more serious and can result in complicated health conditions, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections or hospitalizations. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Flu and cold cannot be differentiated by analyzing the symptoms alone. These can be differentiated only through special tests performed a few days after the development of symptoms. <\/span><\/p>\n

The incidence of flu is more common during winters. Due to this, it is known as ‘Seasonal flu.’ However, a person may catch flu at any time of the year. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Hemophilus influenzae <\/i>is the bacteria that causes lung infections in infants and children but does not cause flu.<\/span><\/p>\n

Influenza is considered as one of the deadliest diseases of humans. In the U.S. alone, flu infection is known to claim about 36,000 lives every season, while the average cost of hospitalizations and outpatient doctor visits due to flu amounts to approximately 10 billion USD. <\/span><\/p>\n

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), influenza is responsible for nearly 500,000 annual deaths globally. There have been four major pandemics of flu since 1990 \u2014 The Spanish flu (1918-1919), the Asian flu (1957-1958), the Hong Kong flu (1968-1969) and the Swine flu (2009) \u2014 with Swine flu being the least deadly pandemic out of the four. The Spanish flu was responsible for about 100 million deaths. Not to forget the Recent Covid-19 Flu- which has put the world to halt and people are forced to stay at home. This Flu is caused by not the influenza virus but from a different type of virus. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Types and Symptoms of Flu<\/span><\/h2>\n

Types of Flu:<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

There are four types of influenza viruses, namely, A, B, C and D. Human influenza viruses, A and B cause seasonal flu every year. The emergence of a new strain of influenza virus are responsible for a pandemic. Influenza C viruses are not known to cause serious symptoms or result in epidemics. Influenza D viruses infect cattle and are not known to cause any illness in humans.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Influenza A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two proteins found on the surface of the virus, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). Influenza A virus can be classified into various strains, namely:<\/span><\/p>\n