Everything You Need To Know About Influenza

Posted by Shalini Portea on December 28th, 2018

Viral infections are very much common in today's world. The diagnosis and treatment of chronic viral infection are really important. One such common and widespread viral infection is Influenza. It is an infection which mainly attacks the respiratory organs of the body and tends to weaken them over time if not treated properly.

Who is at a Higher Risk of Developing Influenza?

The intensity and complications of Influenza depend on a lot of factors. It may not be as deadly as Japanese encephalitis but still, in many cases, Influenza tends to become very serious with life-threatening symptoms. People who are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with Influenza include -

l  Young children who are usually under the age of 5 and 2 years.

l  Adults are also vulnerable to Influenza, especially the ones who are older than age 65.

l  The people who work in nursing homes and other long-term healthcare facilities are at greater risk.

l  Women who are pregnant and women up to two weeks postpartum can also be diagnosed with it.

l  Those who are suffering from long-term diseases such as asthma, heart disease, liver disease and diabetes are at higher risk.

So here is the category of people who are at a much higher risk of getting affected with Influenza.

What are The Symptoms to Identify Influenza?

At the initial stages, it is not always possible to identify Influenza because it has some common symptoms like that of simple cold and fever. But when a person shows the following symptoms it is possible that he or she is down with Influenza. So have a look at the symptoms.

l  Fever which is constant and is over 100.4 For 38.4 C on the thermometer.

l  The person will have aching muscles which are because of the weakness due to the fever.

l  The person may receive chills and sweats even when the temperature is not warm.

l  A headache is very common.

l  A cough is persistent and dry.

l  Trouble breathing like in cases of sleep apnea.

l  Nasal congestion very frequently.

l  A sore throat which can cause pain while swallowing.

What are The Risks of Neglecting Treatment?

Many people do not receive the right treatment for Influenza because they neglect it or think it will dissipate on its own. But that is not the case always. Negligence in the right treatment consists of Pneumonia, Bronchitis, Asthma flare-ups, Heart problems and Ear Infections. All of these medical disorders can seriously affect the lifestyle of a person and also become life-threatening at times.

How to Prevent Influenza From Affecting You?

Even though it is not possible to prevent yourself from indulging into different situations which might spread Influenza, there are certain things which you can keep in mind. Here are some important ways which can prevent it.

l  Wash your hands immediately after coming from outside and especially before eating.

l  Avoid staying in a healthcare centre or in a crowd for a very long time.

l  Visit a doctor immediately if you identify any of the symptoms we have discussed.

l  Make sure to contain your sneeze and cough.

So here are some of the important things which you should be aware of Influenza which will help you to prevent a fatal situation caused by the disease.

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Shalini Portea

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Shalini Portea
Joined: November 27th, 2018
Articles Posted: 3

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