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Influenza By: Kristy Haugen

Influenza is a respiratory tract infection involving the upper airways and lungs. Many
refer to influenza as the "flu". Influenza is highly contagious transmitted by saliva
Forgot Password? New and airborne droplets expelled by coughing and sneezing. The incubation is very
User? short ranging from one to three days. Common symptoms of influenza are fever,
chills, muscle aches and pains, dry cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, headache,
malaise, fatigue, sneezing, sweating, and irritated eyes.

The influenza virus is an RNA virus that belongs to the orthomyxoviridae family.
Home Based Business Three genera of the influenza virus currently exist. Each influenza virus is identified
Health & Fitness by the antigenic differences in their nucleoprotein and matrix protein.
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Loans The influenza B and C viruses infect only humans. Populations tend to have more
Small Business resistance to these two viruses. This is because influenza B and C only undergo a
Alternative Medicine type of evolution referred to as antigenic drift. RNA replication in these viruses is
Business frequently error prone and leads to many point mutations. These point mutations lead
Vehicles to very little change in the new viral strain. Influenza B and C viruses cause
Religion relatively mild and limited disease epidemics. The influenza A virus infects
Internet Marketing mammals and birds (avian influenza). This virus is more likely to cause a pandemic
Weight Loss (world wide epidemic). Influenza A is a recombinant virus, meaning an interchange
Pets of gene segments if two different viruses infect the same cell. This type of evolution
Beauty is referred to antigenic shift. Avian and human strains recombining in pigs in the Far
Marketing East may permit the virulent human strains to evolve. Common antigenic variants
Relationships include H1N1, and H3N2.
View all Categories Influenza A can be further classified by the surface proteins. Sixteen subtypes of the
viral surface protein hemagglutinin (HA or H) currently exist. Nine subtypes of the
viral surface protein neuraminidase (NA or N) exist. These surface proteins are
essential for the virus' life cycle.
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The flu season reaches a peak prevalence in winter. The Northern and Southern
hemispheres have winter at different times, meaning that there is actually two flu
seasons annually. Two different vaccinations are made for the different flu seasons
each year. The Northern Hemisphere flu season peaks in January or February. The
Southern Hemisphere flu season peaks in October.

Influenza vaccines are developed each based off the predominant strains in the
Southern Hemisphere. The vaccine contains an inactivated (killed) virus. Protection
provided by the vaccine depends on effectiveness of the strain used to make the
vaccine.

Vaccinations typically begin in October. Those that are susceptible to illness such as
the elderly (65 years and older), young children (under 5 years of age), and
immunocompromised patients are encouraged to be vaccinated. Young children are
likely to get complications from the flu such as pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus and ear
infections.

Anyone who has an allergy to eggs should not be vaccinated. Allergy to the vaccine
 is due to small amounts of egg protein that remain in the vaccine after purification.
This is considered to be a rare side effect. Many complain of injection site soreness
up to two days after vaccination. This is temporary and should go away. Typical side
effects include fever, malaise, muscle aches occurring 6-12 hours after vaccination.

There are currently medications used to treat influenza. Amantadine and rimantadine
are medications used to treat influenza A only. Neuraminidase inhibitors such as
Tamiflu and Relenza block the normal function of the viral surface protein
neuraminidase. These medications can be used to treat influenza A and B. Resistance
to adamantine derivatives (amantadine, rimantadine) is seen in China, Hong Kong,
Taiwan, and South Korea due to availability in over-the-counter remedies.

The avian flu naturally infects aquatic birds. However, pandemics occur when the
avian adapted virus infects porcine (pigs). This virus will then recombine to form a
genetically new virus. The genetically new virus infects humans that are in close
contact with the infected porcine. The flu is then transmitted from person to person,
beginning an epidemic.

In 1997 the avian flu (H5N1) originating from chickens in Hong Kong, killed 6 of 18
infected. This strain was not readily transmissible from human to human. However,
this strain resurfaced in 2004 in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. This virus
remains avian adapted and cannot be transmitted from person to person. A vaccine
cannot be made until this virus has recombined into a human adapted form.

Elderberry extract is a trademarked over-the-counter remedy to shorten the duration

of an influenza episode. This will not prevent the illness if taken before hand. Only
vaccination can help to prevent influenza infections.

Influence is on the minds of many and rightfully so. The avian flu will pose a threat
to the world's population if predictions are correct. Maintaining good health is
essential during the flu season. One way to do that is take a good vitamin
supplement.
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Kristy Haugen is a mother working to finish her second bachelor degree in Chemical
Engineering. She is also a Licensed Practical Nurse with a current bachelor degree in
Biology and Chemistry. She writes to inform consumers about nutrition and health
topics. Learn more about your health and buy vitamins online at
http://liquidvitamins.vitaminmaniac.com
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