Flu

What is Flu?

Flu or influenza is a disease caused by the RNA (ribonucleic acid) flu virus. It is an infection that occurs in the respiratory tract of humans, animals and birds.

The flu virus travels in the air and enters in your body through the nose or mouth. It is a highly contagious disease which spreads through coughing and sneezing of an affected person.

You may recover within a week from flu without any medications. But it can lead to severe complications and even death in small children, aged people and those with grave medical conditions.

Symptoms may show up within one to four days on an average or the symptoms can come on very suddenly. Alternatively, you may get infected with the influenza virus and not experience any symptoms for a few days.

As of yet there are no flu cures available. Nonetheless, treatment for flu can be used to suppress its symptoms through prescription medications.

Causes of Flu

The flu virus passes through the air and spreads the disease in many ways. You may inhale droplets the cough and sneeze of an infected person.

Flu virus infects your respiratory tract that results in rashes and sore throat. The virus changes according to the environment resulting in development of new strains. This makes it difficult for our body to fight the virus effectively.

Here are some common flu causes:

• Saliva
• Cough
• Sneeze
• Infected surfaces
• Sexual contact
• Blood transfusion
• Infected needles

Additionally, coming in contact with an object that has been contaminated by touch of an infected person is also among causes of flu that needs treatment.

Symptoms of Flu

Usually the first to occur among symptoms that flu can cause is a fever that runs high. This may be accompanied by some form of body ache. Although it is common for flu symptoms to fade in a week’s time, they can last for longer periods.

This can call for quick medical attention with flu treatment to prevent further health complications including pneumonia.

Treatment for Flu

While there is no complete cure for flu, the disease is treated with prescription antiviral medications that help subside your symptoms and also avoid flu complications.

Treatment for flu helps relieve symptoms and can include prescribed antiviral drugs, cough remedies, oral decongestants, nasal strips and nasal wash.

Taking preventive steps during a flu outbreak help you avoid infections and keep others from being infected by you.

Preventive Measures:

• Wash your hands frequently
• Don’t skip sleep
• Drink good amount of water
• Avoid touching your hands to your eyes, nose, mouth or face.
• Avoid infected people
• Avoid crowded places
• Strengthen your immune system
• Exercise

You can also better deal with the disease by avoiding alcohol, smoking and by gathering useful information about the disease.

Preventing flu is as close you can get to a cure. This is done through flu vaccination which is a good preventive step albeit without a cent per cent guarantee to protect from an infection.