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Autumn and winter can bring about a host of complaints including the sniffles and sneezes, of one of the most common seasonal diseases Influenza or Flu. In cold weather, the virus responsible for the Flu spreads very easily through infective droplets so that millions of people catch it every year.
The Flu usually results in headaches, sore muscles, cough, runny nose, fatigue, general malaise and high fevers with chills, but at times it can cause severe complications, like bronchitis and pneumonia with breathing problems, sinus and ear infections, etc. In weakened persons (e.g. people with severe heart diseases or diabetes, elderly people etc.) the Flu can even cause death.
Influenza is a highly contagious illness caused by influenza A or B virus. The virus spreads from person to person through infected respiratory secretions and outbreaks of influenza occur worldwide each year, mainly during the winter season.
Influenza typically affects 10 to 20 percent of the population of a given area, although outbreaks affecting more than 50 percent have occurred. Because Flu spreads easily, attack rates can be particularly high among individuals living in an institutionalized setting such as schools or long term care facilities, nursing homes etc.
The infection is generally self-limited and lasts on average two to five days, although it can persist for more than a week. Some patients develop complications of the Flu that last longer and require special treatment.
The treatment of influenza generally focuses on relieving symptoms. It includes well-known measures such as rest, increased intake of fluids to maintain adequate hydration and lots of fresh fruit or fresh fruit juice as source of vitamins. Paracetamol or Ibuprofen are used to relieve fever, headache, and muscle aches. Aspirin and medicines with acetyl salicylic acid as an ingredient should be avoided, especially in children, because they have been associated with the development of a grave illness known as Reye syndrome. Cough suppressants can be used if the cough is particularly bothersome.
Antiviral medications, like Relenza and Tamiflu, may reduce the duration and severity of symptoms. Antibiotics are usually not needed unless the patient develops bacterial complications such as bacterial pneumonia, ear infection, or sinusitis.
To avoid the lost days at work and school and to decrease the unpleasant symptoms associated with influenza, the yearly vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization is the best option.
As the influenza virus changes (or "mutates") slightly from year to year, a new vaccine must be produced and administered prior to each flu season. Each year's vaccine is based on the flu virus of the previous year and virus strains known to be circulating in other parts of the world. The vaccine's effectiveness depends upon how well scientists are able to predict which strains will cause infection in a given year.
Influenza vaccine is usually available in early autumn, but significant shortages of vaccine have led to recommendations to obtain vaccination even later in the season.
Patients receiving vaccine develop antibodies, which destroy the virus after the person is exposed. It usually takes about two weeks for the body to develop antibodies. If the circulating virus and strains used for the vaccine match closely, they may protect 50 to 80 percent of those who received it from getting the Flu.
Flu vaccines are recommended for everybody but especially persons at risk for influenza-related complications, such as persons 65 years of age or older, residents of long term care facilities, nursing homes etc., patients who have chronic lung or heart conditions, including children with asthma and patients who have required regular medical care during the previous year because of chronic diseases (such as diabetes, kidney problems, or problems of the immune system).
Also persons who might transmit influenza to high risk individuals such as health care workers and household members of persons in high risk groups should be immunized.
The vaccines are generally well tolerated and reactions happen in fewer than 5 percent of cases. Side effects usually consist of low grade fever and mild "flu-like" symptoms for 8 to 24 hours after immunization. Because vaccines are prepared from viruses grown in eggs, patients with serious allergy to egg products should consult their doctor before receiving it. Since the vaccines do not contain live viruses, they can be administered safely to people with weakened immune systems.
Antiviral agents (Tamiflu or Relenza) can also help reduce a person's chances of developing Flu. To be effective, the medications must be taken daily throughout the period of highest risk for influenza infection. These drugs are generally recommended only for persons at risk for developing complications from the Flu and who cannot receive the flu vaccine.
Avian influenza is a disease caused by highly pathogenic Avian H5N1 influenza viruses which are endemic among poultry in Asia.
Though the primary victims of Avian Flu are chicken and other birds and the virus is not good at passing from birds to people, there has been sporadic transmission of avian influenza to people in close contact with the diseased animals. Avian Flu is very dangerous and has already caused the death of over 60 persons. Recently it has spread to Europe as well.
This has raised concern and fear that due to its ability to change (mutate), H5N1 influenza viruses could combine its genetic material with co-infecting human influenza viruses to generate a novel strain capable of sustained human-to-human transmission. Thus the virus of Avian Flu could “learn” to spread among people. And if this happened, a worldwide pandemic of a new form of flu could result.
Actually there have been three influenza pandemics during the past century and two of them were caused by viruses of avian origin. In the 1957 and 1968 pandemics, the new viruses had components of previous human as well as avian viruses. The origin of the influenza virus responsible for the 1918 pandemic, which killed more people in a single year than the bubonic plague epidemic, remains uncertain.
Transmission of avian influenza H5N1 to over 88 humans during the 2004-2005 Asian epizoonotic has prompted concerns that the next pandemic is imminent. That is why The World Health Organization has described the threat from H5N1 as a "public health crisis".
At the time of writing this article, there is still no specific vaccine against bird flu but a lot of research is being carried out to develop it.
Although the common flu vaccine does not protect against the bird flu, it is recommended to obtain this vaccination to avoid a simultaneous epidemic of common Flu and possible bird flu. According to the opinion of some experts, the common flu vaccine can also increase your ability to fight the possible new form of flu.
Given the small numbers of infected patients investigated, the effect of antiviral agents on the outcome of patients suffering Avian Flu remains unclear.
The only effective remedies for both common and bird flu are Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivirum) which stop the replication of the virus in the human body. There can be a worldwide shortage of these remedies but we at Unicare Medical Center will do our best to provide these medications to our patients.
We do not expect spreading of Avian Flu neither in the Czech Republic nor in other EU States. We expect an increase of patients with influenza but we do not expect a Flu epidemic.
We are convinced that the vaccination is effective in reducing the risk of contracting Flu and we comply with the recommendations of WHO and the European Community and each year we offer the vaccine recommended for the prevention of influenza and its associated complications.
Do you need more information about influenza?
Your doctor is the best resource for finding out important information related to your particular case. Not all patients with influenza are alike, and it is important that your situation is evaluated by a doctor who knows you as a whole person.
With Best Wishes for Good Health,
Dr. Stefan Kukura, GP and Internist
Dr. Julia Concha Gonzales, Paediatrician
Unicare Medical Center
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