Unit 12 Learning Aim C
The flu is a viral infection that has a widespread seasonal outbreak. The virus is caused by the
influenza virus, which spreads from person to person via the respiratory system. Influenza
viruses mutate over time, which means that there isn't just one or more specific viruses of a
particular virus that activates or infects humans, and they're always changing. Because of this
constant change, the virus is able to infiltrate and attack the immune system, exposing a
person to influenza infection throughout his life.
Causes
Influenza viruses of type A, B, or C cause the flu. Epidemics of respiratory diseases caused
by influenza viruses of types A and B occur almost every winter. The influenza viruses of
type C cause much less severe respiratory disease than the previous two types. It could also
show no symptoms at all, as it is not a pandemic and has no significant public health
implications. It's worth noting that the influenza vaccine only protects against types A and B
of the virus. It's also worth noting that the influenza A virus affects a wide range of animals,
including ducks, chickens, pigs, whales, horses, and seals, whereas the influenza B virus only
affects humans.
Signs and symptoms
The symptoms and signs of influenza are distressing and inconvenient, but they go away and
disappear on their own after a few days. However, the main concern with influenza is its
potential complications, which include (pneumonitis), (bronchitis), ear infections, and
nervous system complications.
Influenza complications are more common in certain groups. Patients with chronic
respiratory diseases (including Asthma), heart patients, kidney patients, diabetics, patients
with congenital or acquired immune deficiency treated with steroids or chemotherapy,
pregnant women, and new-born babies are among them. These groups experience a
significant increase in the rate of influenza complications, as well as hospitalisation and death
due to illness and its complications. A person with the flu can transmit the infection in a
period of one to two days.
Diagnosis
Most people can diagnose the seasonal flu themselves and do not need to see a doctor;
however, if patients have a fever and muscle pain that lasts longer than a week, they should
see a doctor.
1
,The doctor will also check to see if the patient has a medical condition that could make the
seasonal flu worse, and he will ask about the symptoms the patient is having, as well as the
patient's medical history, and he will diagnose the seasonal flu based on the patient's
symptoms, with no other tests usually required.
The doctor may recommend that the patient take a flu test in some cases. To diagnose the flu,
he or she may use a variety of tests. PCR testing has become more popular in recent years.
Compare different methods to combat disease process
Treatment Methods Disease Causative Mode of action
Organisms
Antibiotics Cholera Vibrio Cholera Antibiotics fight
bacterial infections
by killing or slowing
down bacteria's
growth. They do this
by attacking the
bacteria around them
or by covering the
wall. interfering with
the reproduction of
bacteria
Antibiotics work by
interfering with
aspects of bacterial
cells that human
cells lack. Human
cells, for example,
do not have cell
walls, whereas many
bacteria do.
Penicillin is an
antibiotic that
2
, prevents bacteria
from forming a cell
wall.
Ampicillin,
amoxicillin, and
penicillin G are
penicillin-based
antibiotics that have
been around for a
long time and are
still used to treat a
variety of infections.
Antiviral Flu Influenza Antiviral
medications are
medications that are
used to treat viral
infections. Viruses
are killed or
prevented by them.
Antiviral
medications such as
Oseltamivir
(Tamiflu) and
Zanamivir (Relenza)
are used to treat the
flu virus.
Antivirals may be
required in the case
of some people.
Antivirals do not
cure the flu, but they
can aid recovery by
alleviating some
3
The flu is a viral infection that has a widespread seasonal outbreak. The virus is caused by the
influenza virus, which spreads from person to person via the respiratory system. Influenza
viruses mutate over time, which means that there isn't just one or more specific viruses of a
particular virus that activates or infects humans, and they're always changing. Because of this
constant change, the virus is able to infiltrate and attack the immune system, exposing a
person to influenza infection throughout his life.
Causes
Influenza viruses of type A, B, or C cause the flu. Epidemics of respiratory diseases caused
by influenza viruses of types A and B occur almost every winter. The influenza viruses of
type C cause much less severe respiratory disease than the previous two types. It could also
show no symptoms at all, as it is not a pandemic and has no significant public health
implications. It's worth noting that the influenza vaccine only protects against types A and B
of the virus. It's also worth noting that the influenza A virus affects a wide range of animals,
including ducks, chickens, pigs, whales, horses, and seals, whereas the influenza B virus only
affects humans.
Signs and symptoms
The symptoms and signs of influenza are distressing and inconvenient, but they go away and
disappear on their own after a few days. However, the main concern with influenza is its
potential complications, which include (pneumonitis), (bronchitis), ear infections, and
nervous system complications.
Influenza complications are more common in certain groups. Patients with chronic
respiratory diseases (including Asthma), heart patients, kidney patients, diabetics, patients
with congenital or acquired immune deficiency treated with steroids or chemotherapy,
pregnant women, and new-born babies are among them. These groups experience a
significant increase in the rate of influenza complications, as well as hospitalisation and death
due to illness and its complications. A person with the flu can transmit the infection in a
period of one to two days.
Diagnosis
Most people can diagnose the seasonal flu themselves and do not need to see a doctor;
however, if patients have a fever and muscle pain that lasts longer than a week, they should
see a doctor.
1
,The doctor will also check to see if the patient has a medical condition that could make the
seasonal flu worse, and he will ask about the symptoms the patient is having, as well as the
patient's medical history, and he will diagnose the seasonal flu based on the patient's
symptoms, with no other tests usually required.
The doctor may recommend that the patient take a flu test in some cases. To diagnose the flu,
he or she may use a variety of tests. PCR testing has become more popular in recent years.
Compare different methods to combat disease process
Treatment Methods Disease Causative Mode of action
Organisms
Antibiotics Cholera Vibrio Cholera Antibiotics fight
bacterial infections
by killing or slowing
down bacteria's
growth. They do this
by attacking the
bacteria around them
or by covering the
wall. interfering with
the reproduction of
bacteria
Antibiotics work by
interfering with
aspects of bacterial
cells that human
cells lack. Human
cells, for example,
do not have cell
walls, whereas many
bacteria do.
Penicillin is an
antibiotic that
2
, prevents bacteria
from forming a cell
wall.
Ampicillin,
amoxicillin, and
penicillin G are
penicillin-based
antibiotics that have
been around for a
long time and are
still used to treat a
variety of infections.
Antiviral Flu Influenza Antiviral
medications are
medications that are
used to treat viral
infections. Viruses
are killed or
prevented by them.
Antiviral
medications such as
Oseltamivir
(Tamiflu) and
Zanamivir (Relenza)
are used to treat the
flu virus.
Antivirals may be
required in the case
of some people.
Antivirals do not
cure the flu, but they
can aid recovery by
alleviating some
3
