Influenza

What is Influenza

Highly contagious 
Symptoms:
viral respiratory 
Abrupt onset of
tract infection fever

Muscle aches

Sore throat
(sometimes)

Non productive
cough.
 Pathology of Influenza

Virus A, B & C 
Influenza A & B,

Virus Influenza C 
Most of winter
produces very mild if epidemics
any symptoms. 
Responsible for
most of

Does not cause
hospitalization
epidemics

Death
 The Virus

Continuously
mutates so evading
immune system
Diagram of Influenza
Virus A
Cycle of Re-infection of Virus

Patient infected with virus

Virus mutates
Old antibody does not recognise virus
Patient is re-infected with mutated virus
 Two types of Influenza A
Two types of this virus classified according to
the differences in their viral proteins.

Hemogglutinin

A (H1N1) A (H3N2)

Don't ask me what that means!

 How is virus transmitted?

Person to person

Airbourne
transmission

Can live on
surfaces of objects
for a short while.
 Clinical features of Virus
High fever (helps new cells grow)
Headaches (swelling of brain cells)
Clear Nose
Sneezing, Coughing
Severe aches & pains (macrophage activity)
Fatigue (lasts several weeks)
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea (occasionally)
Shivers (muscles contract to generate heat)
 Complications


Cytokine Storm

Respiratory distress (can be fatal)

Damage to Respiratory System due to
immune response.

Pneumonia

Death
 Treatment of Influenza

Aspirin (relieve
aches and reduce
fever)

Medication for
congestion/nasal
discharge

Increase fluid
intake
 Epidemiology

Mostly elderly die during winter months

22,000 in UK catch virus out of 60 million
In USA 10 – 20% of population catch Flu
8% of those are hospitalized
1% of that 8% die
1% of 10 – 20% are hospitalized with
complications of the Flu virus.
 Some interesting facts on Drug Treatment

Flu Vaccine
70% effective/allergic reactions
Allergy to eggs
Effectiveness of Vaccine varies each year

Tamiflu (taken over 5 days) blocks virus from

leaving infected cells.
Flu mist (anti-viral) nasal spray
Symmetrel/Flumedine – anti-viral/reduce
severity of symptoms