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“НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, СІЧЕНЬ 2012 WWW. UNWLA.ORG 33 INFLUENZA by Ihor Magun, MD, FACP Influenza is a dreadful disease: just b e- tween 1917 and 1919 , it took 20 million lives . The word "i nfluenza " is actually derived from the Italian language in which it mean s " infl u- ence " (an incursion). Such a name for the di s- ease apparently stemmed from the belief that epidemics were due t o the influence of the stars. This name was first used to refer to the influenza of 1743. Many changes and ad vances have been made since the theory of the stars' influence was prop osed, yet a number of questions about influenza seem to surface during every winter season. Influenza is frequently referred to sim p- ly as the flu. It is an RNA virus of the family orthomyxoviridae. Transmission can occur in three c ommon ways: direct contact in which an infected individual sneezes mucus directly into the eyes, mouth , or no se of another person; ai r- borne — passing aerosolized particles; and direct contact with infected surfaces. Affected ind i- viduals are most contagious between th e second and the third day, which correlates with the time of high fever spikes. Children are more contagious than adults simply because children tend to be less careful with containing their secretions. The length of time the virus can persist on surfac es varies from one to two days on plastic or metal surfaces to only five minutes on our skin. Protection with an annual vaccination against influenza is an effective form of preve n- tion. However, i t must be emphasized that a n nual vaccination is only effective against sp e ci f ic strains of viruses and does not co m pletely prevent one from contracting the flu. A co m mon misco n ception is that this va c cine pro tects against all types of flu — it does not. The season is very u n predict a ble , and 200,000 individua ls in the United States are hospitalized for i n fluenza - related symptoms every year . Knowing the difference between a typ i- cal cold and the flu is critical since the trea t- ment options are significantly different. Ind i- viduals who do have the flu should alwa ys co n- sult a physician . Flu symptoms include an elevated body temperature, greater than 100 degrees Fahre n- heit. This is accompanied by chills, severe body aches, weakness, chest discomfort , and no n- productive cough. Complications can lead to bronchitis, sinus infections as well as pneum o- nia. Most complications are seen in the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and indivi d- uals who have underlying chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma , and chronic obstructive lung diseas e (COPD). Treatment optio ns co n- sist of specific prescription antiviral medic a- tions. Cold symptoms rarely cause a fever but commonly produce slight body aches, a runny or stuffy nose, and a cough that is labeled as hacking, with production of mucus. Treatment is focused on the us e of antihistamines, deco n- gestants , and cough suppressants. Complic a- tions can include sinus infections, ear infe c- tions , and exacerbation of asthma. It would seem intuitive to focus on pr e- vention. If one is infected , it is the obligation of the individua l to make an active effort to co n- tain the spread of the disease . Washing hands and using anti - microbial gels def i nit e ly helps . Ingesting large doses of vitamins, pa r- ticularly v i tamin C , h as not been shown to pr o- vide any significant benefit. Ev i dence on the u se of zinc lozenges has b een i n co n clusive . It all comes down to what our mot h- ers have b een telling us since chil d hood — cover your mouth when you sneeze with a tissue, wash your hands frequently, and get ad e quate rest and nutr i- tion. When you do get il l, see a ph y sician when you think you may have the flu: it may help you not only shor t en the duration of your ailment but also limit its sp read.
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