Epidemiology of Influenza

Epidemiology of Influenza
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Epidemiology of Influenza
Description of Influenza
Influenza is an acute respiratory illness caused by various Influenza A, B, C, and D virus. The illness happens in epidemics and outbreaks globally, primarily during winter. Influenza A virus constitute the sole influenza virus that causes flu disease global epidemics (Moghadami, 2017). Influenza type C viruses cause mild illnesses and also result in human flu epidemics. Influenza D infections mainly impact cattle, and no evidence supports infection in persons (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). Uncomplicated influenza disease is normally characterized by the sudden onset of upper and constitutional respiratory tract manifestations (e.g., chills, headache, nonproductive cough, rhinitis, myalgia, fever, and sore throat). Nevertheless, many individuals infected with the influenza virus do not show fever, particularly those who are immunosuppressed or elderly (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020).
Complications lead to severe illness. In young children, otitis media and respiratory complications such as bronchiolitis, tracheitis, and croup can happen. Other problems in children include musculoskeletal (severe myositis), neurologic (transverse myelitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, and encephalitis, and encephalopathy), and cardiac (pericarditis and myocarditis). In individuals of all ages, influenza could lead to dehydration and underlying clinical conditions exacerbation (e.g., myocardial infarction, diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, and cerebrovascular accident). Secondary invasive bacterial pneumonia and primary influenza viral pneumonia can result in respiratory failure, multi-organ failure, acute lung injury, septic shock, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020).
These illnesses are passed from one individual to another in different ways. For example, one can contract an infectious illness via contact with bodily fluids, including blood, inhaling an airborne virus, as well as by being bitten by an insect. Influenza is also referred to as flu. An individual can contract influenza by touching contaminated surfaces and touching their eyes, nose, or mouth (El Ramahi & Freifeld, 2019). Regarding treatment, prompt initiation of proper anti-influenza medical therapy has constantly been recorded to mitigate mortality and hospitalization rates as well as to reduce progression to pneumonia in cancer patients (El Ramahi & Freifeld, 2019). It is crucial to indicate that antibiotics do not assist in flu treatment since a virus and not bacteria cause it. In this way, influenza treatment improves antivirals’ physician prescriptions, incorporating Zanamivir [also called Relenza] (Grohskopf et al., 2016).
World Health Organization details indicate that most 650,000 persons die due to flu-related respiratory illnesses (Grohskopf et al., 2016). The organization derives such estimates by considering the results from certain recently conducted respiratory mortality research. This is in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, which shows that nearly 5...