Hib Or Haemophilus Influenzae?

Influenza is an infectious illness that can be spread from one individual to the next. It can be transmitted by means of saliva, nasal secretions, feces and blood. It can also be spread by coming in contact with the virus on contaminated surfaces. Influenza is responsible for an average of 36,000 deaths and for more than 226,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States. (Davidson, 2007-2009, Davis, 2007).

Influenza is very contagious and spreads rapidly from person to person. Influenza causes worldwide yearly epidemics. According to World Health organization Influenza affects 5-15% world’s population and resulting in 500,000 deaths yearly. Ottenberg stated that, in United States, an average of 200,000 were hospitalized and 36,000 died each year from influenza complications. Influenza is the sixth leading cause of death among US adults and is related to 1 in 20 death in persons older than 65 years. Disease control and prevention estimates indicate that infections like H1N1 which is one of the types of influenza, have resulted in an estimated 42 to 86 million cases and 8520 to 17620 deaths. As I mentioned earlier that infections like

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

Influenza has many symptoms to help your immune system fight the Flu virus. Influenza has an extremely rare chance of killing its host since we are so immune to it. Influenza is not a serious virus so you should recover from this virus in under two weeks. This virus will attack “mainly your nose, throat, bronchi, and occasionally, lungs” (Influenza). Influenza is non-life threatening.

Hemagglutinin is very important for the virus to bind to animal cells, for example, a human red blood cell. This causes agglutination which is the clumping of the red blood cells. Tests based on this simple clumping of the red blood cells is useful to determine if one has influenza. The neuraminidase is used to cut off the viruses hemagglutinin receptors when new viruses are produced and start budding off. It also degrades the mucosal surfaces of the lungs and the throat to prevent being ejected. This hampers the ability of the antibodies of getting into the lungs.

The influenza virus is “an acute respiratory tract illness, with outbreaks occuring annually that are responsible for large numbers of hospitalization and death worldwide” (Dool et al. 314-319). The influenza virus has a few common symptoms that

Influenza over the years has mutated so many different times that it is hard for scientists to keep up with new and updated versions of vaccines to keep people protected. The Flu for some people can cause major complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis because the Flu attacks the respiratory area, but most people who get the Flu will recover in a few days or up to a few weeks. The 1918 Spanish Flu was the worst epidemic that ever hit the world and the contributing factors of the millions of death were that there was no such thing as vaccines or antibiotics to fight off infections. The side effects were so severe that doctors misdiagnosed Influenza as a different infectious disease, and this specific Flu killed more people than the plague.

Influenza fortunately can be prevented in most cases. You can prevent it through an annual vaccination. The vaccine is made up of 8 to 10 strains of the influenza virus. When you receive the vaccination the strains have been “killed”, so there is no possible way for you to get this illness just by receiving the vaccination. Your body recognizes the unknown strains and builds up immunity so if a “live” virus gets in your system your body has the correct code to “kill” it off.

Flu season is upon us and influenza has hit our area particularly hard this year. The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs that spread from person to person through sneezing and coughing. The flu can also be spread surfaces when infected people touch surfaces such as door knobs, shopping carts, computer keyboards, countertops, etc. Symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Though it can be difficult to avoid the flu entirely, there are things you can do to protect yourself and your household from getting the flu by following these steps at home. Continue these steps daily throughout the flu season.

The flu attacks the lungs, nose, and throat. Young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with chronic disease or weak immune systems are at high risk.

Someone may sneeze or cough and not cover their mouths and another person may come along and inhale those water droplets left behind by the infected person, which will cause them to become infected. Another common route of transmission is when an infected person sneezes or coughs into their hand and touches a surface. A healthy person may then come along and touch the surface then their face, nose, mouth or eyes and then become infected with the influenza. The H1N1’s route of entry and exit is through the mouth and nose. The primary target for this H1N1 virus is the upper respiratory tract in humans. This virus spreads even more quickly among crowded places as well as being able to survive longer outside of the body in cold and dry environments. This specific influenza virus reproduces by the lytic cycle. Once the H1N1 virus has entered the body, it supplements its own DNA/RNA into the body’s cells. This instructs the cell to stop its normal functioning for the body and begin manufacturing the H1N1 virus. This non-living organism “hijacks” our bodies to supply the raw materials it needs to replicate and infect our bodies. Once the infected body cell makes enough viruses, it splits open or lyses resulting in the death of that cell and those new virus particles repeat the cycle, cell after cell until our body begins to fight back which is when we begin to feel the symptoms of the

Influenza virus infection remains one of the largest disease burdens on humankind. Influenza-associated bacterial co-infections contribute to severe disease and mortality, during pandemic and seasonal influenza episodes. The mechanisms of severe morbidity following influenza-bacterial co-infections mainly include failure of an antibacterial immune response and synergy of the pathogens. Moreover, the failure to resume function and tolerance is one of the main reasons for excessive mortality. In this review, some new advances of the mechanisms of severe disease associated with bacterial co-infections following influenza virus infection are discussedreviewed. Analysis of these mechanisms should help to develop novel approaches for the prevention and treatment of severe influenza virus co-infections.

There are only three types of influenza that infect humans, they are Type A Type B and Type C. The virus is most commonly spread through droplet transmission (through the air) but can also be contracted by touching a contaminated surface then touching your mouth or eyes. An infected person can spread the virus to others while they are sick.

Pertussis or whooping cough affects the respiratory system. It is a contagious infection of the respiratory tract. Pertussis is caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. The disease is highly contagious. Infected people are most contagious up to about 2 weeks after the cough begins. The bacteria spread easily through the air from person to person through tiny drops of fluid from an infected person's nose or mouth. When an infected person sneezes or coughs, others can become infected when they inhale the drops or get the drops on their hands and then touch their mouths or noses. These bacteria attach to the cilia that line part of the upper respiratory system. The bacteria release toxins which damage the cilia

Background & Audience Relevance: Influenza is an infection that can affect anyone around the world. Am quite sure almost everyone, if not all of us, have been infected with influenza at some point in our lives.