Influenza Research Paper

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).

Over 3 million US cases have occurred per year. The flu is a viral infection that can be deadly if not treated. The flu is extremely contagious, it can spread about six feet away from another person. It may be spread by coughing or sneezing, skin-to-skin contact, saliva, or touching a contaminated surface. Children, elderly people, pregnant women, and people who have chronic disease are at higher risk of becoming ill with this virus. The areas mainly affected are lungs, nose, and chest. Symptoms include fever, chills, sore throat, muscle fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headaches. Some symptoms may appear abruptly. A recommended treatment may primarily deal with the patient getting some rest. Other treatment includes drinking plenty of water; throat Lozenge would be advised for throat pain, decongestant such as Pseudoephedrine for stuffy nose, Dextromethorphan for cough, anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen for mild pain, and antiviral drug like Zanamivir to help treat type B influenza. The best way to be protected is vaccination. The vaccine is offered from September to mid-November. Getting vaccinated before the flu season helps the body develops a strong immunity from the virus. It is safe for a Pregnant woman to receive vaccination. Annual vaccination is recommended. Do not get

To increase patient and hcw safety, health care workers should be mandate to get vaccination. Hcw are more at risk to get infection because of their contact with patient and then to spread it to patients, specially patients who are susceptible to the infection (CITATION). Influenza symptoms appears within 1-4 days. Before even hcw workes know that they have influenza infection and they are contagious, they may spread the infection to patient . Also, if hcw are infected, it will cause impact on their mental and physical functioning. Two randomly conducted studies have supported that mandatory influenza vaccination for hcw helped in decreasing death rate upto 44% in nursing home residents (Ottenberg, 2011). Potter et. al. identified that because of increased staff vaccination mortality rate reduced from 17% to 10% (Suillivan, 2010). The other fact which can effect patient safety due to low rate of vaccination is absenteeism of hcw during influenza epidemic.

Physical factors that can contribute to the development of the flu are transportation and living conditions. Often times people have no access to healthcare because of transportation. If one does not have a care, they must rely on public transportation. Depending on the availability of healthcare, this may not be an option for some people. Living conditions plays a role in the development of the flu as well. In poorer communities, many people live in public housing. These living conditions are by far not the best. Buildings can be run down, unkept, and crowded. They many not have functioning heat or air conditioning. Once a disease like the flu develops, it can spread like wild fire through these types of communities.

Although the majority of people infected with influenza recover completely within a week to ten days, some people are at a greater risk of experiencing more severe and long-lasting complications. The flu can lead to complications such as pneumonia and in some circumstances, severe complications in high-risk groups can lead to death. The number of deaths attributed to influenza varies each year, but it is estimated to be approximately 500 to 1500 deaths per influenza season. People who are at an increased risk for complications include very young children, people over 65 years of age, and those already suffering from medical conditions including bronchitis, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease. Influenza vaccinations administered to high-risk people reduce hospitalizations, premature deaths, and they result in substantial cost savings to the health care system.

The problem can be better quantified by gaining understanding of the importance of receiving the flu vaccination. The manager of any health care facility should ensure that staff and patients, specifically those with a higher risk of contracting the flu, receives the yearly influenza vaccination. Health care staff that does not comply with yearly influenza vaccinations should be transferred to a unit with limited patient contact. High-risk patients who are not compliant with receiving the vaccine are to receive further education of the deadly effects associated with developing the influenza virus. In all patients it is imperative to provide proper patient

Influenza is responsible for hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. Prevention through vaccination is one way to circumvent illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths. Those persons who were more susceptible fall into the categories of 6 months to 4 years of age and 65 years and older. According to CDC (2013), the 2012-13 influenza season was characterized as a moderately severe season based on the surveillance data. Regardless of suggestions and encouragements of schools and places of employment for individuals to be vaccinated against the flu, fewer than half the persons in the United States each year are inoculated against this disease. Influenza vaccines are now widely used to reduce the burden of annual epidemics of influenza virus infections (Cowling, et al., 2016).

The last few days of summer are upon us, the leaves are beginning to change and it is once again fall in East Tennessee. While many are beginning to enjoy a relaxing break before the stresses of winter and the holidays, healthcare providers are bracing for the rush. The rush I speak of is that of doctor’s offices which are over run with those complaining of fevers, aches, and chills. Influenza season begins as early as August and can run as long as in to late March. Those affected by the virus can range from infants to the elderly, but most complications occur in those over 65, including death. According to the World Health Organization, the number of elderly persons is expected to increase from 600 million currently to over 2 billion worldwide by 2050. (WHO, 2015) Due to the rapid increase of this age group in the upcoming years, the need to prevent and establish treatment for illnesses that have the potential to be fatal in this population is a top priority. Greater risks of mortality in those over 65 who contract influenza can be attributed to several factors including: the elderly’s decline in immunity response, the inability of the elderly’s body to fully recover from infection, and finally, the long term complications of influenza among those who are already compromised.

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.

Influenza, also known as “the flu,” is a virus that infects the respiratory tract. Although Influenza is not as severe as many viral infections it's almost the worst for viral infections of the respiratory tract. Typically, when someone is infected with influenza they experience fever (usually 100° to 103°F in adults, but even higher in children) and causes a cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and also headaches, muscle aches, and usually extreme tiredness. There are sometimes other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea but usually only in rare cases with young children. One other note: The term “Stomach flu” isn’t really caused by the influenza virus.

be less likely to be infected by the virus(Carson-DeWitt). Antibiotics are only given to the patient if

Influenza is one of the most contagious illnesses caused by airborne viruses. I can lead to mild or severe illness and even death. Influenza can come suddenly and is marginally different to a ‘Cold”. The virus can cause infections of the lower respiratory tract (lungs) and the upper respiratory tract (throat, nasal). Influenza is disease that may cause symptom such as the following; fever (high body temperature), sore throat, muscle or body aches, cough, Headaches, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue/tiredness (CDC, 2016). it belongs to “Orthomyxoviridae” family of infections, “myxa” meaning ‘mucus’ in Greek. There are three major types of influenza that may also be addressed as different terminologies, such as flu

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.

The flu, a viral infection, is highly contagious. The symptoms include: high fever, headaches, shivers, aches and pains, fatigue, nasal secretions, difficulty swallowing and watery eyes, followed by lung congestion.