Influenza is one of the more common illnesses affecting a person. There is no specific age group that is prone or not prone to influenza. It affects the young and the old in equal measure. Also, perfectly healthy people can be affected by this virus. Older people are definitely more vulnerable from it and it’s advisable that they get immediate medical attention for the same.
Influenza
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a viral infection. Typically, the virus spreads when an infected person sneezes and coughs. The tiny droplets of saliva help carry the virus and spread it in the air, easily infecting other people in the vicinity. The virus affects the nose, bronchi, lungs and throat. The infection is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, sore throat, cough and muscle pain. Some other symptoms of influenza include headache, runny nose, increased sensitivity to light, ocular pain, and a burning sensation in the chest.
The influenza pandemic
The most recent occurrence of the influenza pandemic was in the form of swine flu which spread on a worldwide scale. It affected populations across the globe and countries found it tough to restrict its spread due to the unavailability of any vaccine that could help combat the threat. An influenza pandemic differs in scope to the regular seasonal influenza epidemics. Pandemics are irregular and the mortality rates are high. The latest influenza pandemic has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people worldwide. Swine flu became a pandemic because it was caused by a new strain of the influenza virus. People hadn’t developed the immunity to this virus strain as they had with the older strains of human influenza.
Influenza – Treatment options
There is a range of treatment options available for influenza. It includes a mixture of medications and therapies. There are two types of treatment option for the virus. The first targets the virus directly, while the second provides relief from the associated symptoms of this condition. In the latter, the body’s immune system acts on the virus to help it recover from the infection. The two main antiviral drugs that are used against influenza belong to the family of medications known as neuraminidase inhibitors. Tamiflu, its active ingredient oseltamivir, and Relenza, its active ingredient zanamivir, are the two commonly prescribed medications for influenza.
Tamiflu – One of the first options for influenza treatment
There are many drugs available for the treatment of influenza, but Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) is the most prescribed option. This is because it not only works against influenza Type A virus, but is also effective against the influenza Type B virus. It was also found to effectively treat the symptoms associated with swine flu. Tamiflu takes the lead over most other medications as it directly fights the virus and not its symptoms. Tamiflu is not an over-the-counter drug and a doctor’s prescription is necessary if you want to buy the drug. It’s important that you apprise your doctor of your medical history and intake of medications during the consultation. This will make sure that your doctor prescribes Tamiflu keeping your overall health perspective in mind.
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