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Influenza
Flu (also known as influenza) is a disease of the lungs and upper airways caused by infection with a flu virus. The virus spreads in the lungs and airways. There are three flu viruses, known as A, B and C.
The main symptoms are a high temperature that comes on quickly, and general aches and pains. A loss of appetite, nausea and a harsh dry cough may also be experienced. The symptoms will usually peak after two to three days and sufferers should begin to feel much better within five to eight days, although a cough and general tiredness may last for two to three weeks.
The flu virus is usually spread in the small droplets of saliva coughed or sneezed into the atmosphere by an infected person. Direct contact with hands that are contaminated with the virus can also spread infection.
It takes between one and four days (average two days) to go from being infected to having the full symptoms. People with flu are usually infectious a day before symptoms start and remain infectious for approximately five days after the start of the flu symptoms. Children and people with lowered immune systems may remain infectious for longer. Therefore, infected people should try to avoid all unnecessary contact with others during the infectious period.
Flu usually occurs during the winter months (from October to April in the UK). Complications such as a chest infection can affect elderly people or people with certain medical conditions. This can result in serious illness and can be life-threatening.
The number of people who consult their GP with flu-like illness during the winter varies considerably from year to year (usually between 50 and 200 for every 100,000 people). However, healthy people with flu do not need to consult their GP.
In addition to the increase in gastric flu outbreaks in institutionalised settings, the growing ability of genes from the A, B and C flu virus strains to mutate and mix can result in an influenza virus containing genes from a number of sources, called a "reassortant" virus. So for example, although swine influenza viruses are normally species specific and only infect pigs, they now appear to have acquired the ability to sometimes cross the species barrier to cause disease in humans.
For further information on specific illnesses see:
