Causes
There are three types of influenza virus's called, A, B and C.
A person who has been attacked by virus C needs antibodies (proteins made by the immune system).They should provide immunity against the virus for life.Type C only causes a mild illness that is not much different from a cold, none of the symptons aply to type C except weakness.
If you have been suffering from type B you would have been feeling lilke you were going to die.This is because you will have suffered all of the symptons above.The type B virus is quite stable but it occasionally alters just like the cold virus.A new strain can ofton cause small outbrakes of infection.
The type A version of influenza is the worst out of all three not only do you suffer all the symptons listed above but it is highly unstable, so if you thought, you felt like you were going to die when you had type B with type A you might as well be sleeping in your coffin.It is very rare for a person to die from flu unless it keeps resisting the antibodies it will become a severe case of pneumonia and that can kill you in 2-3 days (sooner in a young healthy adult).New strains appear constantly around the world some of these strains can also sometimes develop in to major epidemics like the Spanish Flu in 1918, the Asian Flu in 1957 and the Hong Kong Flu in 1968.TheSpanish Flu killed millions of young adults in all countries of the world.
Flu in young childrenis a bit like the flu in adults.The only few differences are: type B in children can sometimes mimic appendicitis and have been implicated in Reye's syndrome.In babies the type A virus can cause seizures.
Prevention and Treatment
Anti-Influenza vaccines that contain killed strains of types A and B are currently available at the Doctors, but they only have a 60 to 70 per cent success rate in preventing infection.The vaccine is short lived as any immunity provided doesn't last long.The vaccination must be repeated each year just before the 'flu season' begins.Older people are recommended to have a vaccination and anyone suffering from respiratory or circulatory diseases, espicially if they are living in institutions or old peples homes.
In all but the mildest cases, a person with Flu should rest in a warm bed and a warm well ventilated room.Painkillers should be taken to relieve aches and pains also to reduce fever.Warm fluids soothe a sore throat and inhaling steam has a soothing effect on the lungs.
By Steffie Syme.
