Influenza
The common name of influenza is flu, it is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system and affects your nose, throat, and lungs. Children under the age of 5, adults older than 65,pregnant women and people who have a chronic illness are at a high risk of developing an influenza virus. Approximately 9% of the world population are annually affected by Influenza.
Symptoms of Influenza
You may face the following symptoms if you acquire flu
1. Fever
2. Aching muscles
3. Headache
4. Cough
5. Tiredness
6. Sore throat
7. Shortness of breath
Causes of Influenza
Influenza is a virus that can travel from one person to another through air. It also spreads seasonally every year. If someone sneezes, the virus easily transfers. It transfers through your eyes, nose, or mouth. People having weak immune system have more chances of acquiring Influenza. This virus goes away within one or two weeks and if it is not cured, it causes complications that includes bacterial pneumonia, ear infection, asthma, diabetes.
Prevention from Influenza
1. Get your annual vaccine done to reduce the causes of influenza.
2. If you are suffering from flu, don’t touch your face, eyes, nose, or mouth.
3. Wash your hand with soap, if soap and water are not available use hand sanitizer.
4. Cover your mouth with your elbow and tissue when you sneeze or cough.
5. If you have an influenza virus, avoid people and gatherings because this virus can easily be transferred from one person to another.
Difference Between Influenza and COVID
Covid-19 is caused by infection (SARS-CoV-2) and flu is caused by an infection (INFLUENZA). Both are respiratory illnesses but both are caused by different viruses but their symptoms are similar. Through testing, you can confirm the diagnosis of COVID-19. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, sore throat, muscle pain, headache. Influenza can cause mild to severe illness, including the common signs and symptoms listed above.
The speed of transmission is an important point of difference between the two viruses. Influenza has a shorter median incubation period (the time from infection to appearance of symptoms) and a shorter serial interval (the time between successive cases) than COVID-19 virus. The serial interval for COVID-19 virus is estimated to be 5-6 days, while for influenza virus, the serial interval is 3 days. This means that influenza can spread faster than COVID-19.
Further, transmission in the first 3-5 days of illness, or potentially pre-symptomatic transmission –transmission of the virus before the appearance of symptoms – is a major driver of transmission for influenza. In contrast, while we are learning that there are people who can shed COVID-19 virus 24-48 hours prior to symptom onset, at present, this does not appear to be a major driver of transmission.
Whichever the disease is, its highly recommended not to ignore your health and get yourself checked timely. Its better to be safe than sorry.
Please book an appointment with the best Psychiatrist in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and all major cities of Pakistan through InstaCare, or call our helpline at 03100002273 to find the verified doctor for your disease.
