DEFINITIONS
Influenza (flu) is a viral infection that causes fever, runny nose, headache, Flucough, not feeling well (malaise) and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and respiratory tract.

CAUSE
Influenza virus type A or B.
The virus is transmitted through infected saliva comes out when the patient coughs or sneezes, or through direct contact with secretions (saliva, saliva, snot) patients.

SYMPTOMS
Influenza is different from the common cold.
The symptoms occur within 24-48 hours after infection and can occur suddenly.

Cold is usually a preliminary indication of influenza.
In the first few days of fever often occurs, can be reached 38,9-39,4? Celsius.

Many people who felt sick and had to stay in bed; they feel the aches and pains throughout the body, especially in the back and legs.
The headaches are often severe, with pain that is felt all around and behind the eyes. Bright light can exacerbate headaches.

Initially, respiratory symptoms are relatively mild, in the form of itching in the throat, burning sensation in the chest, dry cough and runny nose.
Then be intensified, and cough with phlegm.
The skin felt warm and ruddy, especially in the face.
Mouth and throat reddish, watery eyes and the whites suffered a mild inflammation.
Sometimes it can happen nausea and vomiting, especially in children.

After 2-3 days most of the symptoms will disappear soon and fever usually subside, although sometimes fever lasts 5 days.
Bronchitis and cough may persist up to 10 days or more, and it may take 6-8 weeks lo the total recovery of the changes that occur in the respiratory tract.

COMPLICATIONS

Influenza is a serious disease, but most people will come back healthy in 7-10 days.
Complications can aggravate this disease. High risk of complications found in very young patients, elderly and people with heart disease, lung or nervous system.

Sometimes influenza causes respiratory tract inflammation accompanied by severe bloody sputum (hemorrhagic bronchitis).
The most severe complication was pneumonia virus; that can develop quickly and cause death within 48 hours. Pneumonia virus is likely to occur during outbreaks of influenza A.
Other complications of bacterial pneumonia dalah due ganguan the lung’s ability to eliminate or control bacteria in the respiratory tract.

Although very rare, jgua influenza virus associated with inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), heart (myocarditis) or muscle (miositis).
Encephalitis can cause the patient was drowsy, confused or even fall in a coma. Myocarditis can cause a heart murmur or heart failure.

Reye’s syndrome is a serious complication and can be fatal, which occurred primarily in children during epidemics of influenza B.
Reye syndrome primarily occurs when the kids get aspirin or medications containing aspirin.

Diagnosis
Diagnosis based on symptoms. Weighing the disease and the presence of a high fever to distinguish influenza from common cold.
To confirm the diagnosis is viral culture of patient discharge.

TREATMENT
The main treatment is the flu and the rest lie in bed, drink plenty of fluids and avoid fatigue. Tirah lying should be immediately after symptoms begin until after the 24-48 body temperature returned to normal.

For severe disease but without complications, could be asetaminofenn, aspirin, ibuprofen or naproksen.
The children should not be given aspirin because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome.
Other drugs are commonly given nasal decongestants and steam inhalation.

If immediately given to influenza A infection who have not experienced complications, or rimantadin drugs can help reduce amantadin long and weighs fever and respiratory symptoms.
Ribavirin (in the form of inhaled drugs or tablets) can shorten the duration of fever and affect the ability of the virus to multiply, but its use is still experimental. Ribavirin can be given to relieve the symptoms of viral pneumonia.

Secondary bacterial infection is treated with antibiotics.
For pneumococcal pneumonia bacteria, can be prevented by giving the pneumococcal vaccine containing. But the vaccine is not given to someone who has been suffering from influenza.

PREVENTION
Someone who never terkana influenza virus, will form antibodies that protect against re-infection by certain viruses.
But the best way to prevent influenza is vaccination is carried out every year.

Influenza vaccine contains the influenza virus is not active (turned off) or viral particles.
A vaccine can be monovalent (1 species) or polivalen (usually 3 species).
A monovalent vaccine can be given in high doses to fight a new type of virus, while a vaccine defense against polivalen add more than one type of virus.

Rimantadin is Amantadin or 2 anti-viral drug that can protect against influenza A only.
These drugs are used during outbreaks of influenza A to protect the people who contact with patients and people who are at high risk, who have not received vaccinations.
Use of drugs can be stopped within 2-3 weeks after vaccination. If vaccination can not be done, then the drug is given during an epidemic, usually for 6-8 weeks.
This drug can cause anxiety, insomnia and other side effects, especially in the elderly and in people with brain or kidney disorders.