The Flu - Symptoms and Causes.

The flu is an acute infectious disease which occurs in isolation, epidemic and pandemic (widespread). The flu is caused by several viruses (A, B, C) and usually affects the respiratory tract, in more serious cases it can affect the joints and even heart. Risk are more young children, the elderly, the weak, heart and kidney patients and all those who are weary and reduced defenses.

The infection is transmitted mainly from man flu spray droplets of saliva that are released during talking, coughing, sneezing, laughing, etc., on objects and dust virus can stay alive for weeks, flu is favored by climatic conditions (cold), the living conditions and the susceptibility of humans. Seasons with low sunlight also favor the onset of flu.

Epidemics of A and B influenza viruses take turns one after another in 2-3 years.

Flu symptoms:

The incubation period of flu lasts from one to five days. Morbidity can be mild, moderate and severe. Some people can apparently suffered no apparent disease manifestations.

Onset of flu illness in typical cases is characterized by sudden onset of fever, often accompanied by chills, headache, cough, significant fatigue, which sometimes does not allow the sick to get out of bed. Common complaints of backache, limbs in the eyeball and behind the sternum. Often occurs nosebleeds. Profuse runny nose is not typical of influenza.

For three days the temperature remained high (39-40 degrees), during which time appears dry bronchitis with persistent and harsh coughing and hoarseness. Patient's face was slightly red. Feels light of irritation, tearing and redness. The tongue is dry and coated in the middle and its side edges are red.
Often seen two-stage increasing temperature, the second increase (at 5-6 days of onset of illness) is associated most often with added bacterial infection.

Influenza can also be gastric ( stomach flu ) and rheumatic.

Influenza is gastric when there are phenomena of the stomach and intestines: coated tongue, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and even blood. In some cases it appears and jaundice (yellow coloring of the face).
The Flu is rheumatic, except when the fever pains in the joints of the body are very strong.

The Flu Causes:

As is known, flu and colds occur mainly in one period of the year: winter. This fact usually leads people to believe that these infectious diseases due to cold. But flu epidemics there in the early spring and summer, and early autumn. Therefore, the cause must be sought not only in him. Of course, cold is triggering factor as cooling the body, especially the legs, attacks the mucous membranes of the upper and lower respiratory tract, creating the necessary conditions for the development of colds.

The main cause of flu is, in general, reduced immunity due to unsustainable way of life, there is a mandatory body pollution with toxic products due to overfeeding or feeding of unsuitable products, smoking, consumption of alcohol, air pollution, poor living conditions, contaminated professional environment, wholesale medications and more., immobilization, physical and mental fatigue, stress.

During periods of flu and colds, namely the beginning of autumn and winter, spring and early summer, summer, nature, profound changes related to the occurrence of solar activity. Land pour huge amounts of solar and cosmic energy, required for the processes of nature that will permanently disrupt the body if it is dirty.

We will explain why is it such an example a season in which colds are the most common: the autumn-winter period. Under the influence of those in cold blood waste products begin to move into the tissues in the form of mucus. If you do not take preventive measures, the mucus will gradually thicken the tissues and interfere with the normal functioning of cells throughout the body. You will experience various diseases, including influenza, which aims to separate the body from the accumulated mucus in the form of phlegm with cough, fever or high temperature. In this sense they are cleansing timely response designed to burn out or toxins.

Why fight colds and flu should be fast, timely, urgent and energetic? Because they are not innocent at all, it is thought, and could lead behind severe complications: the respiratory system - pharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, pneumonia, asthma, laringotraheobronhit, cardiovascular and nervous system - encephalitis, myocarditis, urinary system - kidney disease, a musculoskeletal - rheumatism and other joint inflammation, etc

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Stomach flu symptoms - What we eat?

Gastroenteritis, also known as "stomach flu" is a condition that usually causes inflammation of the stomach and small intestine. Since it is viral, not bacterial, it can be treated with antibiotics.

Symptoms of stomach flu include nausea, watery diarrhea and vomiting. Overall, not a serious illness, and most people recover completely within a short time. Its duration is approximately 3-5 days.

Alleviation of stomach flu symptoms can be achieved by adhering to a diet. Who are they and what should be our behavior in the treatment of stomach flu?

Preventing dehydration:
Among the main objectives in the treatment of stomach flu is the restoration of fluid balance in the body. If vomiting is constant and prevents fluid retention, have to wait 2-4 hours before meals and drinks. Consuming small amounts of water and other fluids is essential to the state of the body in severe vomiting and diarrhea.


Which foods to target:
Usually suffering from stomach flu have no appetite. But after nausea and vomiting subside, can gradually powering a solid food that is easily absorbed by the body - crackers, biscuits, noodles, cheese.

If diarrhea is adequate consumption of toasted bread, rice, potatoes, apple juice or bananas.

Which foods to avoid:
There are certain foods that should be avoided in gastroenteritis because the products can irritate the stomach, while the body is trying to recover from the virus. These are spicy, sour and fibrous foods. Meat, dairy products, cereals and vegetables are not recommended.

Preventive measures against stomach viruses are regular hand washing, disinfecting and avoiding contact with infected.

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All about stomach flu - Gastroenteritis. Part - 3

In this last part of the article "All about stomach flu - Gastroenteritis" will describe:

6 Mastering
6.1 Rehydration
6.2 Diet
6.3 Antiemetics
6.4 Antibiotics
6.5 antidiarrhoeals
7 Epidemiology

Mastering of stomach flu:

Gastroenteritis of stomach flu usually occurs as an acute self-limited disease that does not require the use of drugs. The preferred treatment for mild to moderate cases of dehydration is oral rehydration therapy (AC). Metoclopramide and / or ondansetron, however, can help some children abutilskopolamin helps abdominal pain.

Rehydration:

The main treatment for stomach flu in both children and adults is rehydration. It is preferable to apply oral rehydration therapy, although you may need intravenous feeding, if there is a reduced level of consciousness, or if dehydration is severe. Products for oral replacement therapy containing complex carbohydrates (ie those that are made from wheat or rice) may be better than those made only from sugars. Drinks, especially high in simple sugars, such as soft drinks and fruit juices are not recommended for children under 5 years of age, as it may increase diarrhea. If no more specific and effective preparations for AC or existing chemicals are unacceptable taste, can be used plain water. Young children can use a nasogastric tube feed fluid if necessary.

Diet:

Recommended infant feeding continues as usual, and formula feeding children who are bottle-fed should continue immediately after rehydration with AC. It is usually not necessary to give formulas without lactose-reduced or lactose. Children should continue their usual diet during episodes of diarrhea, however, should avoid foods high in simple sugars. No longer recommended diet BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast and tea), as it contains adequate nutrients and is more useful than the normal diet. Some probiotics appear to be useful in reducing both the duration of the disorder and the frequency of bowel movements. They may also be useful in the prevention and treatment of the use of antibiotic diarrhea. Fermented milk products (such as yogurt) are such useful features. Zinc supplementation is effective in the treatment and prevention of disease among children in developing countries.

Antiemetics:

Antiemetic medications (drugs to relieve urinary urgency nausea and vomiting) can help vomiting in children. Ondasetron provides some comfort as it once implementation is associated with reduced need for intravenous fluids, fewer hospital admissions and reduce vomiting. Metoclopramide may also help. However it is possible to use ondasetron is associated with an increased percentage of cases returned to the hospital for children. The intravenous form of ondasetron can be applied orally, but only at the discretion and recommendation of a medical professional. Dimenhidrinatat reduces vomiting but does not provide significant clinical benefit.


Antibiotics:

In gastroenteritis usually do not use antibiotics, although sometimes recommended if stomach flu symptoms are particularly severe or if it is isolated or suspected bacterial cause. If you need to apply antibiotics, macrolides (such as azithromycin) is preferable to a fluoroquinolone, as the proportion of fluoroquinolone resistance is higher. Pseudo-membrane colitis, which is usually caused by the use of antibiotics is addressed through immediate withdrawal of antibiotics, and treatment with metronidazole or vancomycin. The following types of bacteria and protozoa are treatable Shigella Salmonella Tiffy and giardiya. In cases giardiya or entameba histolitika be treated with tinidazole and it is better than treatment with metronidazole. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of antibiotics in young children who have both bloody diarrhea and fever.

Antidiarrhoeals:

Antidiarrheal drug (diarrhea medicine) is a theoretical risk of complications and although clinical experience indicates that it is unlikely that these drugs are not recommended for people with bloody diarrhea or diarrhea complicated by fever. Loperamide, an opioid analogue commonly used for the treatment of diarrhea. Loperamide is not recommended for children, as it can pass through more immature blood-brain barrier and cause toxicity. Bismuth subsalitsilat, insoluble complex of trivalent bismuth and salicylate, can be used in mild to moderate cases, but it is theoretically possible risk of toxicity salitsilatna.

Epidemiology:

It is estimated that cases of gastroenteritis annually worldwide are three to five billion, mostly affected are children and those in developing countries. According to data from 2008 gastroenteritis resulting in about 1.3 million deaths in children under five years of age, with most cases in the poorest countries in the world. More than 450,000 of those deaths in children under 5 years of age due to rotavirus.Holerata accounts for about three to five million cases of disease and leads to death in approximately 100,000 people annually. In developing countries, children under two years of age often develop an annual six or more infections that lead to clinically significant gastroenteritis. It is not as common in adults partly because of the development of acquired immunity.
In 1980 gastroenteritis from any cause has led to 4.6 million deaths in children, and most cases occur in developing countries. Percentages of mortality, however, significantly decreased (to approximately 1.5 million deaths per year) to 2000, largely due to the introduction and widespread use of oral rehydration therapy. In the U.S., infections causing gastroenteritis is the second most common infection after the common cold), leading to between 200 and 375 million cases of acute diarrhea in approximately ten million deaths annually, 150 to 300 of those deaths were in children under five.

Related Articles:
All about stomach flu - Gastroenteritis. Part 1

All about stomach flu - Gastroenteritis. Part 2 

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Health Vigilance For The Chinese New Years

 

Source CDC - The year of the snake begins Sunday, February 10,

 

# 6885

 

For many Asian cultures it is a long held tradition that people return home to attend a reunion dinner with their families on the eve of the lunar New Year.

 

In Korea it is called Seollal.

 

In Vietnam, it is called  Tết Nguyên Đán or Feast of the First Morning.  Tết for short.

 

In China, it is called  Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year, or simply, The Spring Festival.

 

While Cambodia celebrates their own Khmer New Year in mid-April, the Chinese New Year is widely observed by many people of that nation as well. 

 

 

But by whatever name, the lunar new year is the most important holiday in all of Asia. And each year this annual return to one’s home -called Chunyun, or the Spring Festival travel season - sparks the largest human migration on the planet.

 

As you might imagine, these mass migrations (along with mass gatherings) are of considerable interest to public health officials and epidemiologists.

 

Chunyun begins about 15 days before the Lunar New Year and runs for about 40 days total, during which time more than 2 billion passenger journeys will be made (mostly via crowded rail and bus) across Asia.

 

We get an idea of just how crowded these public conveyances can be from a 2006 China Daily report Adult diaper sales soar before long trips home.

 

They report the sale of adult diapers spikes for Chunyun because so many passengers are crammed into trains and buses that getting to a restroom can be impossible.

 

In 2011, in Study: Viruses With A Ticket To Ride, we looked at research on the incidence of ARI (Acute Respiratory Infection) presenting within 5 days of train or tram travel in the UK.

 

Their finding?

 

Recent  bus  or  tram  use  within  five  days  of  symptom  onset  was  associated  with  an  almost  six-fold  increased  risk  of  consulting  for  ARI  (adjusted  OR=5.94  95%  CI  1.33- 26.5)

 

And this was for normal levels of passengers, not the standing room only conditions often experienced during Chunyun travels across Asia.  

 

This year, the Lunar New year will be observed between February 9th – 12th.

 

Duck and chicken are popular dishes served during these reunion dinners, and so the live markets do tremendous business this time of year.

 

A concern once again this winter - as yesterday we learned of 3 human H5N1 infections over the past two weeks in Cambodia - all connected to contact with or preparation of infected poultry (see WHO/Cambodian MOH Statement On H5N1 Cases).

 

Each year public health officials in Asia, and around the world, keep a close watch for signs of any disease outbreaks that might be exacerbated by this intense period of travel.

 

Of course, it should be pointed out that since 2009, Chunyun has not precipitated a major resurgence in the H1N1 pandemic virus across Asia.

 

Nor has any feared third wave of influenza followed Carnival in Rio, the Super Bowl, or the the World Cup in South Africa.

 

So while each year there are concerns about bird flu being brought back to the cities from rural locations by Chunyun travelers, we haven’t seen that happen (yet).

 

There are, however, a number of less exotic health problems commonly associated with mass gatherings and migrations (including mosquito borne illnesses, influenza, food poisoning, etc.), so each year the CDC posts some travel advice for those planning a trip to Asia.

 

Good Luck. Good Health. Good Cheer. Happy Lunar New Year!

The year of the snake begins Sunday, February 10, 2013, and many travelers will visit Asia to celebrate the Lunar New Year. If you are traveling to Asia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would like to share information and tips that will help you stay healthy and safe during your trip.

 

Every destination, even in different areas of the same country, has unique health issues that travelers need to be aware of. To find specific information about the areas you plan to visit, see the East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia regional pages on the CDC Travelers’ Health website, or click on the country or countries you will be visiting on the destinations page.

Important Health Information

• Illnesses spread by mosquitoes, such as malaria, dengue fever, and Japanese encephalitis, are common throughout Asia, so it is very important to take steps to prevent mosquito and other insect bites. You may also need to take prescription medicine to protect against malaria or get a vaccine against Japanese encephalitis. Talk to your doctor about prevention steps that are right for you and your destination.
• Food and water. Eating contaminated food and drinking contaminated water can cause illnesses such as hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and travelers’ diarrhea. Read about how to prevent these diseases by visiting the Safe Food and Water page on the Travelers’ Health website.
• Seasonal flu. Annual vaccination of all people 6 months of age and older is recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Travelers who want to reduce their risk of flu should receive the flu vaccine at least 2 weeks before departure. Children 6 months through 8 years of age may need to receive two doses of the vaccine to be fully protected. Learn more about the flu vaccine by reading Key Facts about Seasonal Flu Vaccine.

(Continue . . . )

 

We’ve seen fewer reports of human H5N1 infections this fall and winter across Asia, and so hopefully this year’s Chunyun - like all those since bird flu re-emerged in 2003 – will prove equally unremarkable.

 

But as we’ve seen this flu season with H3N2, it doesn’t take a novel flu virus to cause a good deal of morbidity and mortality in a population.

 

So we’ll be watching for signs of other increased viral illness across Asia over the coming weeks.

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Adding To A Feverish Debate

Photo Credit –CDC PHIL

#6881

 

Long time readers may recall that during the summer of 2011 we looked at a study (see A Feverish Debate) that questioned the conventional wisdom of using antipyretic meds (ibuprofen, acetaminophen or paracetamol, etc) to reduce influenza-related fever.

 

This contrarian view made headlines when researchers from the Wellington based Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, published a paper (Antipyretic therapy for influenza infection—benefit or harm?) in the New Zealand Medical Journal.

 

You can read the entire paper, but their conclusion read:

 

We conclude that there is an insufficient evidence base to support the use of antipyretics in the treatment of fever from influenza infection.

 

The limited evidence that does exist suggests that the administration of antipyretics may have the potential to increase the severity of influenza illness and the risk of mortality.

 

We suggest that randomised controlled trials of the effect of antipyretics in the treatment of influenza are undertaken as an urgent priority.

 

We are still waiting for results from RCTs to support their concerns, but the idea of letting a fever run its course (at least, up to a point) as part of the body’s natural immune system’s defense isn’t new.

 

In a another story - also from 2011 - the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report on the use of antipyretics in children, suggesting that we ought not over-treat fevers.

 

Clinical Report—Fever and Antipyretic Use in Children

Janice E. Sullivan, MD, Henry C. Farrar, MD,

ABSTRACT EXCERPTS

Fever in a child is one of the most common clinical symptoms managed by pediatricians and other health care providers and a frequent cause of parental concern. Many parents administer antipyretics even when there is minimal or no fever, because they are concerned that the child must maintain a “normal” temperature.

 

Fever, however, is not the primary illness but is a physiologic mechanism that has beneficial effects in fighting infection. There is no evidence that fever itself worsens the course of an illness or that it causes long-term neurologic complications.

(Continue . . . .)

 

 

Today, a study appears in the Journal of Pediatrics on another possible (albeit, rare) adverse effect seen in a small number of young children with fever and dehydration at a hospital in Indiana who received treatment with NSAIDs.

 

We’ve a press release from Indiana University that warns the administration of NSAIDs to reduce fever may result in AKI - Acute kidney Injury – in young children.

 

Common anti-fever medications pose kidney injury risk for children

Sick children, especially those with some dehydration from flu or other illnesses, risk significant kidney injury if given drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen, Indiana University School of Medicine researchers said Friday.

 

In an article published online Jan. 25 by the Journal of Pediatrics, Jason Misurac, M.D., and colleagues from IU and Butler University reported that nearly 3 percent of cases of pediatric acute kidney injury over a decade could be traced directly to having taken the common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs.

 

Although relatively few in terms of percentage of total kidney damage cases, the children with problems associated with NSAIDs included four young patients who needed dialysis, and at least seven who may have suffered permanent kidney damage, the researchers said.

 

"These cases, including some in which patients' kidney function will need to be monitored for years, as well as the cost of treatment, are quite significant, especially when you consider that alternatives are available and acute kidney injury from NSAIDs is avoidable," Dr. Misurac, a fellow in pediatric nephrology, said.

 

Although such drugs have been linked to kidney damage in small, anecdotal reports, the study reported Thursday is believed to be the first large-scale study of the incidence and impact of acute kidney injury caused by NSAIDs.

 

The research team evaluated medical records at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health in Indianapolis from January 1999 through June 2010 and found 1,015 cases in which patients had been treated for acute kidney injury from any cause.

 

After excluding cases in which the acute kidney injuries could possibly be explained by other factors, such as diseases affecting kidney function, the researchers found 27 cases, or 2.7 percent, in which the only factors were the administration of NSAIDs. In nearly all cases, the NSAIDs were administered before the children were admitted to the hospital. Because many of the 1,015 cases involved multiple potential causes of acute kidney injury, the researchers said the 27 cases are likely an underestimate of the number of cases in which NSAIDs contributed to the kidney damage.

 

Among the researchers' findings:

• Most of the children had been treated with recommended dosages.
• All of the children under the age of 5 needed to undergo dialysis temporarily, were more likely than the older children to be placed in an intensive care unit and needed longer hospital stays.
• The average cost for hospital and kidney specialist fees in the 27 cases was nearly $13,500, and the costs were much higher for younger children. At least $375,000 was spent on the NSAID-associated kidney injury cases at Riley Hospital over the study period, the researchers said, but billing data for other specialists were not available in the database, suggesting that the actual costs were likely much higher.

NSAIDs affect kidney function by restricting blood flow to the blood-filtering components of the kidneys, which suggests the risks from the drugs are greater among children who are dehydrated due to the effects of their illness, such as vomiting or diarrhea, Dr. Misurac said.

 

Fever is normal during an infection and not in itself dangerous, he noted, so "one alternative to NSAIDs would be acetaminophen, but another alternative would be no medication at all, at least for a while, to let the body fight the infection."

 

 

In a somewhat related story, I’ve written about studies that suggest that the concurrent use of antipyretics may inhibit the immune response when receiving vaccines.

 

In fact, it has even been theorized that one of the reasons that the elderly often develop less-than-robust immunity from the flu vaccine may be due to their frequent consumption of NSAIDs.

 

Several past blogs on this phenomenon include:

 

Anti-Inflammatory Meds And Vaccines

Common Pain Relievers May Dampen Vaccination Benefits

A Few Inflammatory Remarks

 

For now the evidence against the use of antipyretics (particularly NSAIDs) for fevers and influenza-like illness is very limited.

 

But these reports do show that - even after decades of use by hundreds of millions of people – our understanding of the effects of many commonly used over-the-counter medications remains less than complete.

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