A Narrative Review of Influenza: A Seasonal and Pandemic Disease
Influenza is an acute respiratory disease caused by the influenza A or B virus. It often occurs in outbreaks and epidemics worldwide, mainly during the winter season. Significant numbers of influenza virus particles are present in the respiratory secretions of infected persons, so infection can be t...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
2017-01-01
|
| Series: | Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ijms.sums.ac.ir/index.php/IJMS/article/view/2859 |
| _version_ | 1818664276646166528 |
|---|---|
| author | Mohsen Moghadami |
| author_facet | Mohsen Moghadami |
| author_sort | Mohsen Moghadami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Influenza is an acute respiratory disease caused by the influenza A or B virus. It often occurs in outbreaks and epidemics worldwide, mainly during the winter season. Significant numbers of influenza virus particles are present in the respiratory secretions of infected persons, so infection can be transmitted by sneezing and coughing via large particle droplets. The mean duration of influenza virus shedding in immunocompetent adult patients is around 5 days but may continue for up to 10 days or more—particularly in children, elderly adults, patients with chronic illnesses, and immunocompromised hosts. Influenza typically begins with the abrupt onset of high-grade fever, myalgia, headache, and malaise. These manifestations are accompanied by symptoms of respiratory tract illnesses such as nonproductive cough, sore throat, and nasal discharge. After a typical course, influenza can affect other organs such as the lungs, brain, and heart more than it can affect the respiratory tract and cause hospitalization. The best way to prevent influenza is to administer annual vaccinations. Among severely ill patients, an early commencement of antiviral treatment (<2 d from illness onset) is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality, with greater benefits allied to an earlier initiation of treatment. Given the significance of the disease burden, we reviewed the latest findings in the diagnosis and management of influenza. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T05:30:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6939eb6f93cd4ecfa46b3eddc49af31b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0253-0716 1735-3688 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T05:30:10Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Shiraz University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-6939eb6f93cd4ecfa46b3eddc49af31b2022-12-21T22:01:45ZengShiraz University of Medical SciencesIranian Journal of Medical Sciences0253-07161735-36882017-01-01421213A Narrative Review of Influenza: A Seasonal and Pandemic DiseaseMohsen Moghadami0Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz IranInfluenza is an acute respiratory disease caused by the influenza A or B virus. It often occurs in outbreaks and epidemics worldwide, mainly during the winter season. Significant numbers of influenza virus particles are present in the respiratory secretions of infected persons, so infection can be transmitted by sneezing and coughing via large particle droplets. The mean duration of influenza virus shedding in immunocompetent adult patients is around 5 days but may continue for up to 10 days or more—particularly in children, elderly adults, patients with chronic illnesses, and immunocompromised hosts. Influenza typically begins with the abrupt onset of high-grade fever, myalgia, headache, and malaise. These manifestations are accompanied by symptoms of respiratory tract illnesses such as nonproductive cough, sore throat, and nasal discharge. After a typical course, influenza can affect other organs such as the lungs, brain, and heart more than it can affect the respiratory tract and cause hospitalization. The best way to prevent influenza is to administer annual vaccinations. Among severely ill patients, an early commencement of antiviral treatment (<2 d from illness onset) is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality, with greater benefits allied to an earlier initiation of treatment. Given the significance of the disease burden, we reviewed the latest findings in the diagnosis and management of influenza.http://ijms.sums.ac.ir/index.php/IJMS/article/view/2859HumanRespiratory systemInfluenzaVaccination |
| spellingShingle | Mohsen Moghadami A Narrative Review of Influenza: A Seasonal and Pandemic Disease Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences Human Respiratory system Influenza Vaccination |
| title | A Narrative Review of Influenza: A Seasonal and Pandemic Disease |
| title_full | A Narrative Review of Influenza: A Seasonal and Pandemic Disease |
| title_fullStr | A Narrative Review of Influenza: A Seasonal and Pandemic Disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Narrative Review of Influenza: A Seasonal and Pandemic Disease |
| title_short | A Narrative Review of Influenza: A Seasonal and Pandemic Disease |
| title_sort | narrative review of influenza a seasonal and pandemic disease |
| topic | Human Respiratory system Influenza Vaccination |
| url | http://ijms.sums.ac.ir/index.php/IJMS/article/view/2859 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mohsenmoghadami anarrativereviewofinfluenzaaseasonalandpandemicdisease AT mohsenmoghadami narrativereviewofinfluenzaaseasonalandpandemicdisease |