Influenza

This is inflammation of the tissues, which line the nasal cavity, throat, the inner surface of the eye lids and the lungs. This also includes sudden fever, fatigue, headache and muscle aches.

Ethological agent

Cold: >200 viral strains, rhinovirus most common

Flu:3 strains of influenza virus: A, B, and C

Site of infection

Cold: Upper respiratory tract

Flu: Entire respiratory system

Symptom onset

Cold: Gradual: 1-3 days

Flu: Sudden: within a few hours

Fever, chills

Cold:Occasional low grade

Flu: Characteristic higher, lasting a few days

Headache

Cold: Infrequent usually mild

Flu: Characteristic, more severe

General aches, pains

Cold: Mild if any

Flu: Often severe and affects the whole body

Sore throat

Cold: Common usually mild

Flu: Sometimes

Cough, chest congestion

Cold: Common, mild to moderate, with hacking productive cough

Flu: Common, severe dry, non-productive cough

Runny, Stuffy nose

Cold: Very common, accompanied by sneezing

Flu: Sometimes present

Fatigue, weakness

Cold: Mild, if any

Flu: Usual, could become severe and last 2-3 weeks

Extreme exhaustion

Cold: Rarely

Flu: Frequent, in early stages of illness

Season

Cold: Year round, mostly in winter

Flu: Mostly between November and February

Antibiotics helpful

Cold: No, unless secondary bacterial infection develops

Flu: No, unless secondary bacterial infection develops

• These viruses are based on a protein composition, in three types A, B, and C
• Type A viruses are the most dangerous to humans
• Type C is less problematic as most people have antibodies to influenza C early in life
• With the flu virus always mutating and changing it becomes more resistant to antiviral drugs

• It spreads via tiny droplets when a person coughs, sneezes or speaks.
• These droplets transmit the virus if it lands in the mouths or noses of bystanders.
• A person could also get infected by touching their mouth, eyes and nose after touching a surface where the virus has landed.
• Within 4-6 hours the virus will start to replicate.
• From initial infection to symptomatic illness takes 1-4 days.
• The contagious period start 24 hours before the symptoms start, for up to a week before becoming sick.

• It’s a term used to describe annual outbreaks which occur in late fall and winter climate regions for example.
• Majority of people who suffer and die from seasonal influenza are the elderly.
• These outbreaks usually last for 3 months, and spread through a community in a 2-3 week peak period.
• Where healthy adults this last for about 6-8 days of clinical symptoms – sudden fever, general fatigue, headache, or muscle aches, dry/unproductive cough, sore throat and runny/stuffy nose.

More serious complications such as bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration and worsening of chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes and congestive heart failure.

• Multifunctional group of proteins which regulate immune and inflammatory responses, which get released by cells in response to infection.
• In most infections cytokines are controlled to maintain the balance of killing a virus and minimize damage to healthy cells.

• Massive inflammatory response from a strong immune system in response to pathogens
• It’s also associated with tissue damage in lungs.
• Cytokine storms are there to stop the hosts immune response and reduce self-inflicted inflammatory damage
• Slowing down excessive cytokine production, can be done by taking the following agents, fish oil, green tea, black cumin seed oil and Vitamin D.

Vaccination – The most effective and least expensive method for preventing influenza. Vaccination does however not guarantee flu prevention.

Other methods – “WHACK” :

• Wash or sanitize hands regularly
• Also recommended that all linen, eating utensils and dishes be washed with soap and water when used by someone that is sick
• Keep a distance from sick people and wear a mask if possible
• Cover your coughs, sneezes with a tissue
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Home is where you should be when sick

Conventional flu treatment – Aims to relieve symptoms and prevent complications, aches and fever can be relived with over the counter medicines. Antiviral drug therapy helps treat flu, but depends on time lapsed with onset of symptoms and how strong the virus is circulating in the community. These drugs help to reduce the symptoms and signs, and prevent hospitalisation or death in patients.

The most common drugs used are: 

Neuraminidase inhibitors – promote viral infection of healthy cells, drive inflammation, and cause viral inactivation by respiratory mucus. Their side effects are nausea, vomiting, and may cause bronchospasm in people with asthma. Should be given within 24-48 hours of the start of symptoms.

Adamantanes– Start the antiviral action by inhibiting the release of viral genetic material into a host cell, and interfering with un-coating of the virus particles. These have serious side effects, heart rhythm irregularities, hallucinations, respiratory distress, in elderly people or patients with kidney problems.

Influenza is caused by a bacteria and not a virus, thus why it’s not recommended to use antibiotics, could lead to unwanted side effects or become antibiotic resistant in future.

• Cimetidine – Over the counter drug approved by the FDA. It has been shown to enhance the immune system. It is also beneficial for combatting various infections and is also used to treat herpes simplex infections. It could increase the risk of a cytokine storm, and should be avoided by people who are at risk for this.
• Statin class drugs –Reduce serum lipids like cholesterol, and is used to treat and prevent vascular disease. It can also help to regulate inflammatory responses to some influenza viruses. 

Helps to avoid influenza infection or ease flu symptoms.

Vitamin D – Has a role in the regulation of the immune system, and reduces the risk of some viral and bacterial infections. Deficiency of Vitamin D may cause an increased risk of influenza and respiratory tract infection. By supplementing with Vitamin D you lower the risk of seasonal influenza especially for school children. Vitamin D helps prevent excessive production of inflammatory cytokines.

Vitamin C – We need an efficient amount of Vitamin C daily to protect our immune system against infections. It also increases the production and action of white blood cells, and increases their ability to attack and destroy viruses.

Zinc – It is needed for metabolic processes and works together with a large number of enzymes. It plays an important role in maintaining a healthy immune system. Zinc deficiency in elderly people can impair their immunity, which then increases their risk of infection.

Selenium – Is a powerful antioxidant in almost all of the human tissue. It boosts the immune system, and protection against pathogens. Selenium deficiency increases the spread of influenza, by increasing the susceptibility to viral infections.

Vitamin E – It is a potent antioxidant, involved in a variety of physiological processes, from cognitive performance to the immune function.

By supplementing with vitamin E, it helps enhancing some functions of the human immune system and decreasing the risk of influenza virus.

Lactoferrin – It’s an iron binding component of weigh protein, which has some immune modulating effects. It also has the ability to act against bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses. Beneficial for alleviating symptoms and complications of viral infections like flu, as it decreases free radical mediated damage.

Elderberry – It has a rich source of antioxidants and has been used for a long time to treat influenza. It does this by binding to the outside of the virus and keeps it from invading the host cells.

Green tea – Is a powerful antioxidant, and has very beneficial properties in treating influenza. It directly kills the influenza virus and decreases the number of viruses found in the blood with chronic viral infection. It helps to decrease flu-like symptoms by reducing inflammation.

Beta-Glucans – These are naturally occurring glucose polymers that constitute the cell walls of some plants and fungi. Beta-glucans reduce signs of lung diseases and viral replication rates.

Andrographis – These have anti-inflammatory and anti-hypertensive, anti-viral and immune modulating properties. It enhances mobility of white blood cells in response to cytokine stimulation, which allows for more efficient immune response against pathogens.

Probiotics – Microorganisms confer with health benefits to the host. Some of these help prevent respiratory tract infections by changing the immune system. Useful in treating influenza, which helps to reduce severity and the duration of symptoms.

Reishi – Their immune stimulating effects help to fight off both bacterial and viral infections. Reishi mushrooms slows down the growth of influenza, HIV, Hepatitis B, and other viruses.