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Definition :

It is a infectious disease characterized by affection of respiratory tract mucosa.

Etiology :

1. Causative agent - Pathogen belongs to the group of Orythomyxoviruses
2. They are of ball form and diameter of 100–200 nm.
3. They are of 3 forms

• Influenza Virus A
• Influenza Virus B
• Influenza Virus C

Epidemiology :

1. Sick person is the source of infection.
2. Virus quickly multiplies in epithelial tissue of respiratory tract mucosa membrane.
3. Influenza is spread with help of small particle aerosal dispersion because of virus being in air for the long time.
4. The virus can be infectious in air for 2–3 hours.

Clinical Features :

1. Incubation period is from several hours to 2–3 days.
2. First symptom is high temperature (39–40° C)
3. Headache, fever, pain in different organs.
4. Skin is pale with cyanotic shade.
5. Hemorrhage syndrome such as nasal bleeding, hemorrhage in feces, gum bleeding sickness.
6. Dry cough
7. Hypertension. Acute Edema and Brain Swelling
8. Catarrhal syndrome such as Rhinitis, Pharyngitis, trachetis.
9. Dangerous complication of influenza is Pneumonia.

Diagnostics :

• Serological Method
• This method is used to find the anti-influenza antibodies in the blood.
• Reaction of Hemagglutination inhibition (RHAI) and reaction of Complement Banding(CB) are mostly used.
• Immunofluroscent Method
• The essence of this method is in specific reaction of antigen-antibody which reveals the presence of viral antigens in cells by way of joining antibodies to them, the antibodies are connected with fluorescent mark, which lights in UV rays.

Treatment :

1. Antiviral - Ribavirin (0.3–0.6 gm for 5 days)
2. For Headache & Muscular Pain - Paracetamol, Analgin, Upsarin with Vitamin C
3. Anti-influenza donor immunoglobulin intravenously
4. For Intoxication - Isotonic solution of sodium chloride, 5% solution of glucose
5. For Hypertension - Diuretics preparation, furosemid, diacarb, elacrinic acid (infuse not more than 500–800 ml)
6. For Acute Edema and Brain Swelling - Infuse mannitole and furosemid
7. Amantadine (100 mg) against Influenza A