Millions of people suffer from the flu every winter. Flu is a short name for influenza and caused by different viruses. The viruses are microscopic germs that can spread easily from one person to the next. They cause diseases or illnesses like the flu.
Influenza viruses are respiratory viruses that affect the throat, nose, bronchial tubes, and occasionally lungs. There are various forms of influenza viruses, and they evolve and modify their structures from year to year.
For a majority of people, the flu is an inconvenience that settles in a few days. For others, it can prove fatal and lead to hospital admission, health complications, and even death. Globally, 20 to 30 percent of children and 5 to 10 percent of adults catch the flu each year. According to the WHO, 3 to 5 million of these cases can develop severe illness, leading to about 300,000 to 600,000 annual deaths. During the 201-7-18 flu season, there were an estimated 900,000 hospitalizations and 80,000 deaths in the United States.
Signs And Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of flu are almost the same, no matter what type of influenza virus is the underlying cause. As these viruses attack the upper and lower respiratory tract – most signs and symptoms relating to the mouth, throat, bronchi, and the lungs. The most common symptoms of flu include;