Influenza: flu - focus online

Spotted an Error?

Flu is a highly contagious infectious disease, not to be confused with a flu infection or a cold.

There is the so-called new flu, which includes bird and swine flu, and seasonal flu, which occurs mainly in the winter months.

Causes, triggers, risk factors

Influenza viruses trigger the flu. The virus spreads from person to person via droplet infection, multiplies very quickly and attacks the mucous membranes. An infected child can infect others a day before the first symptoms appear.

The risk of contracting seasonal flu is particularly high in the winter months. This is because the viruses can spread well in closed rooms. In addition, people whose immune system is already weakened by a cold are more likely to get the flu.

Children, especially toddlers under the age of two, are particularly susceptible to the influenza virus. In addition, the death rate is higher in this age group than among adults.

A flu vaccination protects against the pathogen. The Standing Vaccination Committee (STIKO) recommends that children be vaccinated once a year, preferably from September to November. As the viruses are constantly changing, the vaccine is constantly being adapted. For the same reason, once you have had a disease, it does not prevent you from being infected again.

symptoms

Typical of an influenza infection are suddenly high fever, muscle, head and body aches, fatigue, dry cough. Children often experience nausea and vomiting. Only children sometimes have a rash in the mouth on the first days of the disease, the so-called flu rash.

Complications are more common in infants, young children and the elderly than in other age groups.

Common complications include otitis media, sinusitis, purulent bronchitis or pneumonia. This can happen if bacteria attack the affected mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Children can suffer from pseudo-croup if the upper airways in the larynx become inflamed. Symptoms include a barking cough, shortness of breath and hoarseness.
Another possible complication concerns the cardiovascular system. Cardiac arrhythmia and heart failure may occur, a decreased heart performance.

diagnosis

Despite the similarity between influenza and flu, the doctor can usually determine from the more obvious symptoms whether it is an influenza infection.

He will also have a lab test done for a throat swab or blood test. This is important in order to be able to observe the spread of the different virus types within the population. Because of the constant danger an epidemic or pandemic, influenza diseases are notifiable in Germany.

therapy

Your doctor can give you antiviral medicines called neuraminidase inhibitors within the first 48 hours. These can alleviate the course of the disease. Doctors prescribe them especially for high-risk patients and children.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen work against the symptoms. Both agents relieve pain and lower the fever.

Antibiotics do not help against the influenza virus, but may be necessary if bacteria have caused pneumonia as a result of the disease.

Aside from drug treatment, parents should let their children rest and encourage them to drink a lot.

Children should preferably not meet their grandparents or other older people during the illness. Older people are particularly susceptible to complications that can arise from infection. For example, pneumonia can be fatal in an older person.

Video: This really helps if your child gets a cold

Gesundheitsinformation.de (Editor: Foundation for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care)

Kinderaerzte-im-Netz.de (Editor: Professional Association of Pediatricians)

HNO-Aerzte-im-Netz.de (publisher: German Professional association of ear, nose and throat doctors)

Symptoms – cold or flu?

Especially fever, headache and cough are signs that it is more than a harmless sneeze.

– sore throat as well as either diarrhea or vomiting or nausea

are the main characteristics that distinguish swine flu from the flu. A normal cold, on the other hand, is usually when the main symptom is runny nose.

– It is not entirely clear why influenza occurs frequently in winter.

The flu viruses may need cold air to survive. In addition, the human mucous membranes are drier in the cold, so that their protective effect is reduced and the pathogens can more easily overcome this barrier.

Influenza: flu – focus online