Influenza - causes, symptoms & protective measures against flu
Learn all about influenza: types, symptoms & protective measures. Flu vaccination, hygiene & other measures support the defence against the virus.
Things worth knowing about "Influenza"
The influenza virus is a highly infectious RNA virus that causes the respiratory disease influenza, commonly known as the flu.
Types of influenza virus
There are three main types of influenza virus, with types A and B in particular being responsible for seasonal influenza waves and epidemics.Influenza A can also cause pandemic outbreaks, as the virus continuously forms new variants through antigenic drift and antigenic shift. As a result, the human immune system is unable to recognise and neutralise the virus in the long term, making regular adjustments to the influenza vaccine necessary. Influenza B has less genetic variability than influenza A. Despite the lower mutation rate compared to influenza A, influenza B can also lead to severe courses of disease, especially in children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. Influenza C differs significantly from the other two types, as it usually only causes mild respiratory illnesses and does not cause large epidemic or pandemic outbreaks. Influenza C infections are less common and mainly affect young children
Symptoms & transmission of influenza
The influenza virus is mainly transmitted via droplet infection through coughing, sneezing or speaking as well as through contact with contaminated surfaces. After infection, the virus infects the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and can spread rapidly throughout the body. Typical symptoms are sudden high fever, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle and limb pain and a strong feeling of illness. In severe cases, influenza can lead to complications such as pneumonia, cardiovascular problems or secondary bacterial infections, especially in risk groups such as the elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
Protective measures against influenza
Effective protection against influenza is provided by the seasonal flu vaccination, which is updated annually to reflect the circulating virus strains. In addition, general hygiene measures such as regular hand washing, avoiding close contact with sick people and wearing masks play an important role in prevention. Studies also indicate that natural substances such as lactoferrin have antiviral properties and may be able to help support the immune defence. Lactoferrin works through its immunomodulatory properties as well as its ability to inhibit the binding of viruses to cell receptors, which could provide an additional protective barrier against influenza viruses.
Despite comprehensive prevention measures, influenza remains a serious disease with a significant global health and economic impact. Continuous monitoring of virus spread and the development of new antiviral treatment strategies are crucial to minimise the impact of future influenza outbreaks.
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