Article Categories
» Arts & Entertainment
» Automotive
» Business
» Careers & Jobs
» Education & Reference
» Finance
» Food & Drink
» Health & Fitness
» Home & Family
» Internet & Online Businesses
» Miscellaneous
» Self Improvement
» Shopping
» Society & News
» Sports & Recreation
» Technology
» Travel & Leisure
» Writing & Speaking

  Listed Article

  Category: Articles » Health & Fitness » Diseases & Conditions » Article
 

Various forms of Influenza Viruses




By Vinay Choubey

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). In people, common symptoms are fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, and weakness and fatigue. In more serious cases, influenza causes pneumonia, which can be fatal particularly in young children and the elderly. Sometimes confused with the common cold, influenza is a much more severe disease and caused by a different type of virus. Similarly, the unrelated gastroenteritis is sometimes called "stomach flu" or "24-hour flu".

Types of influenza virus
The influenza virus is an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae, which comprises the influenzaviruses, Isavirus and Thogotovirus. There are three types of influenza virus: Influenzavirus A, Influenzavirus B or Influenzavirus C. Influenza A and C infect multiple species, while influenza B almost exclusively infects humans.

The type A viruses are the most virulent human pathogens among the three influenza types and cause the most severe disease. The Influenza A virus can be subdivided into different serotypes based on the antibody response to these viruses.

Influenza B virus is almost exclusively a human pathogen, and is less common than influenza A. The only other animal known to be susceptible to influenza B infection is the seal. This type of influenza mutates at a rate 2-3 times lower than type A and consequently is less genetically diverse, with only one influenza B serotype. As a result of this lack of antigenic diversity, a degree of immunity to influenza B is usually acquired at an early age.

The influenza C virus infects humans and pigs, and can cause severe illness and local epidemics. However, influenza C is less common than the other types and usually seems to cause mild disease in children.

PATHOGENESIS AND DISEASE

Spread
The virus is spread person to person via small particle aerosols (less than 10μm diameter) that can get into respiratory tract. It can also survive for a short time on surfaces and can be spread by this route if the virus is introduced into the before it loses infectivity. The incubation period is short, about 18 to 72 hours.

Virus concentration in nasal and tracheal secretions remains high for 24 to 48 hours after symptoms start and may last longer in children. Titers are usually high and so there are enough infectious virions in a small droplet to start a new infection.

Site of infection
Influenza virus infects the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract. The cells die, in part due to the direct effects of the virus on the cell, and also possibly due to the effects of interferon. Cell death at later times may also result from the actions of cytotoxic T-cells. As a result, the efficiency of ciliary clearance is reduced, leading to impaired function of the mucus elevator; thus there is reduced clearance of infectious agents from the respiratory tract. Gaps in the protective epithelium provide other pathogens with access to other cells; however, viremia is very rare.

Recovery
Interferon may play a role by decreasing virus production. Many of the symptoms of uncomplicated influenza (muscle aches, fatigue, fever) are associated with the efficient induction of interferon. The cell-mediated immune response is important in viral clearance. The antibody response is usually not significant until after virus has been cleared. Repair of the respiratory epithelium begins rapidly, but may take some time to complete.

For more details on Influenza Viruses visit us at www.halfvalue.com and www.halfvalue.co.uk

For information on Books Visit: www.lookbookstores.com
 
 
About the Author
Vinay Choubey SEO Manager vinay@halfvalue.com

Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/46296.html
 
If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/46296.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked.



  Some other articles by Vinay Choubey
Email Marketing
Email marketing is one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to maintain and enhance customer relationships and deliver a measurable return on your marketing dollar, especially when you ...

Microsoft's Windows Vista
Windows Vista is the next version of Windows for clients and servers. With the client version expected in 2006 for businesses and 2007 for consumers and the server version ...

Care and Feeding of your Brain
Like every other part of your body, you brain needs regular exercise to stay healthy. Experience can modify brain structure at every stage ...

Breast Cancer Treatment
The mainstay of breast cancer treatment is surgery when the tumor is localized, with possible adjuvant hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy. At ...

Capability Maturity Model
The Capability Maturity Model (CMM) is a methodology used to develop and refine an organization's software development process. The model describes a five-level evolutionary path of increasingly organized and systematically more mature processes. CMM was ...

Top 5 Gadgets of 2006
Nintendo DS Lite Even as heavy metal gaming consoles like the Xbox and the PS3 begin to smother our sense and sensibilities, the sleek ...

  
  Recent Articles
8 Choices You Must Make to Live Successfully with Chronic Illness
by Lisa Copen

Why You Need To Know About Stress And Cold Sores
by Robert H Black

What are the Symptoms of Cold Sores?
by Robert H Black

Why You Should Be Wary Of Staph Infection?
by Dean Caporella

Why You Shouldn't Delay In Seeking Treatment For GERD
by Dean Caporella

Stop Smoking Products-Patch: Acquiring Smoking Cessation Help
by Javier Fuller

Do You Qualify For Lasik Eye Surgery?
by Dean Caporella

Why Asthma Medication Can Save Your Life!
by Dean Caporella

Protecting Your Family from the Avian Flu
by Christopher Smith

The Truth about High Cholesterol being a Risk Factor of Heart Disease
by John Goh

Sleep Apnea Effects In Overweight Children
by Nishanth Reddy

A Natural Cure for Panic Attack Problems is Best for Your Health
by Remy Jirek

Can't connect to database