How serious is influenza A?

How serious is influenza A?

Type A influenza infection can be serious and cause widespread outbreaks and disease. Common symptoms of type A infection can be confused with other conditions. While in some milder cases the flu can resolve on its own without significant symptoms, severe cases of type A influenza can be life-threatening.

What are the symptoms of Type A flu?

If you have influenza A, you will have some or all of these symptoms:

• fever and chills.
• headache and muscle aches.
• feeling tired and weak.
• sneezing, and stuffy or runny nose.
• sore throat and cough.

How many people had the flu in 2014?

The overall burden of influenza for the 2014-2015 season was an estimated 30 million influenza illnesses, 14 million influenza-associated medical visits, 591,000 influenza-related hospitalizations, and 51,000 flu-associated deaths (Table: Estimated Influenza Disease Burden, by Season — United States, 2010-11 through …

How contagious is type A flu?

Both influenza A and B are highly contagious. When a person with the flu coughs or sneezes, droplets can enter another person’s nose or mouth, transmitting the illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , flu viruses can infect others from up to 6 feet away.

How long does cough last with influenza A?

Influenza causes a cough that lasts 2 to 3 weeks. Sometimes your child will cough up lots of phlegm (mucus).

How do you contract influenza A?

Influenza viruses travel through the air in droplets when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes or talks. You can inhale the droplets directly, or you can pick up the germs from an object — such as a telephone or computer keyboard — and then transfer them to your eyes, nose or mouth.

Is influenza A or B more severe?

In the past, it was thought that infection with influenza A was more severe than infection with influenza B. However, a 2015 study in adults with influenza A and influenza B found they both resulted in similar rates of illness and death.

How do I know if my flu has turned into pneumonia?

The symptoms of viral pneumonia usually develop over a period of several days. Early symptoms are similar to influenza symptoms: fever, a dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. Within a day or two, the symptoms typically get worse, with increasing cough, shortness of breath and muscle pain.

Was the flu ever a pandemic?

The 1918 influenza pandemic was the most severe pandemic in recent history. It was caused by an H1N1 virus with genes of avian origin. Although there is not universal consensus regarding where the virus originated, it spread worldwide during 1918-1919.