Influenza A virus

Influenza A virus
Specialty	Virology, Epidemiology, Infectious disease
Symptoms	Fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, headache
Complications	Pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, ear infections
Usual onset	1-4 days after exposure
Duration	1-2 weeks
Causes	Influenza A virus
Diagnostic method	Rapid influenza diagnostic test, Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
Prevention	Influenza vaccine, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette
Treatment	Antiviral medication, symptomatic treatment

Error creating thumbnail:

Influenza A - late passage

Influenza A virus is a type of orthomyxovirus that causes influenza, an acute respiratory illness commonly referred to as the flu. The virus is responsible for seasonal flu epidemics and occasional pandemics, such as the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic and the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Influenza A virus has multiple subtypes, which are classified based on the surface proteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). The virus primarily infects birds but can also infect humans and other animals.

Error creating thumbnail:

Symptoms of influenza

Transmission

Influenza A virus spreads primarily through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can also be transmitted by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the nose, mouth, or eyes.

Error creating thumbnail:

Viruses

Symptoms

Symptoms of influenza A virus infection typically appear within 1-4 days of exposure and may include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Chills

Complications

In some cases, influenza A virus infection can lead to severe complications, including:

• Pneumonia
• Bronchitis
• Sinus infections
• Ear infections
• Worsening of chronic medical conditions

Diagnosis

Influenza A virus infection can be diagnosed using a variety of laboratory tests, including rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Prevention

The primary method for preventing influenza A virus infection is the annual influenza vaccine. Other preventive measures include practicing good hand hygiene, covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and avoiding close contact with infected individuals.

Treatment

Treatment for influenza A virus infection may include antiviral medications, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza), which can reduce the severity and duration of symptoms if taken early in the course of the illness. Symptomatic treatment, such as rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medications, can also help alleviate symptoms.

External links

• World Health Organization - Influenza: [3]

Influenza A virus Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? WikiMD's DocFinder can help find general and specialist physicians.	Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials.