Flu or influenza is a respiratory illness, contagious in nature and either caused by influenza A or B virus. Both cold and influenza are contagious respiratory illnesses but the flu has more severe symptoms as compared to the common cold. The simple fact is that if you are suffering from influenza you might not want to get out of bed at all, but your daily routine isn’t affected if you suffer from a cold.

Seasonal Influenza

As the name suggests, seasonal influenza is a result of a change in season, when the temperature gets cooler. It’s estimated that cases of influenza increase almost tenfold in the flu season. Medical experts have still not zeroed in on the reasons behind the seasonal nature of influenza but ‘ease of transmission’ is considered to be one of the main reasons. During winter when people are indoors as much as possible, they are in close contact, which in turn increases transmission. Another reason behind seasonal influenza is believed to be the dry air, which can lead to the dehydration of the mucus. This might make it difficult for the body to get rid of the virus.

Influenza epidemic

There are incidences of yearly influenza epidemics all over the world. The age group that is the most susceptible to this epidemic are children who are 2 years or younger or adults who are 65 years and older. People suffering from various health risks like heart disease, diabetes etc can also be the prime candidates to be affected by the influenza epidemic. It’s an influenza epidemic because it affects a large number of people at a certain point of time during the year. Typically, the influenza epidemic is restricted to a particular geographical area, but if it isn’t and it spreads across the globe, it turns into a pandemic.

Pandemic influenza

The recent ‘swine flu’ is an example of pandemic influenza. The influenza spread across the globe and affected a large number of humans irrespective of their geographical location. The spread of H1N1 influenza virus was designated a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the population of nearly 206 countries was affected by this influenza. For the epidemic to be declared a pandemic the WHO has charted a six stage process of classification. Only if it passes through all the stages, can it be classified as a pandemic.

Influenza treatment

Typically, the doctor prescribes the use of certain anti-viral medications for your condition. If the influenza is not a result of a pandemic, you can be recommended medications dependant on your symptoms. Either over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription antihistamines or decongestants are prescribed for relieving symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose and sneezing. For symptoms like cough and sore throat, cough syrups can be prescribed. Most people suffering from flu suffer from symptoms like fevers and body aches. In such cases, a doctor can recommend the intake of OTC analgesics.

Tamiflu is a prescription medication that is prescribed when you are suffering from influenza as a result of a pandemic or an epidemic. It is a treatment option that is commonly being used to treat patients suffering from H1N1 influenza. Tamiflu, active ingredient oseltamivir, is a prescription influenza medication that decreases the severity of the symptoms of this condition and also restricts the spread of the virus in your body. It’s not a vaccine for influenza but is a very effective treatment option for the condition.

In a nutshell this article discussed seasonal, epidemic and pandemic influenza. Various facets of these influenza types have been discussed at length. Information has also been given on the options used for influenza treatment. Treatments like Tamiflu have been mentioned and discussed.