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Flu

    Flu Editor's Picks

    • What Can Be Done for the Flu?

      Nobody enjoys getting the flu. It can be uncomfortable and very exhausting. Since the flu is typically viral, antibiotics are ineffective. With proper treatment, however, feeling better is just a matter of time. more »

    • What Causes Bird Flu?

      Causes of bird flu stem from the infected saliva, feathers, blood or droppings of a bird that carries the avian virus H5H1. The deadly strain of influenza is not passed to humans unless the human has been exposed to the droppings, blood or saliva. more »

    • Flu Treatments

      Catching the flu is inconvenient and painful--yet it happens to the best of us. There is no cure for the virus, but depending on the symptoms, it can be managed with over-the-counter or certain prescribed medication. Many people confuse a cold with the flu, and it is important to know the difference so the appropriate treatment is... more »

    • About Flu Remedies

      Flu remedies take many forms and have various levels of success. Home remedies or herbal remedies can help deal with some of the unpleasant symptoms of the virus, but cannot prevent you from getting it. Conversely, the most popular and recommended flu remedy is the flu vaccine, widely available at affordable prices during the flu... more »

    • Symptoms of the Flu

      Influenza, commonly called the flu, is a highly contagious illness caused by a number of related viruses. The flu virus is easily transmitted through the air or by direct contact, and once inside the body attacks the respiratory system, resulting in a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. Up to 20% of the United States population... more »

    Flu Quick Guides

    • All About the Flu

      With winter comes flu season and we all know how difficult it is to perform daily tasks when...

    • How to Survive the Swine Flu Pandemic

      Reports of human cases of influenza A (H1N1) continue to surface worldwide. A pandemic flu, this...

    • Treat Colds and Flus

      Nothing is worse than suffering from a flu or cold. These sicknesses are more of an annoyance...

    • Gastroenteritis Guide

      If your stomach is feeling a little queasy, you could have a stomach virus coming on. Check...

    Flu Articles

    • About The Flu

      The flu, formally called influenza, is caused by a virus contained in liquid droplets that are breathed in from the air. When someone with the flu... more »

    • How to Tell if You Have the Flu

      Do I have a cold, a virus, or do I have the flu? Getting sick during the winter months is certainly a mystery. By the time you realize whether... more »

    • Can You Get the Flu From a Flu Vaccine?

      Every fall, doctors and hospitals gear up to begin giving flu vaccines to people who want or need to avoid getting sick with the flu. Some people... more »

    • Does the Flu Shot Cause Flu Symptoms?

      The flu shot contains a dead flu virus and signals the immune system to produce antibodies that kill off the flu virus when it enters the body. A... more »

    • How to Make Flu Flu Arrows

      Flu flu arrows are used by bow hunters when they are shooting at flying or fleeing prey. Flu flu fletchings catch a large amount of air and... more »

    Wikipedia

    Influenza

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    Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses), that affects birds and mammals. The name influenza is Italian and means "influence" (). The most common symptoms of the disease are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort.Merck>
    Sore throat, fever and coughs are the most frequent symptoms. In more serious cases, influenza causes pneumonia, which can be fatal, particularly for the young and the elderly. Although it is often confused with other influenza-like illnesses, especially the common cold, influenza is a much more severe disease than the common cold and is caused by a different type of virus.Eccles> Influenza may produce nausea and vomiting, particularly in children,Merck/> but these symptoms are more common in the unrelated gastroenteritis, which is sometimes called "stomach flu" or "24-hour flu". by Kristina Duda, R.N.; accessed 12 March 2007 (Website: "About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company")

    Typically, influenza is transmitted through the air by coughs or sneezes, creating aerosols containing the virus. Influenza can also be transmitted by direct contact with bird droppings or nasal secretions, or through contact with contaminated surfaces. Airborne aerosols have been thought to cause most infections, although which means of transmission is most important is not absolutely clear.Brankston/> Influenza viruses can be inactivated by sunlight, disinfectants and detergents.: Implications for Human Disease. Physical characteristics of influenza A viruses. UMN CIDRAP. As the virus can be inactivated by soap, frequent hand washing reduces the risk of infection.

    Influenza spreads around the world in seasonal epidemics, resulting in the deaths of hundreds o read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza

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