Influenza

Influenza

Introduction

Influenza is a viral illness that affects the respiratory system. Similarly, the occurrence of the disease is a result of different types of viruses. The sickness is infectious and is spread among humans as well as other species. The transmission of the virus is a result of the exchange of infected droplets between different organisms. The disease is spread through coughing, sneezing, as well as communicating while close to an infected person. Further, the virus has the capability of surviving on non-living organisms. As such, the disease can also be spread through coming into contact with the illness carrying objects and transferring through contact with the eye or nose.

Further, the disease can be spread to other individuals after a period of up to 1 week (Principal et al., 2019). Additionally, after infection, the recovery process takes several days. However, for individuals with underlying medical conditions, the infection may result in death. The primary indicators of the virus include fever, coughing, running nose as well as throat complications. Further, the disease is prevalent among infants, pregnant women, as well as the aged. The impact of Influenza depends on the geographical region as well as the season. As a result, in the variation of the strains of the disease in recent times, the disease also affects animals. The diagnosis of the illness can be conducted through rapid tests. However, as a result of the false results associated with the implementation of the tests, precise results are obtained through the use of the PCR test or the analysis of a culture consisting of throat fluids (Principal et al., 2019). The criteria, however, take more time to give the outcome. Influenza management can be conducted through the use of vaccines.

Anatomy and Physiology

While Influenza commonly attacks the respiratory system, the prevalence is notable in the upper respiratory section and the trachea. The indicators of the disease manifest for about one week. Additionally, the symptoms are prevalent in individuals with other medical conditions. When an individual contracts the virus, the immune system reacts through the production of interferon. As such, the reactions result in fever as well as body fatigue. Additionally, specific individuals are more prone to the impacts of the virus. For instance, pregnant women, infants, the elderly, as well as individuals with respiratory challenges, have a high risk of suffering from Influenza. The spread of the virus within the body results in pneumonia-like complications that may occur two days after the infection (Amarelle et al., 2017). As the virus attacks the body, it spreads along both the upper and the lower respiratory tracts, and the effects are severe after approximately two days.

Accordingly, during the infection stage, the body produces antibodies to neutralize the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins (Benton et al., 2018). The hemaglutinin vision accelerates the spread of the virus through adherence to the surfaces of the respiratory system. Equally, neuraminidase facilities the severity of the illness through the strengthening of the bond that keeps the virus together. The protein components of the virus are H and N (Principal et al., 2019). There are different types of Influenza; A, B, and C. However, type A and C are more prevalent in humans and animals. The second type is common only in humans. Hemagglutinin occurs in 17 strains, while neuraminidase manifests itself in 10 classes. Generally, the influenza virus occurs in a circular shape with spiky structures on the surface. The spikes that surround the illness consist of the two proteins. The hemaglutinin facilitates the sticking of the virus within the body of the host to enhance infection.

Likewise, the neuraminidase facilities the exit of the virus from the host and consequently strengthen the ability of more viruses to invade the body. The spiky structures consist of the RNA with genetic details that enhance the replication of the virus strains (Amarelle et al., 2017). Similarly, the virus mutates within the host in different ways. For instance, through drifting, the virus can alter the genetic information of the proteins and, as such, enhance the ability of the virus to fight against the antibodies as well as vaccines. Additionally, shifting allows for the adjustments of the components of the two proteins. Hence, the resulting strain becomes challenging to contain, and in most cases, the new virus may result in a pandemic.

Treatment Methods

Zanamivir

The drug is useful in the management of Influenza and is utilized through oral administration. Zanamivir is significant in the management of influenza A and B. The dosage consists of zanamivir and lactose proportions. For patients above seven users, the prescription recommends two daily intakes of 10 mg. Likewise, the drug is to be taken by the patient for a period of five days. The reactions as a result of intake of Zanamivir include respiratory challenges as well as nausea. Further, individuals on a Zanamivir regimen may also experience diarrhea as well. The drug facilitates the treatment of Influenza through the inhibition of the neuraminidase protein (Amarelle et al., 2017). Similarly, Zanamivir acts by stopping the adherence of the protein on the cell membrane and, as such, halt the replication process.

Oseltamivir

Oseltamivir is the most common drug that is utilized in the management of Influenza. The drug has been for continued use in the inhibition of the neuraminidase. Since the virus utilizes the protein during the adherence to the cell membranes, oseltamivir aids in the blockage and inactivation of the protein. As such, the drug prevents the spread of the infection. The drug is available in both powder as well as capsule form. Likewise, adults are recommended to take the medication twice daily for five days. The dosage is approximately 75 mg. For children and infants, the administration should be per the weight as well as age. The usage of the drug, however, results in adverse reactions among satisfied patients (Principal et al., 2019). For instance, individuals are likely to experience nausea, psychological challenges, headache as well as diarrhea. Further, vomiting is also frequent among some patients. The drug is, however, not effective during the late management of the disease.

Prognosis

Studies have provided information regarding the effectiveness of Zanamivir in the management of Influenza on a short term basis. For a period of close to six weeks, the drug was efficient in the management of the symptoms. Further, the oral administration of Zanamivir is useful in the treatment of lower respiratory infection. The most effective form of administration of the drug was the inhalation rather than the intranasal process (Amarelle et al., 2017). The early administration of Oseltamivir is crucial in the management of Influenza. The effectiveness of the drug, however, depends on other factors such as age as well as the virus strain. Similarly, the drug is vital in the prevention of the replication of the virus. As such, Oseltamivir is critical in the short term management of Influenza.

The drug, however, has a positive impact on the management of influenza A. As such, early diagnosis is significant in the treatment of Influenza through the use of Oseltamivir. The two drugs can be used together with vaccinations for long term management of the virus (Demicheli et al., 2018). Similarly, through the analysis of the two treatment methods, I would recommend the use of Oseltamivir since it works perfectly for a large number of individuals. Further, the drug also enhances the early management of Influenza through the reduction of fever as well as other symptoms. Thus, the medicine is a great recommendation for an influenza patient

References

Amarelle, L., Lecuona, E., & Sznajder, J. I. (2017). Anti-influenza treatment: drugs currently used and under development. Archivos de Bronconeumología (English Edition), 53(1), 19-26.

Benton, D. J., Nans, A., Calder, L. J., Turner, J., Neu, U., Lin, Y. P., … & Gamblin, S. J. (2018). Influenza hemagglutinin membrane anchor. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(40), 10112-10117.

Demicheli, V., Jefferson, T., Ferroni, E., Rivetti, A., & Di Pietrantonj, C. (2018). Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults. Cochrane database of systematic reviews, (2).

Principal, N., Camilloni, B., Alunno, A., Polinori, I., Argentiero, A., & Esposito, S. (2019). Drugs for Influenza Treatment: Is There Significant News? Frontiers in medicine, 6.