Epidemiology of Influenza: Symptoms, Mode of Transmission, and Complications

Epidemiology of Influenza
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Epidemiology of Influenza
Outbreaks of infectious diseases pose a great danger to public health. Communicable diseases refer to diseases transmitted through direct contact with an infected person or their bodily fluids or indirectly (Hammer, Brainard, & Hunter, 2018). Communicable diseases are also referred to as contagious or infectious diseases. Some infectious diseases are endemic to a particular area, while others are pandemic, spreading across multiple geographical areas. Often, it requires coordinated efforts among public health agencies to prevent and minimize the spread of infectious diseases. The purpose of this paper is to explore the epidemiology of one particular infectious disease, influenza. A full description of the disease will be provided, among other fundamental aspects as they relate to the disease.
Description
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease that infects the respiratory system. It is caused by influenza viruses and usually affects the nose and throat (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2019). In some cases, influenza also affects the lungs. Influenza is a sudden disease and is different from the common cold because, unlike colds, it can lead to serious health complications. Also, there are different influenza types, such as the Swine, avian, pandemic, and seasonal flu (CDC, 2019). The seasonal flu is the most common, especially during cold seasons.
Symptoms
People infected with the flu experience some or all of the symptoms listed below (CDC, 2019):
* Cough
* Runny/stuffy nose
* Sore throats
* Headaches
* Body aches
* Fatigue
* Fever/Chills
* Vomiting and diarrhea, especially in children
Mode of Transmission
There are several ways in which the influenza viruses spread from one person to another. One, the flu viruses can be spread through airborne transmission. According to Lampejo (2020), when an infected person talks or breathe, infectious particles can hang in the air for minutes or hours and spread to another person within proximity. However, there is limited evidence showing that this transmission mode occurs when people are within long distances. The flu viruses can also spread when an infected person sneezes and/or coughs, generating infectious respiratory droplets. When these droplets directly land on the mouths and /or noses of others, influenza transmission occurs (CDC, 2019). Further, the viruses can be transferred through direct contact with an infected person (Lampejo, 2020). Also, the virus can survive on surfaces for hours, and as such, one can get infected indirectly by touching surfaces that have the viruses.
Complications
Often, influenza can result in mild to severe complications. According to the CDC (2019), mild complications include ear and sinus infections. Serious complications include pneumonia, multiple organ failure, myocarditis, myositis, and encephalitis. Also, influenza can worsen pre-existing conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and heart failure (Jester, Uyeki, & Jernigan, 2020). Complications from influenza pose a serious medical threat that can lead to death. Also, influenza-related complications often require hospitalization (CDC, 2019). However, most people recover well and fully from influenza after a few days with no major complications.
Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment
As indicated earlier, influenza is similar to other respiratory diseases, and it can be difficult to even differentiate between mild flu from a common cold. Other than an individual showing the symptoms listed in a previous section of this paper, some tests can be done to determine whether an individual has the flu or suffers from a different respiratory illness. These tests include the rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) and the rapid molecular assays (CDC, 2019). The latter takes about 15-20 minutes to produce the results and is considered more accurate than the former, taking about 10-15 minutes.
Influenza can affect anyone, and as such, each individual needs to take a right preventative measures. The major preventative measure is receiving a flu vaccine administered annually (CDC, 2019). Taking the flu shot prevents the development of flu-related complications and illnesses. Other preventative measures include covering the nose and mouth while sneezing/coughing, washing hands regularly, and keeping a distance from sick people. According to the CDC (2019), these measures protect an individual from catching the flu and protect the general population by reducing the spread of the viruses.
Influenza is treated using antiviral drugs (CDC, 2019). The drugs can be oral or intravenous. Also, there have been cases where influenza is resistant to the drugs. As a result, experimental therapies have been explored to identify ways of addressing the resistance of influenza to drugs (Lampejo, 2020).
Demographic of Interest
While anyone can develop the flu, some populations are at a higher risk than others. These include children aged five years and below, adults aged 65 years and above, pregnant women, and individuals with pre-existing chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma (CDC, 2019). Also, Honce and Schultz-Cherry (2019) indicate that obesity is a risk factor for influenza as it reduces the recovery rate and delays the response of drugs to the flu. Also, obesity reduces the effectiveness of the flu vaccine.
According to Tokars, Olsen, and Reed (2018), approximately 3-11% of Americans catch the seasonal flu every year. This estimate is for symptomatic flu. However, the CDC (2019) indicates that the estimated incidence for symptomatic and asymptomatic flu is 5-20%. A substantial number of individuals with influenza flu end up being hospitalized. According to the CDC (2020), in the 2019-2020 flu season, there were approximately 38 million flu-related illnesses and 400, 000 people were hospitalized as a result, in the United States( US) alone. Also about 22, 000 people died as a result of flu-related illnesses. Globally, a study by
Paget et al. (2019) revealed that, on average, around 389 000 people died in 2019 as a result of influenza-related illnesses.
Social Determinants of Health
Social factors are some of the factors that influence health. According to Healthy People (2020), people living under different conditions have varying health. However, equality in health can be achieved if people have similar social environments. Some of the main social determinants of health include access to education and employment opportunities, social norms and attitudes, culture, public safety, poverty, access to healthcare services, food security, income, among others (Healthy People, 2020). All these factors contribute to health inequalities. In the case of influenza, several factors are particularly significant in the development of the flu. The first is access to healthcare services and vaccinations. Primarily, influenza can be prevented by taking an annual flu vaccine, as indicated earlier. However, unequal access to healthcare influences vaccination and treatment. According to Cordoba and Aiello (2016), disadvantaged communities lack access to vaccines and antiviral drugs due to a lack of insurance and high care costs. Thus, the incidence of influenza is higher among such populations.
The second is social norms and attitudes such as racism and discrimination. Cordoba and Aiello (2016) indicate that individuals from marginalized communities have lower vaccination rates than the dominant communities. The third is poverty. People living in poverty are more susceptible to communicable diseases such as influenza (Cordoba & Aiello, 2016). These individuals live in cramped spaces with poor sanitation, all of which contribute to a higher prevalence of infectious diseases. Also, poverty has been linked to poor immune to diseases (Cordoba & Aiello,...