Influenza

Written by Gizem Güler

The infectious disease influenza (also known as flu) is caused by the influenza virus, which is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the virus family Orthomyxoviridae. The communicable influenza viruses A, B and C are subdivided into various strains based on the antigenic surface molecules. Highly infectious droplets containing the virus are globally spread and affect 10-20 % of the world population. Influenza-associated pandemics return on a seasonal base and are considered to have the highest global death toll of all infectious diseases with 500 000 deaths per year. Severe or life-threatening illness is mainly reported in high-risk patients like elderly, young and immunosuppressed patients. Non-specific constitutional symptoms of the viral infection are likely to be associated with complications affecting mainly the respiratory tract like pneumonia. The rapidly evolving virus strains are a huge challenge in drug development due to mutational evading mechanisms like antigenic drift and shift. Even though many annual vaccines and anti-influenza agents are already used in clinics, influenza remains a focus in research, where more efficient targets are being investigated.

Clinical Features

Pathogenesis

Comorbidities

Cellular Characteristics

Genetics

Treatment

Epidemiology

References

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