health : what is Influenza?

Influenza, most commonly known as the flu, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus.

In most cases, people with the flu experience headaches, muscle aches, fever, weakness, and cough, but sometimes can have no symptoms at all.

Influenza can cause significant disease and death due to serious complications which can occur in the very young, the elderly and those suffering from underlying disease.

More serious infection can cause various respiratory syndromes, disorders affecting the lung, heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and muscles, and can also cause severe primary viral and secondary bacterial pneumonia.

Influenza can occur as isolated cases, in epidemics, or in pandemics.

While we often call the common cold the "flu", the common cold is rarely due to the Influenza virus. True influenza causes a much more severe illness than the usual cold.........more about flue