The Types Of Flu And How To Differentiate Them
Flu is a highly contagious respiratory infection that is prevalent during the cold months of the winter. It is easily transferred from one person to another through coughs or sneezes. The main cause of the flu is the influenza virus and it affects not only the lungs but also the nose and the throat.
The disease is usually self-limiting and is easily managed but it can become life-threatening for people whose immune systems are compromised or for elderly people with chronic medical conditions like diabetes or hypertension. The influenza virus has three serotypes – A, B, and C, and thus the disease also has three types of flu – A, B, and C. Each has its own distinctive features from the others and they are classified according to their protein composition.
Type A is the most serious among the three. Its causative virus, the influenza A, is found not only in humans but in animals as well such as pigs, chicken, ducks and even whales. Because it is able to harbor and grow in different hosts, this flu is the easiest to spread and thus, it usually brings cases of epidemic proportions if not managed and controlled promptly.
Type B, on the other hand, causes mild to moderate respiratory symptoms – coughs, sore throat, body weakness, and sometimes fever. As of present time, the causative virus – influenza B – is solely harbored and transferred among humans. Unlike A, B does not trigger an epidemic since its cases usually resolve on their own with proper palliative care. Precaution, however, is advised for immune-compromised patients.
Type C also causes mild infections and symptoms, and it does not spark any epidemic cases unlike type A. Among the types of flu, C is the most easily managed. The symptoms usually resolve in 2 to 3 days without any sort of complication. This can be transferred among humans, and among pigs and dogs as well.