The flu, a highly contagious respiratory infection, causes cough and fever in people who have it. This eMedTV segment offers a detailed look at this illness, including who is most at risk from it and how outbreaks occur.
This eMedTV article discusses the three main types of flu in detail, including how they are transmitted between species. Also discussed in this article are the further classifications of the flu virus and an overview of where the flu comes from.
The flu virus is not only highly contagious; it's also highly changeable. As this eMedTV segment points out, this helps it to spread quickly from person to person. This article explains the history of this virus, how it spreads, and more.
Sore throat, fever, and chills are a few common symptoms of the flu. This eMedTV segment explains flu symptoms in detail, including potential complications in adults, teenagers, and children.
In order to make a flu diagnosis, doctors look at a person's symptoms and find out whether the flu is epidemic within a community. This eMedTV segment explains how a doctor goes about making a flu diagnosis and explains why lab tests are seldom used.
As this eMedTV article explains, treating the flu generally involves rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking pain-relievers. This article also explains how four new drugs have been approved as well, including Tamiflu.
As this eMedTV page explains, drugs such as Tamiflu, Flumadine, and Relenza can be used to both prevent the flu and treat associated symptoms. This article covers medications that are used for the flu, including how they work and potential side effects.
Flu complications tend to appear after the patient starts to feel better. Symptoms include high fever, cough with mucus, and chills. This eMedTV article discusses the results of flu complications in adults, teenagers, and children.
As this eMedTV segment explains, the flu vaccine is the best method for preventing the flu. However, there are certain medications that can help prevent the illness if you take them for at least two weeks during a flu outbreak in your community.
The flu shot contains inactive viruses currently in circulation and those that are expected to circulate. This eMedTV page explains who should get a shot, where it can be obtained, and potential side effects, and also describes the new nasal vaccine.
This segment of the eMedTV archives describes outbreaks of the flu throughout history. These outbreaks, such as the ones in 1918 and 1976, have the potential to spread quickly from person to person, especially when the strain of the virus is new.
Viruses that cause bird flu occur naturally in wild birds worldwide, but are rarely found in humans. This eMedTV Web page answers the question, "What is bird flu?" in detail, including why it's a concern for humans.
A pandemic is an infectious disease affecting a large portion of the population of a large region. This eMedTV article offers more information on the definition of this term and provides links to specific examples of this event throughout history.
An influenza pandemic differs from a seasonal outbreak of the flu. This eMedTV article takes a look at some of the flu pandemics throughout history and talks about whether another one is likely in the near future.
In order to distinguish between an epidemic and a pandemic, there are six phases that make up pandemic stages. As this eMedTV segment explains, these pandemic stages occur in three separate periods (interpandemic, pandemic alert, and pandemic).
The 1918 flu caused the highest number of known flu deaths worldwide, estimated at 50 million to 100 million people. This eMedTV article includes information and statistics related to this flu and explores whether it could happen again.
The dog flu is caused by a strain of the influenza virus that first appeared in horses. As this eMedTV article explains, symptoms of the disease include cough and fever, and the prognosis is generally favorable with appropriate treatment.
