Essay Example on Flu Symptoms: Respiratory & Constitutional

Introduction

The flu is a viral infection that typically attacks the lungs, throat, and nose (Bouvier & Palese). The flu virus gets into the respiratory symptoms through the mouth of the nose during inhalation of air. According to the Centre for Disease Control, the symptoms of the flu or the influenza-like illness could be classified as respiratory symptoms as well as the constitutional symptoms (Bouvier & Palese).

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Respiratory symptoms include stuffy nose, sore throats, as well as coughs. On the other hand, constitutional symptoms are symptoms that affect the whole body, such as fever/chills, body aches, and fatigue (Bouvier & Palese). A flu infection must be characterized by both the respiratory and constitutional symptoms.

The influenza virus contains the RNA, which is broken into small pieces covered by proteins on the surface. It is essential to note that there are certain viruses known as the copycat viruses that can exhibit the same symptoms as the influenza virus (Bouvier & Palese). Such infections include; the rhinovirus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

The only distinguishing aspect of these viruses is that the influenza virus is characterized by both the respiratory and the constitutional symptoms. In contrast, the copycat symptoms are likely to display only the respiratory symptoms such as the coughs, sore throats, and the stuffy nose. The symptoms of the flu usually last for 3 to 7 days (Bouvier & Palese).

The Spread of Flu/ Influenza

The flu virus is generally contracted from an already infected person. This is because the viral RNA is protected by a double layer of lipids, which is highly sensitive to adverse environmental conditions (Bouvier & Palese). As such, the only way in which the virus could be contracted is majorly from an infected person either through coughs, sneezes, and handshakes.

Most interestingly, a person may begin to spread the virus even two days before starting to show influenza symptoms (Bouvier & Palese). The high-risk groups for the contraction of the influenza-like infections/ flu include the elderly, the pregnant women, and the young infants, especially below two years of age.

Once the virus gets into the respiratory tract, it is likely to cause various infections such as inflammations of air sacs (pneumonia), bronchitis, and asthma, which is characterized by the twitchiness of the smooth muscles within the walls of the bronchus.

Unlike the body cells that contain the DNA, the influenza cell contains the RNA enclosed within a protein layer. The human cells are surrounded by sialic acid, which is essential in explaining how the influenza cells get into and outside the cells. The Hemagglutinin is a protein that holds onto the sialic acid surrounding the influenza cell. Neuraminidase contained on the outer layer of the influenza virus performs the role of cutting the sialic acid; thus, the virus can break free.

Once the influenza cell gets into the human cell, they release the RNA into the cell nucleus where they take over and begin to make many copies of themselves. They continue to manufacture little proteins, viral proteins, and the viral RNA within the human nucleus. As such, the human cell would be deprived of its ability to perform its functions. Once the influenza virus dominates one cell, they replicate into several daughter cells, which then invade other human cells using the Hemagglutinin.

Most importantly, when the virus gets into the human cells, the human cells get damaged and begin to die; thus, the contents start to leak out (Bouvier & Palese). As such, the leaking of the cell contents causes inflammation in the respiratory tract. Therefore, when such inflammation occurs in the nose, it causes stuffy nose, sore throats when it happens in the throat et cetera.

Types of Flu or Influenza Virus

The types of flu/ influenza virus could be classified into types A, B, and C.

Type A-This type is characterized by both respiratory symptoms and some constitutional symptoms. As such, the flu could be termed as an epidemic (Bouvier & Palese). This type also has a vaccine. The mutation rate of the flu in type A is higher compared to other types. Most fundamentally, there is a considerable genetic shift in type the flu. It is also considered a pandemic since it results in massive deaths across a wide geographical area.

Type B- Type B flu exhibits almost the same characteristics as the type with the main difference being that type B is a mild form of type A. It is also regarded as an epidemic since more people are often affected by the virus (Bouvier & Palese). As such, type B is also in the vaccine and lacks a genetic shift. However, unlike Type A, this type of flu is not regarded as a pandemic.

Type C- This type of influenza is usually characterized by only respiratory symptoms such as the sore throats, the stuffy nose, among other respiratory symptoms (Bouvier & Palese). However, type C influenza is not considered an epidemic. Type C lacks a vaccine and is characterized by the lowest mutation rate for the flu. Quite significantly, the type C flu also requires the genetic shift, like in the case of type B flu. This type of flu is also not regarded as a pandemic.

Work Cited

Bouvier, Nicole & Palese, Peter. (2008). The Biology of influenza viruses. Vaccine. 26 Suppl 4. D49-53. 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.07.039.

Videos Cited

https://youtu.be/4czg3aKmfXs

(1918 pandemic partner webinar)

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/health-and-medicine/infectious diseases/influenza/v/what-is-the-flu