Influenza is an acute virus disease that is characterized by acute toxicosis, moderate catarrhal signs with most intensive affection of trachea and bronchi.
The clinical picture of influenza and acute respiratory diseases caused by different kinds of viruses, for compatibility of common toxic symptoms, has many common features.
Usually influenza starts acutely. Incubation period as a rule lasts 1- 2 days but it can last 5 days.
Then starts period of acute clinical manifestation. Disease severity depends on many factors: general condition, age, also it is necessary to know if patient contacted with this type of virus before. Depending on all those factors patient can have one of four types of influenza: mild, moderately severe, severe, hypertoxic. Symptoms and their intensity depend on disease severity.
In case of mild influenza forms (including subclinical forms) body temperature can remain normal or it can rise up to 38C. Symptoms of infective toxicosis are mild or are missing.
In case of moderately severe influenza form, body temperature rises up to 38,5-39,5°С and are common the next symptoms:
1) Intoxication
- abundant sweating
- lack of energy
- photophobia
- joint and muscle pain
- headache
2) Catarrhal symptoms
- hyperemia of velum and back of the throat
- conjunctiva hyperemia
3) Respiratory symptoms
- affection of throat and trachea
- dry painful cough (in some cases wet cough)
- phonation defect
- chest pains
- rhinitis (cold)
- hyperemia
- dryness of nasal lining and swallow
Lungs skip lesion syndrome is a dynamically growing (for several hours) pulmonary heart disease with typical segmental shade in one of lungs. In case of favorable result clinicoroentgenological changes are solved in 2-3 days practically entirely – this is the major difference from pneumonia. In case of hypertoxic form of influenza is possible to have wet lungs usually ending with hemorrhagic pneumonia.
Abdominal syndrome:
- abdominal pains
- diarrhea occurs rarely and as a rule it is a sign of other infections. What is known as “Norovirus” is caused not by influenza virus.
Severe form of influenza
Body temperature rises up to 40-40,5°С. In addition to the symptoms specific for moderately severe influenza form also may appear signs of encephalopathy (psychosis state, convulsive attack, hallucination), vascular disorders (nose bleed), vomit.Hypertoxic form of influenza.
There is a serious danger of fatal case especially for diseased from risk group.When influenza courses without any complications, fever lasts 2-4 days and finally patient is recovered in 5 days. It is possible to have occasional temperature rises which are usually associated with bacterial flora lay-up or another virus respiratory infection.
