Essay on Various Causes of Influenza

INFLUEZA

INFLUENZA
Influenza is an infectious disease commonly caused due to presence of virus in the body.
Since, it is a communicable disease it become important for the individual affected by the virus
to be away from other people so that its spread can be barricaded (Torii and et.al., 2016). The
essay discusses the case of an individual named Mr. Abeo Okafor who is 88 years old individual
and showing the symptoms of influenza. The essay makes a comprehensive discussion of
various causes of influenza. Moreover, it will discuss that influenza can spread through various
ways such as, sneeze, cough etc. It is also important to make adequate changes in nursing home
set up so that other people do not get affected by it. These methods will also be briefly discussed
in the essay.
Influenza is commonly called as ‘flu’ which comes under the periphery of infectious disease which is
caused by influenza virus. The common symptoms of influenza include, high fever, sore throat, runny
nose, headache, muscle pain, tiredness and coughing. These symptoms are commonly reflected by the
body after 2 days of coming in contact with the infectious virus (Dobson and et.al., 2015). It generally
last for almost a week in mild cases. Nausea and vomiting are other common symptoms that are
majorly found in children and elderly people suffering from influenza. However, the same is not
common in adults. In severe cases, certain complications are attached to influenza, which
includes, sinus infection, worsening asthma, bacterial pneumonia and heart failure. Basically,
there are three types of influenza. These are, Type A, Type B and Type C (Chen and et.al.,
2014). It usually spreads through the air from sneezes and coughs. The risk of influenza is higher
over relatively short distances. Touching the surfaces already contaminated through the virus and
then touching hands and mouth increase its occurrence in people. It is then inhaled in the lungs
which causes infection. Large particles respiratory droplet transmission where the person gets
infected through close contact when these droplets travel through the air. Airborne transmission
is difficult to take place over long distances. However, in this case, other mode of transmission is
rather more affective. In case of elderly people, the risk and impact of influenza is comparatively
higher in comparison to children and adults. Further, the presence of chronic disease is higher
which more likely to develop the issue of influenza. There are certain common symptoms that
are related to the disease and can be serious complications for elderly people (Impagliazzo and
et.al., 2015). These are, difficulty in breathing, shaking, chills, chest pain, coughing with thick
greenish yellow mucous and high fever. The complications can worsen the conditions of the
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patient if the patient is already suffering from heart disease, asthma, diabetes, COPD and
emphysema. Extreme cases of influenza condition can lead the patient to sinusitis, bronchitis,
dehydration, ear infection, encephalitis and death.
In order to avoid this incidence, people are advised to stay away from the virus carrier
individual. Further, it is advised to frequently wash hands after touching any surface which may
or may not be infected. Wearing surgical masks have also proved to be an effective technique.
World health organization have also come up with the vaccination of influenza. In that case,
yearly infection against the disease can help in reducing the risk of its incidence (Lam and et.al.,
2015).
The present case of Mr. Abeo Okafor who is 88 years old elderly individual who seems to
have come in the contact of flu. He is a permanent resident of Ruby Gardens Nursing Home and
he is experiencing worsening symptoms of flu. He is facing constant coughing, lack of energy
and appetite loss. The doctors have diagnosed influenza with chest infection. He has been
dwelling in this condition since last one month. When large number of patients are kept in a
nursing care setting, it becomes important for the healthcare managers to take care that infection
does not spread to all. Centres of Disease Control and Prevention have stated that chronic
condition of influenza in elderly people can lead the individual to death (Demicheli and et.al.,
2014). Since, the immunity storage and stamina to fight with antibody is quite low among elderly
people, complication and illness is maximum. Hence, it is recommended to nursing care setting
in the primary way that vaccine must be given to the people residing in it. It will help in
decreasing the incidence of influenza to its residents. People above the age of 65 are at higher
risk of influenza and hence residents of nursing home setting are at higher risk of exposure. It has
been seen that vaccination decrease the chances of influenza by 50% (Influenza in the Nursing
Home, 2012). Moreover, studies have suggested that nursing home with vaccinated patients have
lower influenza patient in comparison to the one to whom vaccine was not given in the nursing
home set up. Since, influenza is a communicable disease, engaging in step of prevention become
an important aspect for a health care setup. Furthermore, nursing homes should keep the infected
patients away from the uninfected one and nurses must also be divided accordingly. It helps in
controlling the spread and movement of virus from one individual to another (Prevention
Strategies for Seasonal Influenza in Healthcare Settings, 2018).
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