What is flu and how to protect ourselves from infections
Flu is the upper respiratory tract infections caused specifically by influenza virus.
Influenza virus infection increases the risk of development of other infections, such as viral or bacterial pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs) that damages the lungs and which may result in a life-threatening complications. The following group of people is at a high risk of complications:
- Elderly people (65 years and above)
- Younger children
- People with chronic diseases of lungs or heart
- Patients with other chronic diseases whose immune system is weakened
- Healthy pregnant women, especially from the second half of pregnancy
Often any respiratory viral infections are called the flue, for example, the so-called “common cold” or “enterovirus”. However, we must keep in mind that these are different diseases and, unlike the flu, the progression and the complications of “common cold” or “enterovirus” are much lighter. It should also be noted that neither influenza vaccine nor antiviral therapy of flu are effective in this case (e.g. Tamiflu).
