Influenza Flashcards
When does seasonal influenza occur?
Winter (dec-feb)
More severe epidemics every 11y
What vitamin is thought to help prevent viral infection?
Vit D
What kind of virus is influenza?
RNA virus
Of the orthomyoxviridae family
What are the main groups of influenza?
A
B
C
What are the surface proteins on the influenza virus?
Haemagglutinin (H) - facilitates viral attachment and entry into host cells (18 diff types)
Neuraminidase (N) - enables new virions to be released from host cells (11 diff types)
What is antigenic drift?
Genetic variation within virus
Causes epidemics
Due to small on-going point mutations in genes coding for Ab binding sites (minor changes in H and N) that does not alter the subtype
Leads to worse than normal epidemics & vaccine mismatch
What is antigenic shift?
Abrupt major chance in virus leading to new H and N combinations
Two different subtypes of virus enter same cell and there is mixing to form different combination
New antigenic properties –> population at risk and unprotected –> pandemics
What are the differences between pandemic and seasonal flu?
Pandemic occurs sporadically, affects 25% of pop or more and is more serious with more complications
Seasonal occurs every winter, affects 10-15% of population, and tends not to be lifethreatening
What are the requirements of a pandemic?
Human pathogenicity
New virus (antigenic shift)
Efficient person to person spread
What is the incubation period of the influenza virus?
2-4 days (range: 1-7)
What are the clinical features of influenza?
Abrupt fever (up to 41C) lasting 3 days (1-5) plus 2+ of: cough, myalgia, headache, malaise (sore throat, rhinorrhoea)
Less common symptoms: N/V, diarrhoea
What is the Who definition for an influenza like illness?
Fever (>38C) + cough
Onset within last 10 days
If influenza requires hospitalisation what is it called?
Severe, acute respiratory infection (SARI)
How is the influenza virus transmitted?
Airborne (large droplets >5microns), contact (direct - person to person or indirect (person-fomite-person)
What is viral shedding?
Repulsion and release of a virus after successful replication inside the host
When does viral shedding occur?
In the firsts 4 days of illness (range: 1-7 days)
But longer in children/immunocompromised
How long does the influenza virus survive on non-porous surfaces?
24-48h
How long does the influenza virus survive on porous surfaces?
8-12h
What are risk factors for complicated influenza?
Neurological, pulmonary, cardio, renal or hepatic disease DM Severe immunosuppression Age >65 Pregnancy (incl. 2 weeks post partum) Children <6m Morbid obesity (BMI >40)
What are the common complications of flu?
Acute bronchitis
Secondary bacterial pneumonia
When does secondary bacterial pneumonia appear?
4-5 days after flu
What microbes can cause secondary bacterial pneumonia?
S. pneumonia
Staph aureus
H. influenzae