What is Influenza
Influenza is caused by a virus that attacks mainly the upper respiratory tract – the nose, throat and bronchi and rarely also the lungs. The infection usually lasts for about a week. It is characterized by sudden onset of high fever, myalgia, headache and severe malaise, non-productive cough, sore throat, and rhinitis.
How it is spread
Influenza like illness otherwise known as Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) is an acute viral infection that spreads easily from one person to another. It can affect anybody in any age group. It usually causes annual epidemics that peak during winter in temperate regions.
The
World Health Organization recommends vaccination as the most important measure to combat ARIs.
ARI Impact on Children
In children influenza poses a serious risk which can lead to severe complications of underlying diseases, pneumonia and death. Acute respiratory infection is the most common acute infection in children in every continent.
According to Jamison et al. (2006) ARIs and particularly Lower Respiratory Tract Infections are responsible for 1.9 million and 2.2 million childhood deaths globally.
In addition to its impact on child death infection with influenza (Flu) has been shown to impair children's attention and reaction time. It also affects hand-eye coordination and reduces the ability to tolerate high levels of noise, leading to children being distracted from learning activities.
In addition to environmental factors,
Vitamin A deficiency can lead to promotion of respiratory infections by damaging the lungs and thus reducing resistance.
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