Influenza: Types and Symptoms (Nursing)

00:00 Hi! Welcome to our pharmacology video series.

00:03 In this one we're looking at antiviral medications, but specifically drugs for influenza.

00:10 So let's start right off the bat with what is influenza.

00:14 Now influenza is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system.

00:19 So we're talking about your nose, throat and lungs.

00:23 Now, we commonly call it the flu right? but it's not the same as a stomach bug or flu those are viruses that cause diarrhea and vomiting.

00:32 Now some worms of influenza have come with some GI distress, but usually we're speaking of influenza or talking about your respiratory system nose, throat and lungs.

00:44 Now, let's focus on type A and type B.

00:47 I want you to understand the differences in these two.

00:50 Now, these are usually the most serious is type A.

00:54 So when we start thinking about what type of flu, is someone positive for.

00:58 Type A is usually going to be a little more intense than or a lot more intense than a type B string.

01:04 So this one is most likely to mutate, Why that's a problem is because it's going to mutate into a new version that people aren't resistant to.

01:13 Remember when you get the flu vaccine.

01:15 Well, that's based on what we guest several months before you receive the vaccine.

01:21 They have to just take a very good educated guess on what type of flu, influenza, is going to be active in your region of the world.

01:30 Type A is the one that's most likely to mutate into something that you're not resistant to .

01:35 So many flu pandemics in the past have been the type A strain and that's why.

01:40 So if we look like H1N1 or swine flu, that's an example of a type A flu virus.

01:48 Type B, Usually little less severe illness than type A and it mainly affects young children.

01:55 Okay, so pause spend a little bit of time here and make sure you're clear.

02:00 The difference between Type A and type B to remember an example of type A and make sure you're solid on that before you move forward with us in the rest of the video.

02:15 So let's look at the symptoms of influenza usually have a fever.

02:20 Now if your Fahrenheit over 100.4 or greater than 38 degrees Celsius, you just feel miserable.

02:28 I've only had the flu one time but I decided right then and there I don't ever want to get this again.

02:35 So you have aching muscles.

02:37 I feel like a truck had run over me.

02:39 You had chills and sweats and I kind of vacillated back and forth between being freezing and then h ot hot hot.

02:46 Yeah, the headache just feel overall miserable had this dry persistent cough.

02:51 I was exhausted.

02:54 My nose was all stuffed up and I had a really sore throat.

02:58 So you think it's not any worse than a cold? Yes.

03:02 It definitely can be worse than just a cold.

03:07 So these are the very kind of vague symptoms that patients will have, I experienced it.

03:12 It felt what it worse than a cold but remember different patients are going to have different experiences with it.

03:19 But these are the classic symptoms that are in common with influenza.