- published: 17 Dec 2014
- views: 120460
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses), that affects birds and mammals. The most common symptoms of the disease are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness/fatigue and general discomfort. Although it is often confused with other influenza-like illnesses, especially the common cold, influenza is a more severe disease than the common cold and is caused by a different type of virus. Influenza may produce nausea and vomiting, particularly in children, but these symptoms are more common in the unrelated gastroenteritis, which is sometimes, inaccurately, referred to as "stomach flu." Approximately 33% of persons with influenza are asymptomatic.
On the other side of the spectrum, flu can occasionally lead to pneumonia, either direct viral pneumonia or secondary bacterial pneumonia, even for persons who are usually very healthy. In particular it is a warning sign if a child (or presumably an adult) seems to be getting better and then relapses with a high fever as this relapse may be bacterial pneumonia. Another warning sign is if the person starts to have trouble breathing. A 2009 New England Journal of Medicine article stated that it is difficult to tell bacterial from viral pneumonia and recommended that patients with influenza who show signs of pneumonia be treated with both antivirals and antibiotics.
Slowly writing me out of the story
The way your words can strangle
The lack thereof can blind
Lay by me you aren't here
And ankles bound by obligation
For all the presents broken
And promises bought
And religion and respect sought after
You can't answer
I have made you mine
[I feel cold and I feel bitter)
Fashioned little to be recognized [and I look small]
Oh, my dream [have gotten frail]
This week I'm weak and trying to recall
Why I came to you again
And you smile and try to mean what you say
You're swallowed in teeth and try to repay
Replay the scene you can replace
What you dreamed
Going door to door
To find myself
You try to stay faithful to my pride
To blend into the end
To fit the mean