is the flu a virus or bacteria

Other viruses and some bacteria can cause infections with similar symptoms but the flu is always viral. Even your doctor cant tell if your infection is viral or bacterial based solely on symptoms or an exam.

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Different strains of influenza A and influenza B emerge and circulate each year.

. Unlike bacteria viruses cant survive without a host. Review the full list of. Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose throat and sometimes the lungs. The flu and bacteria.

The common cold is also a viral infection caused by the adenovirus or. Bacteria were the real killers in 1918 flu pandemic. They can occur with viral infections too. Flu is not a bacterial infection however bacterial infections may sometimes be associated with the flu.

Unlike upper respiratory infections the flus duration -- if detected within the first 48 hours of illness -- can be shortened by antiviral medication. LeArchitectoiStock via Getty Images. The flu also called influenza is a common illness caused by a virus. This infection could.

But a study in the Lancet this week which looked at patients in China showed that. Many people infected with the coronavirus do not feel sick or have only mild symptoms but they can still transmit the coronavirus to other people. Flu A and B viruses are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics more commonly known as the flu season. Many people do not know the difference between a viral infection and a bacterial one and consider them interchangeable.

Commonly referred to as stomach flu or stomach bug it is an inflammation of the stomach and lining of the intestines which is called the gastrointestinal GI tract. All they have is a protein coat and a core of genetic material either RNA or DNA. Viruses are sub-microscopic particles ranging in. Perhaps the most important distinction between bacteria and viruses is that antibiotic drugs usually kill bacteria but they arent effective against viruses.

Much of the care for viruses is preventive. Coming into contact with surfaces contaminated with the bacteria such as doorknobs or faucet handles and then touching your face nose or mouth. Influenza-associated bacterial and viral infections are responsible for high levels of morbidity and death during pandemic and seasonal influenza episodes. The flu is a viral infection caused by the influenza virus a respiratory virus.

Medical and scientific experts now agree that bacteria not influenza viruses were the greatest cause of. Transmission of Flu Viruses from Animals to People Flu A viruses also are found in many different animals including ducks chickens pigs horses whales and seals. The Swine Flu is a viral infection rather than a bacterial infection which makes it harder to treat. Fever above 1004 degrees.

It can cause mild to severe illness and at times can lead to death. Influenza is a viral illness that can cause many of the same symptoms but also is frequently accompanied by intense body aches and higher fever. The best way to prevent flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year. A cold may drag you down a bit but the flu can make.

Yet they are quite different. They can only reproduce by attaching themselves to cells. There are two main types of influenza virus called influenza A and influenza B. This happens if the influenza virus weakens the immune response of the body so it becomes more susceptible to bacterial infections.

Getting a vaccine if available is the best way to prevent any infection. A review was undertaken to assess and evaluate the incidence epidemiology aetiology clinical importance and impact of bacterial and viral co-. The flu usually comes on suddenly while pneumonia takes longer to develop and can be a complication from the flu. A potentially fatal combination.

Body aches and pains. Some varieties live in extremes of cold or heat. Caused by the influenza virus. How Flu Viruses Can Change Flu viruses can change in two different waysantigenic drift and antigenic shift.

The common cold and flu are both contagious viral infections of the respiratory tract. The flu is caused by a viral infection while pneumonia can be caused by either a bacterial infection or viral infection. Others make their home in peoples intestines where they help digest food. Viruses are hard to treat after they have entered a living host.

The flu virus typically sheds in the first two days after symptoms start and this can last for up to a week. The flu is caused by an infection with the influenza virus which mainly attacks the upper respiratory tract -- the nose throat and bronchi. Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that thrive in many different types of environments. Although the symptoms can be similar flu is much worse.

Bacterial infections are a completely different entity from viral infections.

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