Viral Infection

Overview of Viral Infection (Influenza)

About 30–50% of acute lower respiratory tract infections are viral in origin; of these influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are associated with maximum disease burden.

Intubation period i.e.: 1 to 3 Days

Indian epidemiology then other

Causes of Viral Infection (Influenza)

• Influenza viruses travel through the air in droplets when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes or talks.
• You can inhale the droplets directly, or you can pick up the germs from an object — such as a telephone or computer keyboard — and then transfer them to your eyes, nose or mouth.
• People with the virus are likely contagious from about a day before symptoms appear until about five days after they start. Children and people with weakened immune systems may be contagious for a slightly longer time.
• Influenza viruses are constantly changing, with new strains appearing regularly. If you’ve had influenza in the past, your body has already made antibodies to fight that specific strain of the virus. If future influenza viruses are similar to those you’ve encountered before, either by having the disease or by getting vaccinated, those antibodies may prevent infection or lessen its severity. But antibody levels may decline over time.
• Also, antibodies against influenza viruses you’ve encountered in the past may not protect you from new influenza strains that can be very different viruses from what you had before.

Classification of Viral Infection (Influenza)

There are three types A, B, C virus.

Influenza type A virus

• It is further classified according to the properties of their surface protein, haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) found on the surfaces of influenza viruses.
• There are 16 known HA subtypes and 9 known NA subtypes which can combine to create novel combinations of influenza.
• The typical seasonal influenza viruses exhibit frequent point mutations that lead to gradual shifts in their genomes.
• This process is known as antigenic drift, and it is the reason that new influenza vaccines must be prepared each year.
• Poultry are the natural reservoirs of type A influenza Viruses.

Type B virus Influenza

• Found in human and have cased epidemics in past, but never cause pandemic.

Influenza type C virus

• Causing mild illness in adults.

Risk factor of Viral Infection (Influenza)

Factors that may increase your risk of developing the flu or its complications include i.e.:

• Age- Seasonal influenza tends to target children 6 months to 5 years old, and adults 65 years old or older.
• Living or working conditions- People who live or work in facilities with many other residents, such as nursing homes or military barracks, are more likely to develop the flu. People who are staying in the hospital also are at higher risk.
• Weakened immune system- Cancer treatments, anti-rejection drugs, long-term use of steroids, organ transplant, blood cancer or HIV/AIDS can weaken the immune system. This can make it easier to catch the flu and may also increase the risk of developing complications.
• Chronic illnesses- Chronic conditions, including lung diseases such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, nervous system diseases, metabolic disorders, an airway abnormality, and kidney, liver or blood disease, may increase the risk of influenza complications.
• Race- Native American people may have an increased risk of influenza complications.
• Aspirin use under age 19- People who are younger than 19 years of age and receiving long-term aspirin therapy are at risk of developing Reye’s syndrome if infected with influenza.
• Pregnancy- Pregnant women are more likely to develop influenza complications, particularly in the second and third trimesters. Women are more likely to develop influenza-related complications up to two weeks after delivering their babies.
• Obesity– People with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more have an increased risk of flu complications.

Pathogenesis refers to the development of a disease. It’s the story of how a disease gets started and progresses.

This is the entire journey of a disease, encompassing the cause but going beyond it.

Pathophysiology, on the other hand, focuses on the functional changes that occur in the body due to the disease. It explains how the disease disrupts normal physiological processes and how this disruption leads to the signs and symptoms we see.

Imagine a car accident. Pathogenesis would be like understanding how the accident happened – what caused it, the sequence of events (e.g., one car ran a red light, then hit another car). Pathophysiology would be like understanding the damage caused by the accident – the bent fenders, deployed airbags, and any injuries to the passengers.

In simpler terms, pathogenesis is about the "why" of a disease, while pathophysiology is about the "how" of the disease’s effects.

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Sign & Symptoms of Viral Infection (Influenza)

Clinical features of influenza A and B illness.

Onset – Sudden with fever, chilly sensations, and prostration, catarrhal symptoms, headache, pains and dry cough. Sometimes erythematous rash.

Clinical Types

1. Febrile type i.e.– Only constitutional symptoms – fever, malaise, headache, severe body ache, catarrh, congestion of eyes and throat, rapid prostration. Dry cough with few or no signs in chest. Fever lasts for 4 to 6 days, there may be relative bradycardia.
2. Respiratory types i.e.

• Bronchitis also bronchopneumonia.
• Pleurisy, empyema not uncommon.
• Pneumonia –

(i) Fulminating rapidly fatal form in which pneumonia is present from the onset.

(ii) Progressive form in which on the 2nd or 4th day signs of pneumonia begin to develop with copious fine crepitations usually basal. The sputum may be pinkish, frothy and copious, or tenacious mucus of several hues.

(iii) Late form in which often after apparent recovery from the primary influenza, pneumonia suddenly supervenes on the 4th to 10th day after the onset.

3. GI type i.e.– Temperature rarely above 37.5°C, severe anorexia and vomiting, abdominal discomfort and general prostration. Tympanites, diarrhea and continued fever may simulate typhoid fever.
4. Malignant type i.e.– Severe toxemia, cyanosis and rapid cardiac failure. Always fatal.
5. Nervous type i.e.– Headache sometimes very severe, delirium, intense depression which may continue after the acute illness. A true meningitis may occur.

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Diagnosis of Viral Infection (Influenza)

• The GeneXpert system can perform rapid and accurate determination of Flu A and Flu B infection along with identification of the H1N1 novel influenza virus strain.
• The assay results are obtained in 2 hours which is important in starting appropriate therapy and maximizing infection control measures.

Complications of Viral Infection (Influenza)

Respiratory –

• Bacterial bronchopneumonia or lobar pneumonia, less often pure viral pneumonia.
• Staphylococcal pneumonia is a serious sequel and may be fatal, less severe infections may result in lung abscess.

Nervous system –

• Post-influenzas psychoses, insomnia, irritability, polyneuritis, neurasthenia, meningitis and hemorrhagic encephalitis.

Circulatory system –

• Cardiac dilatation, irregularities, pericarditis, endocarditis.

Suppuration –

• Otitis media, mastoiditis, sinusitis.

Miscellaneous –

• Thrombophlebitis, arthritis, orchitis, myositis, nephritis, intestinal hemorrhage.

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Treatment of Viral Infection (Influenza)

• Analgesics and sedatives
• Cough suppressive such as codeine.
• Antibiotics for secondary infections such as otitis media and pneumonia.
• Antiviral drug – Neuraminidase inhibitors – action viral neuraminidase, and prevent release of virus particles from infected cells and can be given poor by inhalation.

Prevention of Viral Infection (Influenza)

• Vaccines – Haemophiles influenzae type B conjugate vaccine 1 mL sub cut; or 0.1–0.2 mL intradermally given 1–2 weeks apart gives moderate temporary protection against current strains.
• Anti-viral agents – Ribavirin 100–200 mg is effective as vaccination against Influenza A strains and may be started at the same time as vaccination to provide protection until immunity develops.

Homeopathic Treatment of Viral Infection (Influenza)

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis.

which includes

• The medical history of the patient,
• Physical and mental constitution,
• Family history,
• Presenting symptoms,
• Underlying pathology,
• Possible causative factors etc.

A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions.

What Homoeopathic doctors do?

A homeopathy doctor tries to treat more than just the presenting symptoms. The focus is usually on what caused the disease condition? Why ‘this patient’ is sick ‘this way’?.

The disease diagnosis is important but in homeopathy, the cause of disease not just probed to the level of bacteria and viruses. Other factors like mental, emotional and physical stress that could predispose a person to illness also looked for. No a days, even modern medicine also considers a large number of diseases as psychosomatic. The correct homeopathy remedy tries to correct this disease predisposition.

The focus is not on curing the disease but to cure the person who is sick, to restore the health. If a disease pathology not very advanced, homeopathy remedies do give a hope for cure but even in incurable cases, the quality of life can greatly improved with homeopathic medicines.

Homeopathic Medicines for Viral Infection (Influenza)

The homeopathic remedies (medicines) given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the homeopathy treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each homeopathic remedy may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications also taken into account for selecting a remedy.

Medicines:

Aconite

• Rapid onset of symptoms after exposure to either chill or cold dry winds.
• Terrible anxiety also restlessness with onset of the illness.
• High fever with hot head also chilled body.
• Besides this, Flushes of heat alternate with bouts of shivering, very thirsty for large quantities of cold water.
• Dry hard cough.
• Worse – especially warm room, night, dry cold winds, noise. On other hand, Better – open air.

Belladonna

• In general, Rapid violent onset with very high fever.
• Sudden emergence of symptoms with very sore, red throat also dry, hot skin.
• Furthermore, Temperature is so high that the skin radiates heat.
• Full, rapid pulse.
• Restless, irritable and sensitive to light, noise also movement.
• Throbbing throughout the body. Additionally, Violent headache.
• Usually there is no thirst.
• Worse – noise, touch, jarring, specifically lying down, light. Whereas, Better – Semi erect.

Gelsemium

• Characteristic flu symptoms of heaviness, shivering also heavy, aching limbs.
• Great weakness and trembling, shaking. Chills up also down spine.
• In detail, Droopy heavy eyelids with glassy eyes, Dusky red complexion with very dry, cracked lips.
• Dry cough, Bursting Headache.
• Fever with no thirst.
• The person wants to lie very still.
• Worse – especially, damp weather, thinking of his ailments.

Eupatorium

• Severe aching in the bones especially eye sockets, wrists, back also limbs.
• Weak, restless, chilly and nauseated.
• Thirst less or a thirst for cold drinks. In detail, Eyeballs feel sore.
• Bursting headache.
• Worse coughing. On the other hand, Better sweating.

Arsenic Alb

• High temperature with extreme chilliness also restlessness.
• Anxious, shivery, prostrated and terribly cold.
• Burning pain better specifically for warmth.
• Tight wheezy chest and dry, irritating cough are worse especially at night, must sit up for relief.
• Furthermore, Nasal discharge is clear, copious and acrid, bums the nostrils.
• Thirst for tiny amounts of water.
• Worse – night, cold food or drinks, exertion. On the other hand, Better – resting, warmth, sips of warm drinks.

Bryonia

• Bad tempered also discontented with feeling unwell.
• Pain through the whole body, wants to lie still and be left alone, irritable if disturbed.
• General sense of dehydration, with flushed dry skin, dry throat and mouth with great thirst for cold water.
• Cough dry, hard also painful.
• Severe headache also constipation.
• Worse – specifically by any movement.

Rhus tox

• Tosses about in bed at night trying to get comfortable.
• Moreover, Difficulty in sleeping from aching muscles.
• Fever progresses slowly.
• Pain with great restlessness.
• Feels worse for keeping still also better for gentle movement.
• Dry mouth and lips. In detail, They take small sips of water to keep the mouth moist.
• Hard inflamed glands also thick green mucous discharge.
• Cold sores often develop on the lower lip within 12 hours of onset of illness.
• Better – gentle movement, warmth.

Nux vomica

• Craves heat yet cannot get warm enough.
• Shivering and chilly especially after drinking with violent cough, wants to eat during the cough.
• Chilliness on least movement.
• Worse – open air.[2]

Diet & Regimen of Viral Infection (Influenza)

• Adequate rest
• Keep drinking water
• Wash hand frequently
• Wear Face mask while sneezing or coughing.

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References use for Article Viral Infection (Influenza)

[1] Text Book of Medicine Golwala 25^th edition

[2] Homoeopathic Body-System Prescribing – A Practical Workbook of Sector Remedies

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Viral Infection?

An acute Viral Infection of the nasopharynx and respiratory tract which occurs in epidemics. The virus is spread by airborne infection from coughs and sneezes.

Homeopathic Medicines used by Homeopathic Doctors in treatment of Viral Infection?

• Aconite
• Belladonna
• Gelsemium
• Eupatorium
• Arsenic Alb
• Bryonia
• Rhus tox
• Nux vomica

What triggers Viral Infection?

• Age
• Living or working conditions
• Weakened immune system
• Chronic illnesses
• Race
• Aspirin use under age 19
• Pregnancy
• Obesity

What are the types of Viral Infection?

• Influenza Type A virus
• Type B virus Influenza
• Type C virus Influenza

Give the symptoms of Viral Infection?

• Sudden with fever
• Chilly sensations
• Prostration
• Catarrhal symptoms
• Headache
• Pains and dry cough
• Erythematous rash.