¿Qué es la influenza?
Es una enfermedad de las vías respiratorias causada por un virus extremadamente contagioso, existen tres tipos diferentes de virus (A, B, C) los cuales pueden mutar (cambiar), y existen varios subtipos. Afecta a todas las edades, y en mutaciones importantes del virus suele causar complicaciones graves e incluso la muerte en un gran número de personas, frecuentemente niños y ancianos.
¿Resfriado es igual que Influenza?
Ambas son enfermedades respiratorias y tienen síntomas comunes, pero el microrganismo que causa la Influenza es diferente y más severo al que causa el resfriado o gripe común.
Police officers, wearing surgical mask as a precaution against infection, close down the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, Friday April 24, 2009. Mexico shut down schools, museums, libraries and state-run theaters across its overcrowded capital in hopes of containing a swine flu outbreak that authorities say killed at least 20 people and perhaps dozens more. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
Police officers, wearing surgical mask as a precaution against infection, close down the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, Friday April 24, 2009. Mexico shut down schools, museums, libraries and state-run theaters across its overcrowded capital in hopes of containing a swine flu outbreak that authorities say killed at least 20 people and perhaps dozens more. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
AP
Mexico's Health Secretary Jose Cordova arrives for a press conference in Mexico City, Friday April 24, 2009. Mexican authorities said 60 people may have died from a swine flu virus in Mexico, and world health officials worry it could unleash a global flu epidemic. In background, a sign that reads in Spanish "Living better." (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
AP
Health care workers talk at the Centers for Disease Control Emergency Operations headquarters regarding the swine flu outbreak in Atlanta, Georgia April 24, 2009. A strain of flu never seen before has killed up to 60 people in Mexico and has also appeared in the United States, where eight people were infected but recovered, health officials said on Friday. REUTERS/Tami Chappell (UNITED STATES HEALTH ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY)
Reuters
People wear masks as they walk with their bags inside Mexico City's international airport April 24, 2009. The majority of the people killed in Mexico's fatal flu outbreak were adults between 25 and 45 years old, a Mexican health official said on Friday. REUTERS/Felipe Leon (MEXICO SOCIETY HEALTH ENVIRONMENT)
Reuters
People wear masks as they walk with their bags inside Mexico City's international airport April 24, 2009. The majority of the people killed in Mexico's fatal flu outbreak were adults between 25 and 45 years old, a Mexican health official said on Friday. REUTERS/Felipe Leon (MEXICO SOCIETY HEALTH ENVIRONMENT)
Reuters
Mexico's Health Secretary Jose Cordova gestures as he speaks during a press conference in Mexico City, Friday April 24, 2009. Mexican authorities said 60 people may have died from a swine flu virus in Mexico, and world health officials worry it could unleash a global flu epidemic. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
AP
A couple wears surgical masks while riding the subway in Mexico City, Mexico, Friday, April 24, 2009. Mexico closed its schools across its capital Friday after at least 16 otherwise healthy people died and more than 900 others fell ill from what could be a new strain of swine flu. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
AP
U.S. Centers for Disease Control acting director Dr. Richard Besser answers questions regarding the swine flu at the Centers for Disease Control headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia April 24, 2009. A strain of flu never seen before has killed up to 60 people in Mexico and has also appeared in the United States, where eight people were infected but recovered, health officials said on Friday. REUTERS/Tami Chappell (UNITED STATES HEALTH ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY)
Reuters
People wear masks as they stand with their bags inside Mexico City's international airport April 24, 2009. The majority of the people killed in Mexico's fatal flu outbreak were adults between 25 and 45 years old, a Mexican health official said on Friday. REUTERS/Felipe Leon (MEXICO SOCIETY HEALTH ENVIRONMENT)
Reuters
Mexico's Health Secretary Jose Cordova gestures as he speaks during a press conference in Mexico City, Friday April 24, 2009. Mexican authorities said 60 people may have died from a swine flu virus in Mexico, and world health officials worry it could unleash a global flu epidemic. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
AP
Los síntomas de la influenza de tipo A incluyen:
- Letargo
- Falta de apetito
- Tos
- Algunas personas presentan humedad en la nariz
- Sequedad de garganta
- En casos extremos nausea, vómitos y/o diarrea.
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Tu busto puede reducirse
¿Qué bebida podría provocar esto? Descubre eso y más aquí.
¿Cómo se contagia la Influenza?
De persona a persona a través de las secreciones de nariz y boca (toser, estornudar, hablar, cantar) o por contacto directo (las manos, cuando el enfermo no se las lava, los besos). Es muy contagiosa y de mayor riesgo cuando ocurre en lugares cerrados (estancias, guarderías infantiles, escuelas, asilos, albergues, entre otros). Se estima que ante una epidemia esta podría recorrer el mundo en un periodo de 3 a 6 meses.
¿Cómo saber que es Influenza?
Es necesario visitar al médico y de inmediato para que pueda realizar un examen clínico detallado e investigue antecedentes de otros enfermos, contactos y viajes. El diagnóstico se realiza mediante la identificación del virus en secreciones de nariz o laringe (aislamiento viral) durante las primeras 24-72 horas de iniciada la enfermedad, o mediante el estudio de sangre para identificar anticuerpos.
¿Además de la vacuna existen recomendaciones para evitar la Influenza?
No enfermos:
1. Comer frutas y verduras ricas en vitamina A y C (zanahoria, papaya, guayaba, naranja, mandarina, lima, limón y piña).
2. Lavarse las manos con frecuencia, principalmente después de tener contacto con enfermos.
3. Evitar exposición a contaminantes ambientales, no fumar en lugares cerrados ni cerca de niños, ancianos o personas enfermas. Evitar eventos masivos.
Virus a tu alcance
Vivimos cerca de los gérmenes y convivimos en paz con ellos.
Para enfermos:
1. No automedicarse.
2. Evite el uso de aspirinas o medicamentos similares que contengan ácido acetil salicílico.
3. Controle la fiebre con medios físicos. Si persisten las molestias consulte a su médico.
4. Completo reposo en casa, tomar líquidos abundantes y mantener alimentación habitual.
5. En caso de niños pequeños, mantener la alimentación de pecho materno.
6. Evitar lugares de alta concentración poblacional (cines, teatros, bares, autobuses, metro, etc).
7. Cubrir nariz y boca con pañuelos desechables al toser o estornudar y lavarse las manos para proteger a las demás personas.
8. No saludar de forma directa (de beso o mano) para no contagiar a otras personas.
9. Evitar contacto de niños enfermos con ancianos o personas con enfermedades crónicas.
10. Lavar los utensilios de los enfermos (después de comer) con agua caliente y jabón para matar los microbios.
11. Mantenerse alejado de multitudes y sitios públicos.
12. Acudir a su Unidad de Salud más cercana o consultar al médico especialmente niños y ancianos con fiebre alta, debilidad generalizada, dificultad al respirar, tos seca persistente y dolores musculares.
Fuente: Instituto de Enfermedades Respiratorias, INER México
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