Influenza, commonly called “the flu” is caused by the influenza virus, which is the most common disease in the autumn and winter. Each year, about 10% to 20% of people in the US will get the flu and are associated with an average of 20,000 deaths and 114,000 hospitalizations. It attacks the respiratory tract in humans (nose, throat and lungs). The flu usually comes on suddenly and may include these symptoms: fever, headache, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches.

Most people who get the flu will recover in 2 weeks, but some patients will develop life-threatening complications (such as pneumonia) or even death. Patients more than 65 years old, people at any age with chronic medical conditions, and very young children are more likely to get complications from flu.

Cause
Influenza viruses are RNA viruses. There are 3 types of influenza viruses: influenza A, B, and C. Influenza types A or B viruses cause epidemics of disease almost every winter. Type C infections cause a mild respiratory illness and are not thought to cause epidemics.

Influenza A virus can change in many ways, including “antigenic drift” and “antigenic shift”. Antigenic drift produces new virus strains that may not be recognized by the body immune system. As newer virus strains appear, the antibodies against the older strains no longer recognize the “newer” virus, and reinfection can occur. Antigenic shift results in a new influenza A subtype. Most people have little or no protection against the new virus. This is one of the main reasons why people can get the flu more than on time. Therefore, people who what to be protected from flu need to get a flu shot every year.

How the Influenza Virus Spread:
The flu is transmitted when a person who has the flu coughs, sneezes, or speaks and sends flu virus into the air, and other people inhale the virus. The virus enters the nose, throat, or lungs of a person and begins to multiply, causing symptoms of the flu. The incubation period of influenza virus is approximately 2-3 days.

The contagious period is 3-5 days after symptoms appear. Children’s contagious period may prolong to more than 7 days.

The Differences Between the Flu and Common Cold
The common cold is usually mild, with symptoms such as sneezing, scratchy throat, runny nose, lasting from few days up to 2 weeks. More than 200 different viruses are known to cause the symptoms of the common cold. The most common viruses are the rhinoviruses and parainfluenza. Common cold can happen any time throughout the year.

The flu is caused by influenzas A, B and C. It symptoms are more severe and will affect the entire body, including fever and chill, sweating, headache, anorexia, malaise, myalgias, sore throat and cough. In severe cases, the flu might cause pneumonia and other complications, which can be fatal.

Complications
Most common complication is pneumonia, containing viral and bacterial pneumonias. Viral pneumonia has higher morbidity and mortality rates. Bacterial pneumonia is usually cause by pneumococcal or staphylococcal bacteria.

Other complications include otitis media, sinusitis, acute myositis, myocarditis and encephalitis.

Reye syndrome is fatty degeneration of the liver and diffuse encephalopathy; more commonly associated with influenzea B infection, although can occur after influenza A infection as well. It is related with aspirin use during acute illness. The mortality rate is as high as 40%. Therefore, never give aspirin to people who have flu-like symptoms.

TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS
1. Symptomatic Treatment
Most patients with influenza infection require supportive oral hydration, antipyresis and routine decongestant therapy.
2. Anti-influenza Medicine
 Amantadine (<40kg; 5mg/kg/day; >40kg; 200mg/day) is mainly effective against influenza A. It must be administrated within 48 hours.
 Ribavirin has been used successfully as an aerosol medication in the treatment of adults with both influenza A and B.
 
Prevention
The flu can be prevented and controlled by yearly flu shots. Every year, WHO selects the viruses that might be epidemic for the year to come and suggests the manufactures to produce the vaccines against these viruses. The efficacy is about 70-80%. Even if getting the flu, the patients’ mobility and mortality will decrease 80-90%. It takes at least 2 weeks before the vaccines come to effect. Therefore, it is necessary to get the flu shots as early as possible before the peak season.

The Federal Advisory Commission on Immunization Practices recommended that the following patients be given priority and be considered of equal importance for receiving the vaccine before the flu season:
• All children aged 6-23 months
• People 65 years old and older
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• Adults and children 2 years old and older who have chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma
• Adults and children 2 years old and older who needed regular medical care of were in a hospital during the previous year because of a metabolic disease, chronic kidney disease, or weakened immune system
• Children on long-term aspirin therapy
• Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season
• Health care workers with direct patient contact
• Out-of-home caregiver and household contacts of infants less than 6 months old

Prophylactic administration of amantidine and rimantadine for 5-6 weeks are recommended for people at high risk. FDA just approved the new drug zanamivir, which will prevent the development of enzyme needed for virus multiplication.
 
SIDE EFFECTS OF TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS
 Amantadine will cause nausea, dizziness, insomnia, depression, anxiety, irritability, dry mouth, constipation, livedo reticularis and headache.
 Rivavirin will cause anemia, rash, conjunctitis, respiratory function disturbance, and sometimes may cause death.
 Rimantadine will cause insomnia, diarrhea, tiredness, headache, vomiting, abdominal pain and dry moth.
 Zanamivir will cause headache, diarrhea, cough, bronchitis, dizziness, otitis media and pharyngitis.

SIDE-EFFECTIVE FREE TREATMENTS
 Organic Germanium can strengthen the T-cells, B-cells, phagocytes and natural-killing cells to enhance the immune system.
 Organic Selenium can increase the function of immune system. It is especially effective against virus.
 Vitamin C can boost up immune system and activate the function of natural-killing cells to protect against virus attack. It may prevent or relieve flu symptoms.
 Antioxidants including Vitamin A, C, E, Zinc and Selenium can repair cells damaged by virus.
 Green Barley contains 500 – 700 enzymes. It can balance metabolism, improve symptoms and fasten recovery.
 Vitamin B Complex can increase energy and relieve tiredness.
 Multi Vitamin provides complete nutrition, especially zinc, copper, manganese, selenium to increase immune function.
 Garlic Extract has anti-virus and anti-bacteria functions to prevent the flu and relieve the symptoms.

SUGGESTED DAILY REGIMENS based on 50kg patients
Organic Germanium    600mg
Organic Selenium        400ug
Vitamin C                     3000mg
Antioxidants                4 tablets (Vitamin A, C, E, Selenium, Grape Seeds, Zinc,  & Green Tea )
Green Barley               4 tea spoons
Vitamin B Complex       6 tablets
Multi Vitamins              4 tablets or 2 scoops  
Garlic Extract              4000mg