Influenza

Influenza is an infectious respiratory disease. The causative agent is a virus. Influenza outbreaks occur suddenly and infection spreads rapidly.

There are three types of influenza viruses, identified as A, B, and C. Influenza A can infect humans, pigs, horses, and birds, but only humans are infected by types B and C.

Typical influenza symptoms include weakness, headache, dry cough, chills, and fever. Symptoms can be relieved with bed rest, steam inhalations, and pain relievers. As the fever subsides, nasal congestion and a sore throat become noticeable.

Since influenza is a viral infection, antibiotics are useless in treating it. However, antibiotics are frequently used to treat secondary infections. To be effective, doctor should begin treatment no later than two days after symptoms appear. Antivirals may be useful in treating patients who have weakened immune system or who are at risk for developing serious complications.

Influenza complications usually arise from bacterial infections of the lower respiratory tract. Signs of a secondary respiratory infection include high fever, chills, chest pain associated with breathing, and a productive cough with yellowish green sputum. If these symptoms appear, medical treatment is necessary. Other secondary infections, such as sinus or ear infections, heart and lung problems, may also require medical intervention. Influenza is a serious disease, and approximately 1 in 1, 000 cases is fatal.

Exercise 5. Answer the questions according to the information from the text:

1. What kind of disease is flu?

2. What types of influenza do you know?

3. What are the symptoms of flu?

4. How can flu symptoms be relieved?

5. What prognosis can be made in case of flu? What complications may appear?

Exercise 6. Match the words from the left column with their synonyms from the right one:

Exercise 7. Translate the following word combinations from Ukrainian into English:

Спалах інфекцій верхніх дихальних шляхів, швидко розповсюджуватися, сухий кашель та озноб, полегшувати симптоми знеболюючими, помітне запалення горла, лікувати вторинні інфекції, противірусні ліки для пацієнтів з послабленою імунною системою, виникати внаслідок бактеріальних інфекцій, біль в грудній клітині під час дихання, потребувати медичного втручання, смертельні випадки.

Exercise 8. Read the abstracts about respiratory diseases. Match the words from the table with the correct paragraphs:

1. An inflammation of the lung caused by infection with bacteria or viruses which sometimes develops from a simple viral cold or influenza.

2. This is a long-term condition that occurs when the main air passages of the lungs, the bronchial tubes, become inflamed and go into spasm. Extra mucus is also producedalong the lining of the bronchi. The spasms and mucus accumulation blog the respiratory passage.

3. This is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both of the lungs. These abnormal cells reproduce rapidly and form tumours which destroy a part of the lung so that it does not work properly.

4. This is the abnormal enlargement of alveoli in the lung which also causes them to loose elasticity.as a result the alveoli are unable to efficiently exchange gases between lungs and blood.

5. This involves an inflammation of the bronchial tubes which causes a persistent cough and produces a significant amount of phlegm ([‘flem] – харкотиння, слиз) and mucus.

Exercise 9. Fill in the gaps with appropriate preposition:

1. The influenza vaccine is an annual vaccine to protect … the highly variable influenza virus.

2. Influenza vaccination is the most effective method … preventing influenza virus infection and its potentially severe complications.

3. Vaccines are used not only … humans.

4. Vaccination is associated … reductions in influenza-related respiratory illnesses, hospitalization and death among persons … high risk, otits media … among children.

5. Although influenza vaccination levels increased substantially … the 1990s, further improvements in vaccine coverage levels are needed.

6. Inproved influenza countermeasures require basic research … how viruses enter cells, replicate, mutate, and evolve into new strains.

7. Many groups worldwide are working … a universal flu vaccine that will not need changing each year.

Exercise 10. Put questions to the underlined words:

1. The earliest existing descriptions of influenza were written nearly 2.500 year ago by ancient Greek physician Hippocrates.

2. Individuals who suffer from frequent flu and colds often tend to have bronchitis.

3. Influenza is characterized by high fever, chills, chest pain, and productive cough with yellowish green sputum.

4. A worldwide seasonal influenza epidemic kills 250.000 to 500.000 people each year.

5. The rapid development, production, and distribution of pandemic influenza vaccines saved millions of lives during influenza pandemics.

6. Most people completely recover from influenza infection within 2 weeks.

Exercise 11. Read the case histories. Open the brackets in the correct tense and voice. Translate into your native language:

A 37-year old female (to admit) to the hospital with tachypnea ([tǽ 'kipniə ] – поверхове дихання), and acute shortness of breath with wheezing. Auscultation (to reveal) decreased breath sounds with inspiratory and expiratory wheezing and the patient (to cough up) small amounts of white sputum.

The patient was a 7-week-old male who (to transfer) to the hospital with a 10-day history of choking (задуха), progressing to his turning red and grasping for breath. Over the prior 2 days, he also (to have) three episodes of vomiting in association with his coughing. His physical examination (to show) both tachycardia and tachypnea. There was no evidence of tracheal abnormalities.

The patient was a 15-year-old male with a history of sickle cell disease. He (to admit) to hospital with a 4-day history of a progressive, productive cough and 2 days of fevers. On admission, his temperature was 41.1⁰C, his respiratory rate was 40/min, pulse was 120 beats/min, and his blood pressure was 80/40 mmHg. He also (to have) a mild respiratory distress (дихальна недостатність). A chest radiograph (to demonstrate) a right lower lobe infiltrate.

Exercise 12. Describe the term “influenza” according to the table:

Завдання для самостійної роботи студентів (СРС)