Avian Influenza.
10.5124/jkma.2005.48.12.1195
- Author:
Hee Jin CHEONG
1
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Gu-Ro Hospital, Korea. heejinmd@korea.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Avian Influenza
- MeSH:
Aged;
Animals;
Chronic Disease;
Disease Outbreaks;
Humans;
Immunocompromised Host;
Influenza in Birds*;
Influenza Vaccines;
Influenza, Human;
Mortality;
Orthomyxoviridae;
Pneumonia;
Respiratory System;
Virus Diseases
- From:Journal of the Korean Medical Association
2005;48(12):1195-1205
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Influenza is an acute febrile disease caused by influenza virus (type A or B). Influenza virus is the major culprit of viral diseases in the respiratory tract with the highest mortality in the human history and can affect 10~40% of the general population within only 4 weeks when it is epidemic. In immunocompetent individuals, influenza infection is mostly limited as 'flu' for several days, but in immunocompromised hosts such as elderly individuals and those with chronic diseases it can result in serious complications such as pneumonia and can also aggravate underlying diseases requiring admission and increasing mortality. Despite the wide application of influenza vaccines for the last decades, influenza still remains an important health issue due to the increase of the susceptible individuals and the recent outbreaks of avian flu along with the emergence of new strains.
