Catarrh is not the name of the yellowish mucus discharged from your nose when you sneeze. The actual name for it is mucus. Catarrh is actually the process of discharging the mucus that has built-up in your nose or throat. Now that this is cleared, let’s go behind the scene to see how it is made.

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus. There are 3 types of the influenza virus that can infect humans (influenza types; A, B, and C). Influenza types A and B most common and are responsible for the annual regional flu epidemic or the flu season in the United States. On the other hand, influenza C may lead to mild illness, but not epidemics or pandemics.

The influenza virus invades the respiratory tract and uses it to spread the infection. The flu is typically transmitted from person to person via respiratory droplets or in some instances; aerosolized particles that are expelled from the respiratory tract of an infected individual. These droplets can be propelled a few feet into the air when talking, coughing or sneezing and can then land in the eye, nose, or mouth of people nearby or get inhaled into the lungs. Less frequently, the virus is transmitted indirectly when an individual touches a contaminated surface and then prior to washing their hands, they touch their eyes, nose or mouth.
Individuals are most likely to spread the virus to others one day before symptom onset until about 5 – 7 days after becoming sick. So people are at increased risk for contracting the virus if they have close contact with infected individuals or staying in small places with large groups of people during a flu season.

After a person contracts the influenza virus, these infectious little pathogens typically multiply and spread throughout the cells lining the upper respiratory tract. In response to this, the immune system launches an inflammatory response which results in visible tracheobronchial redness and swelling, as well as mucus discharge as these cells try to produce more mucus that can help trap and eventually expel these pathogens. In certain cases, the disease can become more severe and spread to nearby areas leading to complications like a sinus or ear infection.

Symptoms
Typically, the flu manifests as symptoms that present about 4 days after exposure and last about a week. Common symptoms include: runny nose with watery nasal discharge, sore throat, and a cough. Other symptoms include: headache, fever, cold, fatigue, and muscle aches. Most of these symptoms get better in a week, but the cough often persists for up to two weeks.

Diagnosis
Influenza is often diagnosed based on the person’s history, physical assessment, and knowing there is an influenza outbreak in the community around the time of symptom onset. In addition, there are 3 diagnostics tests available to detect the presence of influenza in the person’s respiratory secretions: RT-PCR, Rapid Molecular Assay, and Rapid Influenza Diagnostics Tests (RIDTs)

Treatment
There is no cure for influenza. Usually, treatment for influenza involves supportive care to reduce the symptoms. This includes rest and hydration, as well as medications like analgesics, antipyretics and antihistamines. In addition, an affected person may also be treated with antiviral medications these medications can help prevent the release of virus from infected cells, minimizing its spread, and the duration of the disease.