Every year there is an outbreak of influenza which leads to small localized epidemics, and every year there is a risk that the epidemic will turn pandemic. The flu is responsible for millions of illnesses each year and can cause death in hundreds of thousands. The actual cause of death from the flu is not only due to the respiratory infection but to other complications as well. Because of this, protection against getting influenza is vitally important to contain any outbreak.

Influenza is seasonal, with peak periods between December and February, depending on location. There may be smaller peaks throughout the year, as well. Flu vaccines are produced yearly and distributed in the fall, in preparation for the flu season.

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Influenza causes a heavy burden on the health care system each year. In addition, the economic costs due to missed work is substantial. Any method of prevention of the flu will help reduce the socioeconomic burden imposed by this illness and its complications.

The flu virus is ubiquitous and unfortunately, it is always changing itself in order to survive. There are several strains of the flu virus and each can mutate in various ways. One will normally dominate each season. For this reason, the flu vaccines are constantly changing from year to year to cover the prevailing strains. Unfortunately, because scientists do not know and can only guess at which strain of flu virus is most prevalent each year, finding the right vaccine can be very difficult.

The primary symptoms in influenza are high fevers with chills, dry cough, muscle aches and pain, fatigue, headaches, runny nose, and sore throat. Often, these symptoms are enough to establish the diagnosis of flu, especially if they occur during flu season and there is an established outbreak. However, some of these symptoms are similar to other respiratory infections, which may confuse the diagnosis. Distinguishing between them can be difficult, but essential, as it will affect treatment.

The common cold is the most prevalent viral respiratory infection. With common colds, people will experience sneezing, runny nose, cough, sore throat, and headaches (usually from hard coughing or sneezing). If severe enough, the common cold may lead to sinus infections. Those who develop a sinus infection may have sinus headaches with tenderness around the sinuses and greenish mucous.

More serious bacterial and viral infections occur with pneumonia. Those with pneumonia normally have fevers and productive cough with green mucous or it may be a very chesty cough but no production. Chest x-rays may be helpful to diagnose pneumonia.

Influenza may present with a combination of symptoms that overlap with the other respiratory infections, but normally, those with the flu have fewer upper respiratory symptoms, such as, sneezing or runny nose or sinus symptoms. Also, they often complain of headaches, muscle aches and a feeling of being run-down.

Reporting of signs and symptoms are complicated by many issues. Amongst these are psychosocial factors. Depression and negative feelings often lead people to view their symptoms as indicative of a more serious illness; therefore, their presentation may appear worse than it really is. On the other hand, those with respiratory problems, such as asthma and COPD, often mistake their respiratory illness as an exacerbation of their underlying respiratory conditions.

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