Causes of the flu

Synonyms

Influenza, real flu, viral flu

Causes of joint and limb pain

If you have a real flu (Influenza), which is caused by a virus of the orthomyxovirus family, causes general malaise and breathing difficulties as well as joint pain and body aches.

The cause of this joint and limb pain is the body's defense reaction against the virus that has penetrated.
Our immune system is generally made up of 2 parts.
On the one hand there is the so-called innate immune system, which acts unspecifically against all potentially harmful intruders, and there is the acquired immune system, which is responsible for ensuring that patients who, for example, have once had a measles infection have lifelong protection against measles.

When infected with the influenza virus, there is a defensive reaction of the innate immune system. The body actively targets the virus and tries to eliminate it as a pest. This defense reaction of the body leads to a certain overreaction of the body and the body's own defense cells such as macrophages then ensure that the virus is removed, but at the same time there is always slight damage to the body's own cells.
This can lead to general joint and limb pain.

also read: What is the difference between a cold and the flu?

Psychological, psychosomatic causes

A real flu (Influenza) is supported by the Influenza A or that Influenza B Virus triggered and leads to a rapid high Temperature rise, to Limbs and headache and to one difficult breathing (Dyspnea).

The causes of flu is infection with the flu virus Influenza A (in rare cases also influenza B, even more rarely influenza C.).
However, it can also be the flu psychosomatic Has causes. In general, malaise, for example due to stress or other psychological factors, leads to the immune system is no longer as strong as with a happy, mentally strong person.

Therefore, a mentally unstable person can get the flu more easily than a satisfied person. In addition, people who are under great stress permanently put their bodies in an extreme situation. Permanently stressed patients have a significantly increased concentration of stress hormones, such as adrenaline or Cortisol in their blood.

However, the body cannot maintain this state for long without harming itself.
Accordingly, the body has to stop the increased hormone production at some point, which then leads to a decrease in performance.
However, if the stress persists, the body can no longer cope with the situation and the immune system is now more susceptible to diseases such as the flu virus.

Because of this, a psychosomatic cause can also be the reason for flu during one healthy lifestyle serves as a prophylaxis against virus attack.

Causes of gastrointestinal flu

A gastrointestinal flu is inflammation of the Gastrointestinal mucosa (gastroenteritis), which is caused by viruses or, more rarely, bacteria.

Even if the name "flu“Suggests an infection with the influenza A virus, the two diseases have nothing to do with each other. The cause of gastrointestinal flu is always viral or bacterial.

In humans the so-called Noro virus often mentioned as the cause of gastrointestinal flu.
The viruses are usually transmitted fecal-orally, which is mainly due to a lack of hygiene is due.

Faecal-oral means that if the first patient went to the toilet and did not wash his hands after defecation, his hands are still contaminated with the virus. As soon as he then shakes the hand of a second person and then runs his finger briefly over his lips, this second person has the virus on their lip and thus quickly in their mouth (orally).
A lack of hygiene can therefore also be regarded as a further cause of gastrointestinal flu.

Summary

The influenza viruses belong to the group of Orthomyxoviruses and are so-called RNA virusesbecause their hereditary information as RNA (=R.ibonukleinsacid) is present.

An infection with influenza viruses of type A, B or C leads to flu.

The contagion occurs through Droplet infection, for example from coughing or sneezing of infected people, which causes viruses to be inhaled on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, throat or over the air in the eyes reach. Tiny amounts of the virus are enough to cause flu, as flu viruses are very contagious.

But also smear infections, z. B. by touching objects that have previously been touched by the sick and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes can lead to a flu infection.

Influenza viruses can remain contagious for some time under favorable conditions: at room temperature they remain active in the room air as so-called aerosols for up to one hour, on smooth surfaces that have come into contact with nasal secretions or exhaled air from infected people for up to 48 hours.

The incubation period (Time from first contact with the virus to illness) takes between 18 to 72 hours and depends on the amount of virus inhaled.

People who have the flu excrete viruses themselves for at least two days, sometimes even for up to five days, and can thus infect others.