Which flu type is worse A or B?
Which flu type is worse A or B?
Type A influenza is generally considered worse than type B influenza. This is because the symptoms are often more severe in type A influenza than in type B influenza. Type A influenza is more common than type B influenza. Researchers suggest that most adults have considerable immunity against type B influenza.
What is influenza B?
Type B influenza can be just as severe as type A influenza but is less common throughout the flu season compared to type A. Humans are the natural host for type B infection. Type B viruses mutate much slower than type A infections and are categorized by strains, but not subtypes.
How contagious is the flu type B?
Both influenza A and B are highly contagious. When a person with the flu coughs or sneezes, droplets can enter another person’s nose or mouth, transmitting the illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , flu viruses can infect others from up to 6 feet away.
How long does influenza type B last?
How Long Does It Last? Most symptoms get better after about 5 days. But sometimes they can last for a week or more. Even if your fever and aches are gone, you can still feel drained for a few weeks.
How is influenza B treated?
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are drugs that doctors may use to treat type A or type B influenza. Antiviral drugs can reduce a person’s recovery time by around 2 days, but they are only effective if a person takes them within a few days of symptoms starting.
What is difference between flu A and B?
Influenza A is usually the more common form of the virus and tends to circulate early in the season, while influenza B is normally less common and shows up late in the season. This season, influenza B has been more common and is circulating earlier than in previous seasons.
How do you treat influenza B?
How is flu B treated?
What should I do if I have flu B?
If you do come down with the flu, these measures may help ease your symptoms:
- Drink plenty of liquids. Choose water, juice and warm soups to prevent dehydration.
- Rest. Get more sleep to help your immune system fight infection.
- Consider pain relievers.
Does influenza B require isolation?
Adhere to Droplet Precautions Droplet precautions should be implemented for patients with suspected or confirmed influenza for 7 days after illness onset or until 24 hours after the resolution of fever and respiratory symptoms, whichever is longer, while a patient is in a healthcare facility.
How do you catch influenza B?
Both influenza A and influenza B are extremely contagious. People who get either type can spread the virus to others from up to six feet away when they cough or sneeze. You can also contract the virus by touching a surface that has the virus on it and then touching your nose or mouth.
Is Tamiflu effective against influenza B?
There are currently two FDA-approved drugs effective for influenza B virus infections: oseltamivir (Tamiflu®, Roche) and zanamivir (Relenza®, GlaxoSmithKline) that target the viral NA surface protein.
