Skip To Main Content
Influenza hero banner

Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses which circulate in all parts of the world. It spreads easily, with rapid transmission in crowded areas including schools.

 

SYMPTOMS

Seasonal influenza is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, cough (usually dry), headache, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise (feeling unwell), sore throat and a runny nose. The cough can be severe and can last 2 or more weeks.

Most people recover from fever and other symptoms within a week without requiring medical attention. But influenza can cause severe illness or death especially in people at high risk.

 

DIAGNOSTIC

The majority of cases of human influenza are clinically diagnosed.

Collection of appropriate respiratory samples and the application of a laboratory diagnostic test is required to establish a definitive diagnosis. Proper collection, storage and transport of respiratory specimens is the essential first step for laboratory detection of influenza virus infections.

Laboratory confirmation of influenza virus from throat, nasal and nasopharyngeal secretions or tracheal aspirate or washings is commonly performed using direct antigen detection, virus isolation, or detection of influenza-specific RNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

 

PREVENTION

The most effective way to prevent the disease is vaccination.

 

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Seasonal influenza represents a year-round disease burden. It causes illnesses that range in severity and sometimes lead to hospitalization and death.

Worldwide, these annual epidemics are estimated to result in about 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness, and about 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory deaths.

 

 

REFERENCES
 

  1. Warren-Gash C, et al. (2018) Laboratory-confirmed respiratory infections as triggers for acute myocardial infarction and stroke: a self-controlled case series analysis of national linked datasets from Scotland. Eur Resp J 51:1701794; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01794-2017 
    Date Accessed: June 30, 2023

  2. Kubale J, et al. (2021) Individual-level association of influenza infection with subsequent pneumonia: a case-control and prospective cohort study. Clin Infect Dis 73:e4288-e4295; DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1053
    Date Accessed: June 30, 2023

  3. WHO Influenza Fact Sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal)
    Date Accessed: June 30, 2023

 

 

MAT-PH-2301173 | VER 1.0 | DA 11-2023 | DM 11-2023

Frequently Asked Questions

COMING SOON

Browse through medical articles

Browse through on-demand medical videos

Listen through medical discussions

COMING SOON

Browse through different medical cources

COMING SOON

Explore upcoming medical events

Explore downloadable medical resources

PDF Document
Protection beyond Flu: 2024 June Issue
PDF Document
Protection beyond Flu: 2024 May Issue
PDF Document
Protection beyond Flu: 2024 April Issue
PDF Document
Protection beyond Flu: 2024 March Issue
PDF Document
Protection beyond Flu: 2024 February Issue

For General Inquires – Contact us

 

Adverse events & product safety

If you experience any adverse event, i.e., any unfavorable and unintended sign (an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease temporarily associated with the use of a medical product, please email it to PV.Philippines@sanofi.com 


 

To report a product technical complaint, please contact our Quality Affairs team:

 

 

 

 

For Data Privacy requests and concerns:
 

Sanofi General Medicines (under sanofi-aventis Philippines, Inc.)
Data Privacy: privacy.PH@sanofi.com
 
Sanofi Vaccines (under Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.)
 
For Data subject requests both:
Sanofi General Medicines (under sanofi-aventis Philippines, Inc.) and Sanofi Vaccines (under Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.): OneTrust