Influenza: Definition and Spread (Nursing)

00:00 So let's talk about what Influenza is.

00:03 It's a viral infection.

00:05 Would you mind just underlining that for me? Because a lot of people get confused on that? That's why you don't get antibiotics for the flu.

00:12 Influenza is a viral infection and it attacks your respiratory system.

00:16 So your nose, your throat and your lungs.

00:19 Now influenza is commonly called the flu, but it's not the same as the stomach flu or a stomach bug, that can be a virus that causes diarrhea and vomiting.

00:30 I know what you're going to say some strains of the flu do have a GI component but not all of them.

00:36 If we're talking about influenza, It's a very specific viral family.

00:42 Every time I see this picture, it just grosses me out.

00:46 If you want to know how influenza is spread.

00:49 There you go.

00:50 Look at that glorious array of droplets, right? This is what can spread influenza from one patient to another patient.

01:00 So droplets in the air from an infected person are inhaled by another person or picked up from an object.

01:06 Say a computer keyboard, an ATM machine, a grocery cart handle, or a pen.

01:12 These are transferred from those objects and the person transfers them to their eyes, nose or mouth.

01:18 Hey before I go on, think about the things that you touch on a daily basis, right.

01:24 Keyboard of your computer if it's a shared computer at school, who ATM machine if you're getting cash, multiple people have touched that keypad.

01:34 What about when you're getting gas? Keypad and the gas handle? Yeah, I could go on and on.

01:40 I don't want to totally freak you out.

01:41 But you do need to be more aware.

01:43 Listen.

01:44 I'm a little neurotic.

01:45 I don't use other people's pens.

01:48 I use mine or if I do, I use hand sanitizer after I do because I know that things can be passed on to those pens that I do not want to bring back into my life or my body.