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Almost everyone has had the flu, but most of them often underestimate it and do not think it is dangerous. In fact, did you know that there are around 3,000-49,000 people in the world who have died from the flu? Actually, flu or influenza is divided into various types. Each type certainly has risks and bad effects for the body. What are the various kinds of flu or influenza?

Know the various types of flu (influenza)

At first glance, the flu does sound like a very common disease. However, few know that this disease is divided into various types based on the virus that causes flu itself.

Basically, there are 4 types of flu viruses, namely influenza types A, B, C, and D. Viruses types A, B, and C generally cause seasonal influenza in humans. Meanwhile, influenza type D usually only occurs in animals.

The following is a further explanation of each type of flu or influenza that exists:

1. Influenza type A

As the name implies, influenza type A is a type of flu caused by influenza type A virus. Of the types of flu that exist, influenza type A is among the most common.

According to an article from Plos One,It is estimated that as many as 75% of cases of influenza are classified as type A. Influenza type A is also one of the most contagious flu. People who have the type A virus can pass it to others within a radius of up to 1.8 meters when coughing or sneezing.

Because the mode of transmission of this type of influenza is quite fast, influenza type A has the potential to become a widespread disease outbreak. Apart from humans, this type of flu can also attack various animals, such as birds, pigs, or horses.

Generally, influenza A symptoms appear suddenly and last for 1-2 weeks, such as:

• cough
• runny or stuffy nose
• sneezing
• sore throat
• fever
• headache
• fatigue
• shivering
• body aches

2. Influenza type B

If the type A flu can infect humans and animals, not type B. Influenza type B can only infect humans. Similar to type A, this type of flu can be fatal if not treated immediately.

The symptoms of influenza type B are similar to those of other types of flu, such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose, body aches, fever and sore throat. In addition, because they have the same severity, both types A and B have the potential to cause several flu complications, such as:

• pneumonia
• bronchitis
• asthma attack
• heart problems
• sepsis

3. Influenza type C

This type of flu or influenza has the lowest infection rate when compared to other types of flu. The severity of influenza type C is usually not very severe. However, this disease certainly still needs more attention to be handled.

In addition, the ifluenza type C virus also does not cause epidemics, which is a condition where the virus spreads rapidly from person to person. It is very rare for patients to experience complications due to infection with this virus.

However, like other types of flu, if influenza type C is not treated properly, the patient is still at risk for developing pneumonia and bronchitis.

4. Bird flu

Avian influenza (H5N1) is a type of flu whose virus belongs to type A. As previously explained, influenza type A can infect animals, including birds.

Although this type of flu is generally found in poultry, it is possible for bird flu to mutate and be transmitted to humans. If you are infected with bird flu, the symptoms that appear will vary, ranging from mild to dangerous.

The symptoms that arise due to bird flu are not much different from other types of flu, such as coughing, sneezing and sore throat. However, the severity is high enough, even at risk of causing various complications that lead to death.

5. Swine flu

Similar to bird flu, swine flu is a type of flu that originates from a mutation of the type A influenza virus. This flu, also known as H1N1, has caused a global pandemic in 2009 to 2010.

Usually, transmission occurs when humans come into contact with pigs infected with this virus. Swine flu can also be passed from a person who has contracted the virus to another person.

Is the common cold cough a type of flu?

Many people still confuse the common cold cough with influenza because of the similar symptoms. In fact, they are very different conditions.

Cold cough, or what is also known by the termcommon cold (common cold), is not included in the kinds of flu as mentioned above because it is not caused by the influenza virus. The common cold cough is generally caused by another type of virus, namely the rhinovirus.

The severity is quite different. While influenza symptoms tend to have the potential to cause fatal complications, the common cold cough is generally milder and very rarely causes complications.

How do you not get these kinds of flu?

To prevent contracting one of the flu types above, you can start by keeping yourself, your family, and the environment clean. Some things you can do to prevent contracting various types of flu include:

• Wash your hands frequently using soap and running water
• Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze
• Carry out vaccinations to protect yourself from infection with the flu virus.

In addition, using a mask during the flu is also one way you can prevent influenza from spreading to other people. Research in Annals of International Medicine stated that the correct use of masks can significantly reduce the incidence of flu.