Guide To The Different Types Of Flu

While many individuals think most or even all cases of the flu are caused by the same virus, this actually is inaccurate. In fact, there are three main types of the flu: influenza type A, B, and C. There is also a fourth form of influenza, and it's called influenza D, though it is different than the others. There are certain especially serious subtypes of the type A form of flu, such as swine and avian flu. While these forms of the disease can be extremely serious, they are also quite rare.

Learn the details about the different types of flu now.

What Is The Flu?

The flu is a viral infection, and it primarily affects the respiratory system. This results in both upper and lower respiratory tract problems, such as sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, coughing, and in severe cases, pneumonia or even death. If an individual is healthy and doesn't experience complications, the flu tends to cause a period of illness for two to seven days. However, some symptoms, such as coughing, can persist for a couple of weeks, but other symptoms, such as fever tend to go away in the previously mentioned two to seven days. It's important to keep in mind the flu virus is slightly different from one season to another. In addition, the different types of the flu make defining it a little more complicated.

Learn about influenza A now.

Type A Flu

Type A flu is quite common, and it also can be quite serious. In addition, it is capable of infecting animals. This type of flu tends to be far more common during the winter, and the symptoms of this illness tend to be both respiratory and systemic. In addition, this form of the flu has a tendency to mutate more frequently than type B and C. Epidemics of this virus are extremely commonplace, and pandemics are possible. The average incubation period of the virus in one study was found to be 1.4 days. Perhaps the most infamous form of influenza A is the H1N1 strain, which has been responsible for many outbreaks, including the ones in 2009 and the 1918 Spanish flu.

Get the details on type B now.

Type B Flu

This form of the flu is slightly milder than type A, but type B flu is similar to type A in terms of its symptoms. Furthermore, both of them cause seasonal epidemics, and both of them can be prevented with a vaccine. The type B version of the virus does not affect animals, and it also is not believed to have the potential to result in a pandemic. It also is slightly less common than influenza A, and it tends to mutate less often than the type A variant of the disease. The incubation period tends to be somewhat shorter than influenza A, and it averages 0.6 days according to the same study.

Discover detailed information on influenza C next.

Type C Flu

Type C flu is quite a bit milder than the previous two forms of the disease, and the symptoms exclusively impact the respiratory tract. It is quite a bit less common than type A and B flu, and it is not thought to affect very many species of animals. However, it can affect a few species, such as pigs. It's relatively rare, and it is not thought to be capable of causing a pandemic. In some aspects, the symptoms of the type C form of the flu are similar to a severe cold.

Get familiar with the final form of the flu, influenza D, next.

Type D Flu

Unlike the other types of the disease, type D flu is not currently considered a concern to humans since it almost exclusively affects cattle. However, information indicates it can affect other farm animals as well, such as pigs, and it also hasn't been identified until fairly recently. In fact, a study recently reported the discovery of this form of the flu virus during 2016. While it is not currently thought to affect humans, it is possible influenza D could mutate in a manner that causes it to become a threat to human health. More research is needed on this form of the flu, though currently it appears to only be spread through direct contact.