title: [Influenza and flu prophylaxis--a current medical issue].
abstract: Influenza is a disease which returns every epidemic season in different degrees of severity, especially in high-risk groups. According to current data, 5-25% of the world population contract this disease and mortality because of influenza reaches 0.5-1 million people. However, this problem is still not dealt with appropriately and is even disregarded. In contrast to other viruses influenza cannot be eradicatedas a result of its changeability but post-influenza complications can be dealt with using prophylactic methods. Since 9 May 1977 there have been more and more fatal cases of human infections with bird flu. The danger of another outburst of a flu pandemic is imminent. According to World Health Organisation influenza is one of the priorities of public health--that is the reason of originating International Influenza Surveillance Programme. A basic method of protecting the population against influenza, which is also the cheapest, is vaccination of as many people in the population as possible, especially those from high-risk groups. Post-influenza complications result not only in illness but also in economic losses.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Zakład Medycyny Rodzinnej z Oddziałem Klinicznym Medycyny Rodzinnej, Chorób Wewnetrznych i Metabolicznych, Akademia Medyczna, Warszawa. kzycinska@poczta.fm
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zycińska
authors.forename: Lidia Bernadeta
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Brydak
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines