Here’s What You Didn’t Know about Influenza B

Influenza is an illness that regularly affects the population worldwide. However, some people do not realize there are different types.

For those that do, a common question is what is influenza b? The answer is that influenza b is the type of influenza that can affect you any time of the year. In contrast, influenza a only affects people in early winter.

Another significant difference is that influenza b only spreads from human to human. Influenza a can be spread from animal to human or vice versa.

Origin

Influenza has been plaguing the population for thousands of years. In 1918, a correlation between the illness in pigs and symptoms in humans was found. From there, research has been done to better understand the illness, how it mutates and how it is spread.

Understanding influenza b helps scientists realize that it mutates faster than type c but slower than type a. It also mutates continually, so immunity to that strain is temporary, like type a.

Type b was determined to be very limited in host and range, only affecting humans and seals.

Causes

The cause of influenza b is a virus, circulating among humans and leading to the noted symptoms. Meanwhile, type a can be a virus from an animal; anything from a duck, chicken, horse or pig.

These illnesses can be transferred to a human and become the flu virus from there.

Types

There are three types of influenza – type a, b and c. These types affect different people, have different severity of symptoms and have other characteristics that allow scientists to determine which is which.

In the scientific field, however, there are other illnesses with a similar name that have no connection to the influenza virus that affects the population annually and has led to the flu vaccine.

One such example of an illness with similar name and no connection is haemophilus influenzae.

For those who wonder what is haemophilus influenzae, the answer is a bacterium that can cause severe symptoms. It typically is found only in children and infants younger than the age of five.

This bacterium does not cause the flu, despite its name that would indicate a connection. Instead, this can cause severe disability and even be fatal.

The illness is better known as Hib and has a vaccine that is provided to infants in an attempt to protect against the six identifiable types of this illness.

The main reason a connection and confusion can occur is that the most recognized strain of haemophilus influenzae is type b, similar to the influenza b we discuss here. However, the similarity stops with the name.

The severity of dealing with Hib is much more significant and frightening.

Facts and Statistics

The answer to how long does influenza b last, lies in a person’s immune system and ability to fight off the illness.

Because influenza b tends to have symptoms that are not as severe as type a, the duration of the illness also tends to be shorter. This is welcome news for those who suffer from the illness.

Meanwhile, for those who already had a weakened immune system, it still may take weeks to be rid of the influenza b virus.

Influenza B Symptoms

Symptoms for influenza b are typically very similar to those experienced when you are fighting influenza a. A strong indication of influenza is a fever.

The fever can fluctuate, reaching as high as 106. It can also come and go. This typically lets the sufferer know that you are dealing with influenza. At that point, it is hard to determine if it is type a or type b, unless it is a season other than winter.

A key point in answering the question what is influenza b, is the season of the year. If you are experiencing these symptoms in the spring or summer, then you might be able to guess you have type b.

Meanwhile, other symptoms include body aches and fatigue. Also, when the fever starts to abate, the body will begin to show respiratory symptoms, like a stuffy nose, a cough and sore throat. While the type b symptoms tend to be more mild in nature than the symptoms of type a, the respiratory issues can develop into bronchitis or pneumonia if not closely monitored.

Interestingly, type b can also affect the stomach, which is why people call the illness the stomach flu. For those with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, they still have type b influenza. It is simply affecting their system differently.

Learn more: Influenza B Signs & Symptoms

How It Spreads

If you were to ask how long is influenza b contagious, the answer would be from a day before you start to exhibit symptoms to up to seven days after you are first showing the symptoms.

For children, the infectious period can last much longer. Meanwhile, for adults who are infected, symptoms tend to develop one to four days after you contract influenza b.

Both types of influenza are spread by contact with mucus from an infected person.

Inhaling the germs or making contact with them on a surface and touching your mouth or eye are good ways to become infected with influenza.

This is typically why Lysol and thorough cleaning, particularly washing your hands often, are recommended during the cold and flu season. For type b, it can be more of a challenge since you can contract that at any time during the year.

While maintaining a clean home is ideal, the level of cleaning you attempt to accomplish during cold and flu season can be difficult to maintain year-round.

Aside from keeping your environment clean, wearing a facemask during certain times of the year is also a great way to prevent spreading the influenza virus. Wearing antibacterial facemasks help cover your mouth and nose, which prevent you from getting the virus through casual contact with other people. If you have the virus, the mask helps ensure that you do not get anyone else sick.

Human Effects

Luckily for humans, influenza b tends to have milder symptoms. Therefore, it is possible to deal with the illness and recover more quickly than with influenza a.

It still means the possibility of infecting those around you. However, being able to return to regular daily tasks and schedules is important. People tend to be grateful when influenza b does not keep them stuck in bed for too long.

Influenza B Treatment

When it comes to haemophilus influenzae treatment, treatment involves antibiotics and typically requires hospitalization due to the severity of the illness and the potential for long-term effects and even death.

Meanwhile, treatment for influenza b involves bed rest, lots of fluids and usually lots of tissues.

Resting and allowing your body to fight off the illness, while making sure you get enough to drink to avoid dehydration, are typically the best ways to ensure your body can deal with the illness. That way, you can get back to normal quickly.