INFLUENZA. CLINICAL COURSE, DIAGNOSTICS, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

Abstract Influenza is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Influenza viruses are unique among respiratory viruses in their antigenic variability, which allows them to “evade” human immune defenses, and is also the main cause of epidemics, which necessitates the annual development of new influenza vaccines against new circulating strains. It is the phenomenon of antigenic variation that explains why influenza continues to be the main epidemic disease of humanity. Despite the enormous progress in the study of this infection in scientific and theoretical terms, it continues to pose extremely serious problems for public health. And in this regard, recently, the infection of humans with the bird virus influenza A (H5N1), has increased the danger of the emergence of an influenza virus with pandemic potential, which on the one hand confirms the need for vaccine prophylaxis, knowledge of the clinical course of the manifestation, its complications and on the other hand shows the importance of rapid diagnosis and timely administration of specific anti influenza medications, the best therapeutic effect of which is achieved when administered within the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.