Pulmonology focuses on diagnosing and treating lung and airway conditions such as asthma, COPD, and pneumonia, as well as overall respiratory health.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Influenza is caused by influenza viruses. These viruses can spread through respiratory droplets, close contact, and contaminated hands or surfaces.
Influenza A and B are the main types that cause seasonal flu outbreaks in people. Influenza A can also be linked with larger outbreaks and pandemic risk when major viral changes occur.
Influenza is different from “stomach flu.” True influenza is primarily a respiratory infection, even though some patients may also feel nausea, poor appetite, or weakness.
Influenza is a contagious viral respiratory infection that can affect the nose, throat, and lungs. It is often called flu, but it is not the same as a simple cold.
Flu symptoms usually start more suddenly than cold symptoms. Fever, chills, body aches, cough, sore throat, headache, and intense tiredness may appear within a short time.
At Liv Hospital, influenza care begins with understanding symptom timing, risk factors, respiratory findings, possible complications, and whether testing or antiviral treatment may be needed.
The aim is to guide patients with clear medical support, especially when flu symptoms are severe, prolonged, or risky for chronic disease patients.
Influenza symptoms can begin suddenly and feel stronger than a common cold. Some patients describe a clear moment when fever, chills, and body aches start.
Common symptoms may include:
Risk may be higher in young children, older adults, pregnant patients, people with asthma, COPD, heart disease, diabetes, immune weakness, obesity, or chronic kidney disease.
Patients who want to review warning signs and high-risk groups can continue to the Influenza Symptoms and Risk Factors section.
Influenza diagnosis may be based on symptoms, season, exposure history, and physical examination. Testing can be useful when results may change treatment, isolation, or follow-up decisions.
Evaluation may include:
Flu symptoms may resemble COVID-19, RSV, common cold, pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma flare-up, or sinus infection.
At Liv Hospital, doctors evaluate the full clinical picture before deciding whether testing, antiviral medication, or closer monitoring is needed.
Patients can learn more in the Influenza Diagnosis and Evaluation section.
Influenza treatment depends on symptom severity, timing, age, pregnancy status, chronic diseases, and complication risk.
Some patients may recover with supportive care. Others may need antiviral medication, especially if they are at higher risk or symptoms are severe.
Treatment may include:
Antiviral medicines work best when started early, but high-risk patients may still benefit from medical evaluation even if symptoms began more than two days ago.
For safe treatment planning, patients can visit the Influenza Treatment and Management section.
Influenza recovery may take longer than a cold. Fever and body aches may improve first, while cough, weakness, and low energy can continue for several days.
Prevention focuses on reducing exposure and lowering the risk of severe disease.
Prevention steps may include:
Vaccination does not guarantee that a person will never catch flu, but it can reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and complications.
Patients can visit the Influenza Recovery and Prevention section for long-term protection and safer return-to-routine guidance.
Influenza viruses belong to the Orthomyxoviridae family. They have genetic features that allow them to change over time.
This is one reason flu can return every season and why vaccine recommendations are reviewed regularly.
Influenza viruses are commonly grouped as:
Influenza A and B are the main causes of seasonal flu in humans. Influenza C usually causes milder illness, while Influenza D mainly affects cattle.
Understanding virus type can matter for surveillance, public health planning, and outbreak monitoring.
Influenza can change through antigenic drift and antigenic shift.
Antigenic drift means small changes build up over time. These changes may help the virus partially escape previous immune protection.
Antigenic shift is a larger change, mainly involving Influenza A. It can create a new subtype that spreads more widely when people have little existing immunity.
These changes explain why flu prevention needs regular updates and why seasonal vaccination remains an important public health tool.
At Liv Hospital, prevention guidance is adapted to patient risk, travel plans, season, and current medical recommendations.
Influenza activity often increases during colder months in temperate climates. Indoor crowding, lower ventilation, and closer contact can make spread easier.
Transmission may occur through:
A person may spread influenza before feeling very sick. This makes early precautions important, especially around infants, older adults, pregnant patients, and people with chronic disease.
Patients with travel plans may also need earlier guidance if symptoms begin before or during travel.
Influenza can inflame the respiratory tract and make the lungs more vulnerable. In some patients, the infection may remain mild; in others, it may lead to serious complications.
Possible complications may include:
High fever, chest pain, breathing difficulty, confusion, bluish lips, or severe weakness should be evaluated urgently.
Liv Hospital evaluates flu symptoms with attention to both viral illness and possible respiratory complications.
Some influenza A viruses can infect animals such as birds or pigs. Rarely, animal influenza viruses may infect humans.
Avian influenza is one example. Human infection is uncommon, but it can be serious when it occurs.
Risk may be considered after:
Most seasonal flu cases are not avian flu. Still, exposure history matters when symptoms are severe or unusual.
At Liv Hospital, doctors can review travel, animal contact, occupational exposure, and symptom pattern when needed.
Influenza care should be timely, clear, and risk-focused. A mild case may need supportive care, while a high-risk patient may need testing, antiviral treatment, oxygen assessment, or closer follow-up.
Liv Hospital supports patients with physician evaluation, pulmonology expertise, respiratory assessment, testing when needed, complication monitoring, and coordinated care for severe cases.
For international patients, Liv Hospital can assist with appointment planning, communication support, diagnostic coordination, treatment review, and follow-up guidance.
If flu symptoms are sudden, severe, prolonged, or linked with breathing difficulty, Liv Hospital can help guide the safest next step.
Influenza should be evaluated carefully when fever, cough, body aches, fatigue, or breathing symptoms become intense or occur in a high-risk patient.
Contact Liv Hospital to discuss symptoms, testing needs, antiviral options, complication risk, and personalized care with medical specialists.
Liv Hospital Ulus
Prof. MD. Ferah Ece
Respirology
Liv Hospital Ulus
Spec. MD. Mehmet Aydoğan
Respirology
Liv Hospital Vadistanbul
Assoc. Prof. MD. Ömer Ayten
Respirology
Liv Hospital Vadistanbul
Prof. MD. Cengiz Özdemir
Respirology
Liv Hospital Vadistanbul
Prof. MD. Levent Dalar
Respirology
Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir
Assoc. Prof. MD. Akın Yıldızhan
Thoracic Surgery
Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir
Asst. Prof. MD. Aysu Sinem Koç
Pulmonology
Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir
Asst. Prof. MD. Zeynep Atam Taşdemir
Pulmonology
Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir
Prof. MD. Adalet Demir
Thoracic Surgery
Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir
Prof. MD. Adil Can Güngen
Respirology
Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir
Prof. MD. Cemal Asım Kutlu
Thoracic Surgery
Liv Hospital Topkapı
Op. MD. Semih Buluklu
Thoracic Surgery
Liv Hospital Topkapı
Spec. MD. Gudrat Badalov
Respirology
Liv Hospital Ankara
Prof. MD. Kudret Ekiz
Respirology
Liv Hospital Ankara
Spec. MD. Berna Botan Yıldırım
Respirology
Liv Hospital Ankara
Spec. MD. Burça Takar
Respirology
Liv Hospital Ankara
Spec. MD. Didem Katar
Respirology
Liv Hospital Ankara
Spec. MD. Mine Önal
Respirology
Liv Hospital Gaziantep
Prof. MD. İbrahim Can Kürkçüoğlu
Thoracic Surgery
Liv Hospital Gaziantep
Spec. MD. Yeliz Karakan
Pulmonology
Liv Hospital Gaziantep
Spec. MD. İsmail Doğan
Pulmonology
Liv Hospital Samsun
Spec. MD. Aziz Uluışık
Respirology
Liv Hospital Samsun
Spec. MD. Saliha Ercan Bütün
Pulmonology
Liv Bona Dea Hospital Bakü
Spec. MD. FİRUZ MEMMEDOV
Pulmonology
Liv Hospital Ulus + Liv Hospital Vadistanbul + Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir
Prof. MD. Erkan Çakır
Pediatric Respirology
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Influenza is a contagious viral respiratory infection that affects the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It may cause sudden fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills, headache, and fatigue.
Influenza usually starts more suddenly and may cause stronger fever, chills, body aches, and tiredness. A common cold is often milder and develops more gradually.
No. Antibiotics do not treat influenza viruses. They may be used only if a bacterial complication, such as pneumonia or sinus infection, is suspected by a doctor.
Antiviral treatment may be considered for patients with confirmed or suspected flu, especially if symptoms started recently, disease is severe, or the patient has a higher risk of complications.
You can contact Liv Hospital if flu symptoms are severe, fever continues, breathing becomes difficult, chest pain appears, weakness is intense, or you have a chronic condition that increases complication risk.
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