Influenza

[in -fluen’ ’- zah) [Ital., an influence]. An epidemic affection characterized by catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, accompanied by a mucopurulent discharge, fever, pain in the muscles, and prostration. At times symptoms referable to the gastrointestinal system predominate; at others the symptoms are mainly referred to the nervous system. The cause of the disease is the bacillus of influenza, discovered by Pfeiffer and Canon. Complications are common, pneumonia being the most frequent; pleurisy, otitis media, and neuritis also occur. An occasional sequel is insanity. Synonyms: la grippe, grip. 333