According to Mayoclinic.com, bird flu, or avian flu, is a type of influenza virus that although rare in the human population, it can be deadly. According to the UK National Health Services (NHS), there are 16 strains of bird flu known to man. The type that has caused the most alarm over the years is known as the H5N1 virus. The bird flu symptoms observed are very similar to the conventional influenza symptoms. According to the NHS, common bird flu symptoms are fever, a dry chesty cough and a sore throat.
Fever
The UK NHS reports fever as one of the common bird flu symptoms observed in patients. The New York Times Health Guide describes a fever as a condition whereby there is an increase in the body’s temperature in response to a disease or an illness. In an infection with the H5N1 virus in humans, the fever will manifest at a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius.
Dry Cough
The UK NHS lists down a dry chesty cough as one of the bird flu symptoms observed in patients 3-5 days after infection with the H5N1 virus. This is a reaction by the body to try and expel any foreign agent that may be in the air passages. The cough is called a dry chesty cough because it emanates from deep within the chest cavity and it does not bring up any mucus into the throat. This normally then leads to a sore throat which is a condition that leaves the patient with a painful throat.
Mild Eye Infection
According to Mayoclinic.com, conjunctivitis is one of the symptoms that alert Physicians that a patient may have bird flu. Conjunctivitis is most commonly known as mild eye infection. It is not too serious but it will alert the doctor that the influenza virus in the patient is indeed H5N1 and the doctor should look out for other bird flu symptoms.
