TV actress Debina Banerjee revealed a few days back that she has been infected with influenza B and is staying away from her family. Announcing this news on social media, she had told how difficult it is to be separated from his children Liana and Divisha.

Even the actress shared her report on her Instagram story, writing, "I have got an influenza-B virus and symptoms like fever and phlegm is visible. Now I have to stay away from my children."

We spoke to Dr. Chetna Jain to know what influenza-B virus is and how it can affect a pregnant woman and her newborn. Let us get detailed information about this through the article.

What is an Influenza-B virus?

Influenza is a common illness in which flu-like symptoms appear in the body. Influenza -B virus is of four types:

Influenza-A virus

It causes the serious diseases H1N1 and H3N2 infection.

Influenza-B virus

The most common found in people is the flu.

Influenza-C virus

However, it is less common and usually causes a mild infection.

Influenza-D virus

It mainly affects animals.

Symptoms of the influenza-B virus

Common symptoms of this flu include-

  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Running nose
  • Fever
  • muscle pain
  • Occasional diarrhoea
  • Tiredness
  • Chills

Former AIIMS chief DrRandeepGuleria's warning

Talking about the fast-growing influenza virus H3N2, Dr. Guleria shared in a recent interview, “People should be careful, especially the elderly and those who have been exposed to the virus for a long time. There are respiratory diseases. Apart from this, people who have heart and kidney problems need to be careful about going to crowded places and coming in contact.

He further said, “Many years ago we saw the pandemic of the H1N1 virus. The circulating strain of that virus is now H3N2 and is therefore a common influenza variant. But we are seeing more cases because the virus has mutated a bit, that's why the immunity we had against the virus is now a bit less and hence susceptible people get infected more easily.

Important tips for pregnant women

All these viruses can affect pregnant women. Since their immunity is weak, they get affected more quickly and recover from it very slowly. This can adversely affect the development of the fetus.

If a woman is breastfeeding and becomes infected, the virus can be passed directly to the baby through close contact. In such a situation, the mother should wear a mask, keep her face away, wash her hands properly and ensure that the clothes are clean.

There is no point in separating mother and child thinking that this will prevent infection as the child has already been exposed to the infection. This infection lasts for 5 to 8 days after symptoms appear. Thus, there is no point in keeping the newborn and the mother away, just follows the necessary hygiene tips.

Periods are not affected by this. The virus also does not affect the reproductive system. Most influenza viruses disappear from the body soon after the infection is over.

How to prevent the Influenza-B virus?

Vaccination is necessary to prevent this. These types of viruses evolve every year, so a new influenza vaccination comes out every year. The best time for vaccination is September and October. However, vaccination will not prevent the disease 100% but will reduce the chance by 62%.

Influenza-A and B viruses can affect people of all ages. This virus can happen to anyone. Usually, the mode of transmission is through sneezing and contact.

Image Credit: Shutterstock &Freepik

DISCLAIMER

Your skin and body are as different as you are. We endeavour to bring you correct, safe and expert-verified information through our articles and social media handles, but still, you must consult your doctor before trying any home remedy, hack or fitness tip.