Is the flu always influenza A or influenza B?
Disease description:
Recently I came down with the flu. Does having the flu necessarily mean it's influenza A or B?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Influenza is not necessarily caused by type A or type B flu. Influenza, short for "influenza," is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza viruses. Besides types A and B, there are other types such as type C. Type A influenza frequently undergoes mutations and may lead to global pandemics, usually causing more severe illness. Type B influenza tends to spread in smaller outbreaks and generally results in milder symptoms. Type C influenza typically occurs sporadically and also causes mild illness. Therefore, influenza can be caused by various types of influenza viruses, not just type A or type B.
