Introduction
Flu season means the months of the year when many people have the flu and it is easy to catch. The outbreaks usually start suddenly and occur mainly in late fall and winter. It is a respiratory infection caused by several different viruses. Vaccines are usually given in the fall, before flu season begins, and are available as a shot or nasal spray. Vaccines are most important for: People 65 and older, Nursing home patients, Children older than 6 months, People with health problems like asthma or long-term illnesses like HIV or heart disease, Children or teens They need to be vaccinated frequently. take aspirin, people who are often close to the elderly or people with health problems. The symptoms can be mild or severe, and if they are mild they can become severe without warning.
Symptoms
If you are infected with the virus, you will usually feel symptoms 1 to 4 days later. Signs of the flu may include: fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, dizziness, loss of appetite, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, weakness, earache, diarrhea. However, they come on suddenly and are worse than the common cold; Having these symptoms does not automatically mean you have the flu. Many different illnesses, including the common cold, can have similar symptoms. It is very difficult to distinguish the flu from other infections based on these signs alone.
If you develop flu-like symptoms and are concerned about your illness, especially if you are at high risk of complications, you should see your health care provider. Based on your symptoms, your doctor can usually tell if you have the flu, especially during times when the flu is high. After 5 days, the fever and other signs are usually gone, but the cough and weakness may continue for a while. All symptoms usually go away in a week or two.
vaccinated
There are two types of flu vaccines available in the United States: The “flu shot” – an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm OR the nasal spray – a vaccine made with live, weakened influenza viruses that do not cause influenza (sometimes called LAIV for “live attenuated flu vaccine” or FluMist®). On October 24, 2007, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended expanding the use of the nasal influenza vaccine LAIV (FluMist) to include healthy children 2 to 4 years of age with no history of asthma or recurrent wheezing.
Anyone who is at risk of getting sick really needs to get a flu shot or get vaccinated. It is good for children who are around older people and younger children (such as little brothers and sisters) to get vaccinated as well. If you get the vaccine or shot, it will protect you from getting a serious case of the flu. Anyone who gets it should get a new vaccine every year because the flu virus changes every year and the vaccine is created to fight the viruses that are going to be a problem that year. The flu vaccine is usually offered between September and mid-November, although it can be given at other times of the year. Because it prevents infection from only some of the viruses that can cause flu-like symptoms, it is not guaranteed protection against illness. Call your doctor or local public health department about availability in your area.
Treatment
Many people treat the flu simply by resting in bed, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking over-the-counter medications such as aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol). You can develop complications if you contract a bacterial infection, which can cause pneumonia in your weakened lungs. Treatment is usually not necessary for children, but if the disease is diagnosed early and the patient is at risk of developing a severe case, it can and should be started. However, treatment will only help; If it started early and only if the disease is really influenza. Treatment includes bed rest and plenty of fluids; Antiviral drugs may also be prescribed.
Conclusion
The flu usually starts suddenly and can include the following symptoms: fever (usually high), headache, tiredness (can be extreme), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, diarrhea, and vomiting (more common in children than in adults). A medical exam may be needed to determine if you have developed the flu or a complication. There are tests that can tell if you have the flu, as long as you are tested within the first 2-3 days of illness. In some people, the disease can cause serious complications, such as bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. The flu can cause mild to severe illness and can sometimes lead to death.
Although most healthy people recover from the flu without complications, some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk of flu. serious complications. The virus is usually spread from person to person in respiratory droplets when infected people cough or sneeze. Occasionally, people can become infected by touching something that has the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes. The best way to protect yourself and others from the flu is to get vaccinated every year.
The flu vaccine is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease). October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, but getting vaccinated in December or even later can still be beneficial since most flu activity occurs in January or later in most years.
