Introduction
Flu (influenza) season means the months of the year when a lot of people have it and it's easy to catch. Outbreaks usually begin suddenly and occur mainly in the late fall and winter. It is a respiratory infection caused by a number of different viruses. Vaccines are usually given in the fall, before flu season starts and are available as a shot or nasal mist. Shots are most important for: people 65 or older, nursing home patients, children over 6 months old, people with health problems such as asthma or with long-term diseases, such as HIV or heart disease, children or teen-agers who must often take aspirin, people who are often around older people or those with health problems. Symptoms can be mild or severe - and if they're mild can become severe without notice.
Symptoms
If you get infected by the virus, you will usually feel symptoms 1 to 4 days later. Signs of the flu may include: fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, dizziness, loss of appetite, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, weakness, ear pain, diarrhea. They come on suddenly and are worse than those of the common cold however; having these symptoms does not automatically mean that 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 on the basis of these signs alone.
If you develop flu-like symptoms and are concerned about your illness, especially if you are at high risk for complications, you should consult your health-care provider. Based on your signs, your doctor can usually tell if you have influenza, especially during times when a lot of it is going around. After 5 days, fever and other signs have usually disappeared, but a cough and weakness may continue for a while. All symptoms are usually gone within a week or two.
Vaccine
Two kinds of flu vaccines are available in the United States: The "flu shot" - an in-activated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm OR the nasal-spray - a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause influenza (sometimes called LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine" or FluMist®). On October 24, 2007 CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended expanding the use of the nasal influenza vaccine LAIV (FluMist) to include healthy children ages 2-4 years old without a history of asthma or recurrent wheezing.
Anyone who's at risk of getting really sick needs to get a flu shot, or vaccine. It's good for kids who are around older people and younger kids (like little brothers and sisters) to get the vaccine also. If you get the vaccine, or shot, it will protect you from getting a bad case of the flu. Whichever one you get, you need to 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 may be given at other times of the year. Because it prevents infection from only a few of the viruses floating around that can cause flu-like symptoms, it is not a guaranteed protection against getting sick. Call your doctor or local public health department about availability in your area.
Treatment
Many people treat their flu by simply Resting in bed, Drinking plenty of fluids, Taking over-the-counter medicine such as aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol). You can develop complications if you get a bacterial infection, which can cause pneumonia in your weakened lungs. Treatment is usually not necessary for children, but if the illness is diagnosed early and the patient is at risk of developing a severe case, it can and should be started. Treatment will only help however; If started early and only if the illness is actually influenza. Treatment includes bed rest and plenty of fluids; anti-viral drugs may also be prescribed.
Conclusion
Influenza usually starts suddenly and may 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 among children than adults). A doctor's exam may be needed to tell whether you have developed the flu or a complication. There are tests that can determine if you have influenza as long as you are tested within the first 2 or 3 days of illness. In some people, the illness can cause serious complications, including 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 at times can 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 for serious complications. The virus usually spreads from person to person in respiratory droplets when people who are infected cough or sneeze. People occasionally may become infected by touching something with the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. The single best way to protect yourself and others against influenza is to get a vaccination each year.
The flu shot 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 influenza activity occurs in January or later in most years.
Flu (influenza) season means the months of the year when a lot of people have it and it's easy to catch. Outbreaks usually begin suddenly and occur mainly in the late fall and winter. It is a respiratory infection caused by a number of different viruses. Vaccines are usually given in the fall, before flu season starts and are available as a shot or nasal mist. Shots are most important for: people 65 or older, nursing home patients, children over 6 months old, people with health problems such as asthma or with long-term diseases, such as HIV or heart disease, children or teen-agers who must often take aspirin, people who are often around older people or those with health problems. Symptoms can be mild or severe - and if they're mild can become severe without notice.
Symptoms
If you get infected by the virus, you will usually feel symptoms 1 to 4 days later. Signs of the flu may include: fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, dizziness, loss of appetite, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, weakness, ear pain, diarrhea. They come on suddenly and are worse than those of the common cold however; having these symptoms does not automatically mean that 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 on the basis of these signs alone.
If you develop flu-like symptoms and are concerned about your illness, especially if you are at high risk for complications, you should consult your health-care provider. Based on your signs, your doctor can usually tell if you have influenza, especially during times when a lot of it is going around. After 5 days, fever and other signs have usually disappeared, but a cough and weakness may continue for a while. All symptoms are usually gone within a week or two.
Vaccine
Two kinds of flu vaccines are available in the United States: The "flu shot" - an in-activated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm OR the nasal-spray - a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause influenza (sometimes called LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine" or FluMist®). On October 24, 2007 CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended expanding the use of the nasal influenza vaccine LAIV (FluMist) to include healthy children ages 2-4 years old without a history of asthma or recurrent wheezing.
Anyone who's at risk of getting really sick needs to get a flu shot, or vaccine. It's good for kids who are around older people and younger kids (like little brothers and sisters) to get the vaccine also. If you get the vaccine, or shot, it will protect you from getting a bad case of the flu. Whichever one you get, you need to 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 may be given at other times of the year. Because it prevents infection from only a few of the viruses floating around that can cause flu-like symptoms, it is not a guaranteed protection against getting sick. Call your doctor or local public health department about availability in your area.
Treatment
Many people treat their flu by simply Resting in bed, Drinking plenty of fluids, Taking over-the-counter medicine such as aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol). You can develop complications if you get a bacterial infection, which can cause pneumonia in your weakened lungs. Treatment is usually not necessary for children, but if the illness is diagnosed early and the patient is at risk of developing a severe case, it can and should be started. Treatment will only help however; If started early and only if the illness is actually influenza. Treatment includes bed rest and plenty of fluids; anti-viral drugs may also be prescribed.
Conclusion
Influenza usually starts suddenly and may 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 among children than adults). A doctor's exam may be needed to tell whether you have developed the flu or a complication. There are tests that can determine if you have influenza as long as you are tested within the first 2 or 3 days of illness. In some people, the illness can cause serious complications, including 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 at times can 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 for serious complications. The virus usually spreads from person to person in respiratory droplets when people who are infected cough or sneeze. People occasionally may become infected by touching something with the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. The single best way to protect yourself and others against influenza is to get a vaccination each year.
The flu shot 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 influenza activity occurs in January or later in most years.
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