Introduction
Flu (influenza) seasons are the months of the year when many persons have it and it's easy to become infected. Outbreaks often begin suddenly and occur primarily in the late fall and winter. It is a respiratory disease caused by a number of different viruses. Vaccines are routinely given in the fall, before the onset of the flu season and are available as an injection or nasal mist. Injections are most important for: people 65 or older, nursing home patients, children over six months old, people with health problems such as asthma or with chronic diseases, such as HIV or heart disease, children or teen-agers who must often take aspirin, persons who are frequently around older persons or those with health problems. Symptoms can be mild or severe - and if they're mild can become severe without any notice.
Symptoms
If you become infected by the virus, you will usually feel symptoms one to four days later. Signs of influenza may include: fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, dizziness, decreased appetite, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, nausea and/or vomiting, weakness, ear pain, diarrhea. They come on abruptly and are much worse than those of the common cold however; having these symptoms does not automatically mean that you have the flu. Any number of different ailments, including the common cold, can have similar signs. It is very hard to distinguish the flu from other infections on the basis of these signs alone.
If you have flu-like symptoms and are troubled about your illness, especially if you are at extreme risk for complications, you should consult your doctor. Based on your signs, your physician can usually tell if you have the flu, especially during times when a lot of it is going around. After 5 days, fever and other signs have usually vanished, but a cough and weakness may continue for a while. All symptoms are usually gone within 1 week or 2.
Vaccine
Two types of influenza vaccines are available in the United States: The "flu shot" - an in-activated vaccine (using killed virus) that is given with a needle, most often 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(R)). On October 24, 2007 CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended extending the use of the nasal influenza vaccine LAIV (FluMist) to include healthy children ages two to four years old without a history of asthma or recurrent wheezing.
Any person who's at risk of becoming really sick needs to get a flu shot, or vaccine. It's good for kids who are around older persons and younger kids (like little brothers and sisters) to get the vaccine also. If you get the vaccination, or shot, it will protect you from getting a bad case of the flu. Whichever one you receive, you need to get a new vaccine every year because the flu virus changes every year and the vaccine is formulated to fight the viruses that are going to be a problem that year. The flu vaccine is normally 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 produce flu-like symptoms, it is not a guaranteed protection against getting ill. Talk with your MD or local public health department about availability in your area.
Treatment
A lot of people treat their flu by merely Resting in bed, Drinking lots of fluids, Taking over-the-counter medications such as aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol). You can create 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 recognized 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 really the flu. Treatment includes bed rest and lots of fluids; anti-viral drugs may also be prescribed.
Conclusion
Influenza usually begins suddenly and may include these 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 doctors exam may be required to if 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 persons, the illness can cause serious complications, including bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of on going medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. The flu can produce mild to severe illness and at times can cause death.
Although the majority of healthy people recover from the flu with no complications, some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health problems (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious complications. The virus normally spreads from person to person in respiratory droplets when people who are infected cough or sneeze. A person occasionally may become infected by touching something with the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. The single most effective way to protect yourself and others against influenza is to get a flu shot each year.
The flu vacinnation is approved for use in persons older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with on going medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease). October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, but getting a shot in December or even later can still be beneficial since most influenza activity occurs in January or later in most years.
Flu (influenza) seasons are the months of the year when many persons have it and it's easy to become infected. Outbreaks often begin suddenly and occur primarily in the late fall and winter. It is a respiratory disease caused by a number of different viruses. Vaccines are routinely given in the fall, before the onset of the flu season and are available as an injection or nasal mist. Injections are most important for: people 65 or older, nursing home patients, children over six months old, people with health problems such as asthma or with chronic diseases, such as HIV or heart disease, children or teen-agers who must often take aspirin, persons who are frequently around older persons or those with health problems. Symptoms can be mild or severe - and if they're mild can become severe without any notice.
Symptoms
If you become infected by the virus, you will usually feel symptoms one to four days later. Signs of influenza may include: fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, dizziness, decreased appetite, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, nausea and/or vomiting, weakness, ear pain, diarrhea. They come on abruptly and are much worse than those of the common cold however; having these symptoms does not automatically mean that you have the flu. Any number of different ailments, including the common cold, can have similar signs. It is very hard to distinguish the flu from other infections on the basis of these signs alone.
If you have flu-like symptoms and are troubled about your illness, especially if you are at extreme risk for complications, you should consult your doctor. Based on your signs, your physician can usually tell if you have the flu, especially during times when a lot of it is going around. After 5 days, fever and other signs have usually vanished, but a cough and weakness may continue for a while. All symptoms are usually gone within 1 week or 2.
Vaccine
Two types of influenza vaccines are available in the United States: The "flu shot" - an in-activated vaccine (using killed virus) that is given with a needle, most often 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(R)). On October 24, 2007 CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended extending the use of the nasal influenza vaccine LAIV (FluMist) to include healthy children ages two to four years old without a history of asthma or recurrent wheezing.
Any person who's at risk of becoming really sick needs to get a flu shot, or vaccine. It's good for kids who are around older persons and younger kids (like little brothers and sisters) to get the vaccine also. If you get the vaccination, or shot, it will protect you from getting a bad case of the flu. Whichever one you receive, you need to get a new vaccine every year because the flu virus changes every year and the vaccine is formulated to fight the viruses that are going to be a problem that year. The flu vaccine is normally 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 produce flu-like symptoms, it is not a guaranteed protection against getting ill. Talk with your MD or local public health department about availability in your area.
Treatment
A lot of people treat their flu by merely Resting in bed, Drinking lots of fluids, Taking over-the-counter medications such as aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol). You can create 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 recognized 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 really the flu. Treatment includes bed rest and lots of fluids; anti-viral drugs may also be prescribed.
Conclusion
Influenza usually begins suddenly and may include these 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 doctors exam may be required to if 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 persons, the illness can cause serious complications, including bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of on going medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. The flu can produce mild to severe illness and at times can cause death.
Although the majority of healthy people recover from the flu with no complications, some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health problems (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious complications. The virus normally spreads from person to person in respiratory droplets when people who are infected cough or sneeze. A person occasionally may become infected by touching something with the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. The single most effective way to protect yourself and others against influenza is to get a flu shot each year.
The flu vacinnation is approved for use in persons older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with on going medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease). October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, but getting a shot 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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