TOP 10 QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FLU

 

 

Influenza, or flu, is a virus that targets the respiratory system. Find answers to the 10 most common questions about the flu:

 

1. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COLD AND THE FLU? The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. Influenza or "the flu" develops when a flu virus infects your respiratory system, including your nose, throat, bronchial tubes, and possibly the lungs. A cold virus usually infects only your upper respiratory tract. The flu can bring on fever, body aches, and exhaustion, symptoms that are rarely caused by simple colds.

2. WHAT ARE FLU SYMPTOMS AND WHEN IS A PERSON CONTAGIOUS? Primary sumptoms of flu are fever, fatigue, aches and pins, chills, and cough. The cough is a bronchial tube irritation and is usually not productive. The flu is usually at its worst for three to four days. About 24 to 72 hours after you're infected, you become contagious. Yet you may not have symptoms, so you don't know you're sick. Stay at home while you've go the flu, and for at least 24 hours after you get over your symptoms.

3. WHAT'S THE BEST TREATMENT FOR FLU? There is no single "best" treatment for flu, but there are many ways you can ease symptoms. Prescription flu drugs can shorten the time you feel sick. Over the counter cold and flu medicines can offer some relief from fever, aches, stuffy nose, and cough. They don't "cure" the flu, but may help keep you more comfortable. Decongestants can help you breathe, saline nasal sprays can also help open breathing passages. Cough preparations, along with water and fruit juices, can help soothe a cough.

4. HOW DO PRESCRIPTION FLU MEDICATIONS WORK? The prescription drugs Tamiflu and Relenza were developed to cut short a bout with flu. They help shorten recovery time by one or two days.

5. SHOULD I GET AN ANTIBIOTIC? Antibiotics will not help treat the flu. Antibiotics kill bacteria, but they do not kill any viruses.

6. WHEN SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR? These symptoms are signs that flu may have developed into something serious like pneumonia. See a doctor if you have any of these symptoms:

- Difficulty Breathing

- Persistent Fever

- Vomiting or inability to keep fluids down

- Painful swallowing

- Persistent coughing

- Persistent congestion and headaches

7. WHY ARE PEOPLE SO CONCERNED ABOUT THE FLU? Because the flu virus can infect the lungs, it can cause a serious infection like pneumonia. That's what worries people. If the flu develops into pneumonia, it may require hospitalization and can even lead to death.

8. CAN FLU SHOTS CAUSE THE FLU? The flu shot is made from killed viruses and cannot "give" you the flu. However, the vaccine can trigger an immune response from your body, so you may have a few mild symptoms, like achy muscles or a low fever.

9. WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT THE FLU? Flu and cold viruses are transmitted the same way - from microscopic droplets from an infected person's respiratory system. To help protect yourself and prevent spread of cold an flu viruses:

- Wash your hands frequently.

- Cough and sneeze into a tissue or into your hands - wash your hands afterward.

- When you cough, turn your head away from others.

- If you have a sudden sneeze and no tissue, bend your arm and sneeze into it.

- Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. This prevents germs from entering your body.

- Wash any shared surfaces frequently - viruses can live on surfaces for several hours.

- Stay away from crowds during cold and flu season.

- Get a flu vaccine every year.

- Eat healthy foods to nourish your immune system.

- Get regular exercise

10. IF I HAVE ALLERGIES, AM I MORE LIKELY TO GET THE FLU? No, allergies don't affect susceptibility to the flu. But people with asthma are more likely to have complications, such as pneumonia, when they get the flu. Also at risk of complications are infants under age 6 months, pregnant women, people with suppressed immune systems, people with diabetes, people with lung disease, people with neurologic disease, people with heart disease, and elderly people.

 

 

source: www.webmd.com