How to Avoid Catching the Stomach Flu From Family
"The flu" is a term unremarkably used to depict seasonal influenza, an affliction caused past 1 of numerous flu viruses. This highly contagious infection affects your respiratory system, causing symptoms that can range from mild to life-threatening.
The Centers for Disease Command and Prevention (CDC) estimates that iii–xi% of the population within the U.s. becomes infected with the flu each twelvemonth. Amongst infected individuals, hundreds of thousands may crave hospitalization and more than 36,000 individuals typically die each year from the influenza. Infections are most common in the autumn and winter, so this period of each twelvemonth is referred to as "flu flavor." If you lot're concerned about the flu, learn more nigh the symptoms to look out for, along with some important tips for stopping the spread of this serious illness.
There are several types of influenza viruses that tin cause infection. Each of these viruses is spread from person to person via droplets that are naturally expelled when we talk, cough, sing or sneeze. Other people can and so inhale the droplets or transfer them into their bodies by touching a contaminated surface and so touching their optics, nose or mouth. In one case the virus enters your body, it speedily replicates and causes symptoms of the flu.
A person who's infected with an influenza virus is typically contagious one day earlier their symptoms begin appearing and up to vii days after their symptoms start start. During this period, the virus is actively replicating and can easily be passed on to other people who are in shut contact.
Symptoms of Flu
Symptoms of the flu commonly begin within i to four days of exposure to the virus. Many common flu symptoms are very like to common cold symptoms, though they typically come on more than suddenly than they do when you have a cold. When you've been infected with an influenza virus, you'll probable experience some or all of the following:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Headaches
- Body or musculus aches
- Chills
- Fatigue or weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea (these occur more often in children)
Generally speaking, flu symptoms are more severe and more debilitating than symptoms of the common cold. Influenza symptoms typically final for one to two weeks and most often resolve on their ain. However, in certain cases, influenza infections tin lead to more serious complications and require intervention from a medical professional person.
Sure populations are at a college risk of developing health complications related to the seasonal flu. These individuals include:
- Children under 5 years one-time (children under 6 months have an even greater take chances)
- Adults 65 years of age or older (specially in long-term care environments)
- Pregnant people or those who have recently given birth
People living with the post-obit health conditions also may be at a higher risk for developing complications from the flu:
- Chronic lung disease or asthma
- Heart illness
- Blood, kidney or liver disorders
- Metabolic disorders
- Neurological and neurodevelopmental weather condition
- Obesity
- Individuals under the age of xix who are taking long-term aspirin therapy
- Anyone with a compromised allowed organization, like people living with cancer, HIV or AIDS
If you feel flu-related complications, yous may need to be hospitalized to receive effective care. Flu-related complications include:
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis or severe asthma
- Heart bug
- Ear infections
- Death
Diagnosing Influenza
Often, when flu symptoms are balmy and occur during influenza flavour, your healthcare provider may make a diagnosis based on your medical history and symptom report alone. Information technology's also possible to directly test for the presence of the influenza virus via a respiratory swab. Your doctor may collect a sample of fluid from your nasal passage, and this sample volition exist tested to determine whether yous accept the virus. The medico may order blood tests or Ten-rays if the severity of the infection indicates you may experience possible complications.
If you lot fit into any of the above categories that accept a higher take chances for developing dangerous complications from influenza, it's of import to contact a healthcare provider right away when you develop symptoms. If y'all experience any difficulty breathing, dizziness or chest pain, contact emergency services by dialing 911 immediately.
Treatment for Influenza
Unless you're at risk of developing flu-related complications, y'all can probable care for seasonal influenza at dwelling under your dr.'due south guidance. Recommendations include:
- Drinking enough of fluids and maintaining a good for you nutritional intake
- Getting adequate balance
- Using over-the-counter pain and fever relief medications
- Avoiding shut contact with others as much equally possible until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without medication
If y'all're at a higher risk of developing complications or if your symptoms increment in severity, your dr. may be able to give you certain antiviral medications to care for the flu. These medications are meant to shorten the duration of an infection.
Because of the highly contagious nature of influenza, and its annual prevalence, it's very of import to take precautions to assist forestall the spread of this affliction. Proceed the following tips in listen, especially during flu flavor each yr:
- Launder your easily frequently, especially afterward touching high-contact surfaces
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Go along surfaces around your domicile and workspace clean and disinfected
- Be mindful of crowds and avoid them whenever possible
- Maintain distance from anyone who's sick or known to be infected
- Get a flu shot every year
Vaccinations, or flu shots, are available every year and are specifically developed to target the strains of influenza that are nearly likely to be dominant that twelvemonth. The CDC recommends that every person over the age of vi months receive a flu shot each year to effectively protect against influenza infection and its possible serious consequences.
Vaccinations tin can take the form of an intramuscular injection or a nasal spray, and they work by causing your body to develop antibodies that tin then recognize and fight off the influenza virus if you lot come into contact with information technology in the future. Flu vaccinations exercise not cause affliction, and they're an constructive tool for preventing the effects of influenza in individuals and communities. Talk with your healthcare provider almost the advisable type and timing of vaccination for you.
Resource Links:
https://world wide web.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm
https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-weather/influenza
https://www.ors.od.nih.gov/flu/pages/default.aspx
https://world wide web.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/symptoms-causes/syc-20351719
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm
Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/health/flu-condition?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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