whats the best thing to do at the onset of the flu
Everything Y'all Need to Know About the Flu
"The flu" is a term normally used to draw seasonal influenza, an illness acquired by ane of numerous influenza viruses. This highly contagious infection affects your respiratory system, causing symptoms that tin can range from mild to life-threatening.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 3–11% of the population within the United States becomes infected with the flu each year. Among infected individuals, hundreds of thousands may require hospitalization and more than than 36,000 individuals typically die each year from the influenza. Infections are most common in the fall and winter, so this period of each year is referred to every bit "flu flavour." If you lot're concerned about the flu, learn more most the symptoms to look out for, along with some important tips for stopping the spread of this serious illness.
In that location are several types of flu viruses that can cause infection. Each of these viruses is spread from person to person via aerosol that are naturally expelled when we talk, cough, sing or sneeze. Other people can then inhale the droplets or transfer them into their bodies by touching a contaminated surface and then touching their eyes, olfactory organ or rima oris. One time the virus enters your torso, it quickly replicates and causes symptoms of the flu.
A person who's infected with an influenza virus is typically contagious ane day before their symptoms brainstorm appearing and upward to 7 days afterward their symptoms starting time outset. During this period, the virus is actively replicating and can hands exist passed on to other people who are in shut contact.
Symptoms of Influenza
Symptoms of the flu usually brainstorm within one to four days of exposure to the virus. Many common flu symptoms are very similar to common cold symptoms, though they typically come on more of a sudden than they do when you have a cold. When you've been infected with an flu virus, you'll likely experience some or all of the following:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore pharynx
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Headaches
- Torso or muscle aches
- Chills
- Fatigue or weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea (these occur more oft in children)
Generally speaking, influenza symptoms are more severe and more debilitating than symptoms of the common common cold. Flu symptoms typically last for one to two weeks and virtually often resolve on their ain. However, in certain cases, influenza infections tin can lead to more serious complications and crave intervention from a medical professional.
Certain populations are at a higher hazard of developing wellness complications related to the seasonal flu. These individuals include:
- Children nether 5 years old (children under 6 months accept an even greater risk)
- Adults 65 years of age or older (peculiarly in long-term intendance environments)
- Significant people or those who have recently given birth
People living with the following health atmospheric condition likewise may be at a higher risk for developing complications from the flu:
- Chronic lung disease or asthma
- Heart disease
- Blood, kidney or liver disorders
- Metabolic disorders
- Neurological and neurodevelopmental weather condition
- Obesity
- Individuals under the age of 19 who are taking long-term aspirin therapy
- Anyone with a compromised immune organization, like people living with cancer, HIV or AIDS
If you lot experience flu-related complications, you may demand to be hospitalized to receive effective care. Influenza-related complications include:
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis or severe asthma
- Heart problems
- Ear infections
- Expiry
Diagnosing Influenza
Often, when influenza symptoms are mild and occur during flu season, your healthcare provider may brand a diagnosis based on your medical history and symptom report alone. It's likewise possible to directly test for the presence of the flu virus via a respiratory swab. Your doctor may collect a sample of fluid from your nasal passage, and this sample will be tested to make up one's mind whether yous have the virus. The physician may order blood tests or X-rays if the severity of the infection indicates yous may experience possible complications.
If you fit into whatever of the above categories that have a higher gamble for developing unsafe complications from influenza, it's of import to contact a healthcare provider right abroad when you develop symptoms. If you lot experience any difficulty breathing, dizziness or chest pain, contact emergency services past dialing 911 immediately.
Treatment for Flu
Unless you lot're at take a chance of developing flu-related complications, you lot can probable treat seasonal flu at home under your doctor's guidance. Recommendations include:
- Drinking plenty of fluids and maintaining a healthy nutritional intake
- Getting adequate residual
- Using over-the-counter pain and fever relief medications
- Avoiding close contact with others every bit much as possible until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without medication
If you're at a college risk of developing complications or if your symptoms increase in severity, your dr. may be able to give you certain antiviral medications to treat the flu. These medications are meant to shorten the elapsing of an infection.
Because of the highly contagious nature of influenza, and its annual prevalence, it's very important to take precautions to help prevent the spread of this illness. Keep the following tips in mind, particularly during influenza season each year:
- Wash your hands frequently, especially later on touching high-contact surfaces
- Avoid touching your eyes, olfactory organ and mouth
- Go on surfaces around your abode and workspace make clean and disinfected
- Exist mindful of crowds and avoid them whenever possible
- Maintain distance from anyone who'due south ill or known to be infected
- Become a flu shot every twelvemonth
Vaccinations, or flu shots, are available every year and are specifically developed to target the strains of flu that are most likely to be dominant that year. The CDC recommends that every person over the age of 6 months receive a flu shot each yr to finer protect against flu infection and its possible serious consequences.
Vaccinations can take the form of an intramuscular injection or a nasal spray, and they piece of work by causing your body to develop antibodies that tin then recognize and fight off the influenza virus if you come up into contact with it in the time to come. Flu vaccinations do non cause disease, and they're an constructive tool for preventing the furnishings of flu in individuals and communities. Talk with your healthcare provider about the appropriate blazon and timing of vaccination for y'all.
Resource Links:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/nigh/keyfacts.htm
https://world wide web.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/influenza
https://www.ors.od.nih.gov/flu/pages/default.aspx
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/symptoms-causes/syc-20351719
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm
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Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/health-conditions/flu-condition?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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