Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza (flu) viruses that can infect the nose, throat and the lungs. While most people who get the flu recover on their own, certain populations are at higher risk of developing complications from the flu, some of which can be severe or even deadly.
The flu may start off like a cold, but unlike a cold, flu symptoms rapidly intensify. Flu symptoms may include:
You can protect yourself during flu season by avoiding crowds and people who are sick, wearing a mask, keeping surfaces clean, avoiding touching your face and frequently washing your hands.
The best way to minimize your chances of getting the flu is to get vaccinated annually. The CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older be vaccinated against the flu. While flu vaccines aren’t 100% effective at preventing getting infected with the flu, it helps reduce how severe your case may be and how long you may suffer.
Flu shots can be given to all children ages 6 months or older, and the nasal flu vaccine can be given to most children ages 2 years and older.
Children who get the flu shot are less likely to get the flu and thus less likely to miss school or daycare, and parents are less likely to miss work. In addition, children who are vaccinated not only decrease their likelihood of serious illness or death if they become infected, they also protect others, including vulnerable individuals, such as young babies, elderly adults and those with compromised immune systems, including people undergoing treatment for cancer.
The protection your child receives from the immunization vastly outweighs the minor side effects your child may experience after his or her vaccine. Patients who get the flu shot may experience soreness, redness or swelling at the site. Some children may also experience a headache, fever, nausea or muscle aches, but these are typically minor. Children who receive the nasal vaccine may develop a runny nose, some wheezing, a headache, vomiting or muscle aches, but these symptoms are also not common and will self-resolve within a few days.
A number of laboratory tests are available to detect influenza viruses. Some can be performed in a doctor’s office, while others must be performed in specialized laboratories. After evaluating you, your doctor may choose to diagnose you with flu without performing any testing.
To help alleviate flu symptoms, you can:
If you are at high risk of complications from the flu, or if you have serious symptoms associated with flu infection, influenza antiviral drugs may be a treatment option. But to be effective, these drugs must be started early, ideally no later than two days after your flu symptoms begin. These drugs can help lessen symptoms, shorten the duration of your illness by a day or two, and help prevent serious complications.
Flu viruses travel through the air in droplets when someone who is infected sneezes, coughs or speaks. You can become infected either by inhaling the airborne droplets or by touching flu germs or a surface then touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Symptoms usually start from one to four days after exposure. If you are infected with the flu, you can become contagious even before you show symptoms and for up to a week after your symptoms start.
If you do get sick, stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. You can resume normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, your symptoms are improving and you have not had a fever (without using fever-reducing medication).
Once you contract the flu, your body develops resistance (antibodies) against that specific strain. This resistance can help prevent reinfection against that strain or lessen the severity of your illness. But these antibodies can diminish over time. And flu viruses are constantly changing, so those antibodies may not protect you from other influenza strains.
You are at higher risk of complications from the flu if you:
If you fall into one or more of these groups, you may develop complications from the flu, such as bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma flare-ups, sinus or ear infections, acute respiratory distress or worsening of chronic medical conditions.
If you suspect that you have the flu and/or you have a fever, you should get tested. Testing is performed at your primary care provider clinics or urgent cares.
Only go to the emergency room if you develop severe symptoms of the flu, which include:
Seek emergency medical attention for a child if they exhibit any of these symptoms and/or they experience:
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