Wellness Center

Influenza Season is Here

Fighting the Flu

Every year, millions of people will suffer from influenza, a highly contagious infection - more commonly known as the flu. Flu is caused by a germ, also called a virus which infects the nose, throat, and lungs. The flu virus spreads from person to person mostly by the germs that are coughed and sneezed out into the air. Once you are infected, symptoms start between 1-4 days later, with an average of 2 days.

Adults typically can spread the virus to others from the day before their symptoms begin. They can stay infectious as long as 5 days after their illness starts. Children can spread viruses for around 10 days. Persons with severely compromised immune systems, such as people with HIV or cancer, can shed virus for much longer periods of time.

Preventing the Flu
Recognizing Flu Symptoms
Treating the Flu
Knowing When to Get Medical Help
Caring for Someone with the Flu
Most Current Information about Influenza

Preventing the Flu

Your best line of defense for staying healthy during the flu season is a yearly flu vaccine. Getting the flu vaccine can:

reduce your chance of getting the flu
minimize your symptoms if infection does occur after you get the vaccine
help prevent the spread of the infection to others.

Once you are vaccinated, your body makes protective antibodies in about two weeks.

October through November is the best time to get vaccinated since flu activity usually starts in December. In the United States, flu activity generally peaks between late December and early March. After November, you can still benefit from getting the vaccine even if flu is present in your community.

Find the Flu Shot in Your Area

Follow these simple steps to reduce your chance of getting the flu:

Wash your hands often.
Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose.
While out in public, avoid touching surfaces, such as doorknobs and railings, when possible.
Avoid close contact with anyone who has the flu.

Watch video: What is the best protection against the flu?

Recognizing Flu Symptoms

While many symptoms of influenza and colds are similar, influenza comes on suddenly, resulting in increasing weakness. Influenza is NOT stomach flu. Tiredness – also called fatigue - and a dry cough caused by influenza can last for weeks.

Watch video: What are the symptoms of the flu?

Treating the Flu

If your doctor has told you that you have the flu, you should stay home and follow your doctor’s advice. You can treat flu symptoms with and without medicines. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about over-the-counter and prescription medicines. These may relieve your flu symptoms and help you feel better faster, they but will not make you less contagious.

Watch video: How do I treat the flu?

Watch video: What should I do if my child gets the flu?

Knowing When to Get Medical Help

Get medical care right away, either by calling your doctor or by going to an emergency room, if you or someone you know is having any of the signs described below or any other unusually severe symptoms:

Problems breathing or shortness of breath
Purple or blue lips
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
For children, being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Vomiting that is severe or won’t stop
Seizures
Flu-like symptoms that get better but then return with fever and worse cough.

When you arrive, notify the receptionist or nurse about your symptoms.

Caring for Someone with the Flu

Keep the sick person comfortable and follow the advice of his or her health care provider. Keep others in the home healthy by washing hands and household surfaces frequently.

Ensure the sick person takes all medications as directed.
Put the sick person in a separate space from other members of the household.
Everyone in the home, including the sick person, should clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub frequently.

Watch video: What should I do when caring for someone with the flu?

For the most current information about Influenza:

Flu.gov

Find the Flu Shot in Your Area (Flu.gov)

Flu—Get the Shot (National Institute on Aging)
1-800-222-2225

Key Facts about Influenza (Flu) & Flu Vaccine (CDC)

Preventing Seasonal Flu with Vaccination (CDC)

Seasonal Influenza (the Flu): Questions & Answers (CDC)

This article is based on information available at Flu.gov (http://www.flu.gov/symptoms-treatment/caring-for-someone/index.html) accessed November 2012.

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Last Reviewed: Dec 10, 2012