|
| |
Influenza (the flu)
|
Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious disease that is caused by
the
influenza virus. It attacks the respiratory tract in humans (nose, throat,
and lungs). The
flu is different from a cold. Influenza usually comes on suddenly and may
include
these symptoms:
Fever
Headache
Tiredness (can be extreme)
Dry cough
Sore throat
Nasal congestion
Body aches
These symptoms are usually referred to as "flu-like symptoms."
Anyone Can Get the Flu, But the Disease Is More Severe for Some People
Most people who get influenza will recover in one to two weeks, but some
people will
develop life-threatening complications (such as pneumonia) as a result of
the flu.
Millions of people in the United States, about 10% to 20% of U.S. residents,
will get
influenza each year. An average of about 36,000 people per year in the
United States
die from influenza, and 114,000 per year have to be admitted to the hospital
as a
result of influenza. Anyone can get the flu (even healthy people), and
serious
problems from influenza can happen at any age. People age 65 years and
older,
people of any age with chronic medical conditions, and very young children
are more
likely to get complications from influenza. Pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus
and ear
infections are three examples of complications from flu. The flu can make
chronic
health problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma
attacks while they have the flu, and people with chronic congestive heart
failure may
have worsening of this condition that is triggered by the flu.
How the Influenza Virus Is Passed Around
The flu is spread, or transmitted, when a person who has the flu coughs,
sneezes, or
speaks and sends flu virus into the air, and other people inhale the virus.
The virus
enters the nose, throat, or lungs of a person and begins to multiply,
causing
symptoms of influenza. Influenza may, less often, be spread when a person
touches
a surface that has flu viruses on it – a door handle, for instance – and
then touches
his or her nose or mouth.
The Flu Is Contagious
A person can spread the flu starting one day before he or she feels sick.
Adults can
continue to pass the flu virus to others for another three to seven days
after symptoms
start. Children can pass the virus for longer than seven days. Symptoms
start one to
four days after the virus enters the body. Some persons can be infected with
the flu
virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those persons can still spread
the
virus to others.
How To Know if You Have the Flu
Your respiratory illness might be the flu if you have sudden onset of body
aches, fever,
and respiratory symptoms, and your illness occurs during November through
April
(the usual flu season in the Northern Hemisphere). However, during this
time, other
respiratory illnesses can cause similar symptoms and flu can be caught at
any time
of the year. It is impossible to tell for sure if you have the flu based on
symptoms
alone. Doctors can perform tests to see if you have the flu if you are in
the first few
days of your illness.
What You Should Do If You Get the Flu
Rest
Drink plenty of liquids
Avoid using alcohol and tobacco
Take medication to relieve the symptoms of flu
Influenza is caused by a virus, so antibiotics (like penicillin) don’t work
to cure it. The
best way to prevent the flu is to get an influenza vaccine (flu shot) each
fall, before flu
season.
Do Not Give Aspirin To a Child or Teenager Who Has the Flu
Never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms – and
particularly fever – without first speaking to your doctor. Giving aspirin
to children and
teenagers who have influenza can cause a rare but serious illness called
Reye
syndrome. Children or teenagers with the flu should get plenty of rest,
drink lots of
liquids, and take medicines that contain no aspirin to relieve symptoms.
The Myth of the "Stomach Flu”
Many people use the term "stomach flu” to describe illnesses with nausea,
vomiting,
or diarrhea. These symptoms can be caused by many different viruses,
bacteria, or
even parasites. While vomiting, diarrhea, and being nauseous or “sick to
your
stomach” can sometimes be related to the flu — particularly in children —
these
problems are rarely the main symptoms of influenza. The flu is a respiratory
disease
and not a stomach or intestinal disease.
Weekly Flu Update:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/weekly.htm
Source: http://www.cdc.gov (Center of
Disease Control Web site). |
|
