Flu Season: Are You Prepared?

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by and RNA cirrus of the family Orthomyxoviridae. In humans, common symptoms of influenza infection are fever, nausea, vommiting, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, and weakness and fatigue. In more serious cases, influenza cause pneumonia, which can be fatal, particularly in young children and elderly. Sometimes confused with the common cold, influenza is a much more severe disease and is caused by a different type of virus. Similarly, the unrelated gastroenteritis is sometimes called stomach flu or twenty-four hour flu.

For most people, the flu can be horrible, but it does go away in a week or two. For some, the flu can make them very sick. those groups of people include: babies and kids under the age of five, people older than sixty-five, and adult and kids who have health problems, such as diabetes and asthma.

Most people opt to get the flu vaccine, or shot. This will protect your from getting a bad case of the flu. You either won't get the flu at all or you will only have a mild case of the flu. A flu shot is given by using a needle just like other vaccines. There is also a nasal flu vaccine mist, which is a spray that;s squirted up your nose.

Flu is usually spread by little drops of the virus coming out of infected person's mouth and nose when he or she sneezes, coughs, or laughs. You also can get the flu by touching germs from an infected person.

If you should happen to get the flu then you should rest in bed or on the couch. Drink lots of liquids, like chicken broth, and other fluids. Prescription flu drugs can also cut short the flu if taken when your firs symptoms appear. Over-the-counter cold and flu medicines can offer some relief from fever nd aches.

Decongestants can help you breathe by shrinking swollen mucous membranes in your nose. Saline nasal sprays can also help clear blocked nasal passages. Cough preparations are not hugely effective. For minor coughs, water and fruit juices will probably help you the most.

It is very important to drink lots of fluids to keep your body hydrated. This also helps prevent another infection from setting in.

The reason that so many people are concerned about the flu is because the flu virus can infect the lungs, it can cause a serious infection like pneumonia. If the flu develops into pneumonia, it can require hospitalization and even lead to death. People with weak immune systems are at a higher risk.

While the CDC recommends that everyone get the flue shot, it is highly recommended for people at a high risk of flu complications such as people with pneumonia, all children six months to twenty-three months old, people sixty-five and older, people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, adults and children six months and older with chronic medial conditions, and women who will be pregnant during the flue season.

You should see a doctor if symptoms or signs that the flu may have developed into something serious like pneumonia. You should see a doctor if you have any of these symptoms: difficulty breathing, persistent fever, vomiting or inability to keep fluids down, painful swallowing, persistent coughing, persistent congestion and headaches.