Symptoms of the Flu

It's Flu season again, so everyone should be vaccinated as soon as possible. During the winter months, we are more susceptible to the virus because we spend more time indoors together with family, friends, and co-workers than in the warmer months of the year. Office workers congregate inside for lunch more often as opposed to going out for a quick bite. Under these conditions of closed in spaces, the flu can spread much easier in the colder months, than in the months where we rather enjoy the warm sunshine.

Influenza is a viral infection that most instances last about a week; it affects the throat, lungs, and bronchi. Symptoms of the flu can manifest in headache, fever, sore muscles, cough, sneeze, and fatigue. A mature healthy person can recover usually in a week or so. In children, whose immune systems are still in development and the elderly whose immune systems are weaker due to age, influenza can lead to more serious conditions like pneumonia,

The best time for vaccination is as soon as the vaccine is available; this is usually around September, and through December and January. Influenza seasons vary so there is no hard date for when it will start and how long it will last. Outbreaks usually peak in January but can start as early as October. Vaccination is the best chance of preventing both mild and severe cases of the virus.

It is not necessary that all people be vaccinated, but for anyone who wants to decrease their chances of catching the infection should do so. It is highly recommend that all those at risk should get vaccinated as soon as possible, this includes children 6 months to 19 years of age, pregnant women, people 50 years or older, those with chronic medical conditions, and those who work in the healthcare profession, like hospitals and nursing homes.

Physicians say that some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting their doctor. Those are persons who have allergies to eggs, because all vaccinations contain a small amount of egg protein, and people who have a severe reaction to the influenza vaccine, those with a severe illness, and children under the age of 6 months because the vaccination has not been approved for children that young. The health and age of those affected, and the strain of the virus in circulation determine the effectiveness of the vaccine.

The flu vaccine contains a dead version of the virus, so it is not likely that you will contract the disease from the shot, but there are side effects that include sore throat, fever, muscle aches to name a few. If you are looking for a location for your flu shot, The American Lung Association Flu Clinic offers a locator all you have to do is go to their site and enter you zip code.