flu

http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118

Fitango EducationHealth Topics

Flu


http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 1

Overview

Flu (influenza) is a respiratory infection

caused by a number of viruses. The viruses pass through the air and enter your

body through your nose or mouth. Between 5% and 20% of people in the U.S. get



Overview

the flu each year. The flu can be serious or even deadly for elderly people,

newborn babies and people with certain chronic illnesses.

Symptoms of the flu come on suddenly and are

worse than those of the common cold. They may include:



Overview

Body or

muscle aches

Chills

Cough

Fever

Headache



Overview

Sore throat

Is it a cold or the

flu? Colds rarely cause a fever or headaches. Flu almost never causes an upset

stomach. And "stomach flu" isn't really flu at all, but gastroenteritis.



Overview

The main way to keep from getting the flu is

to get a yearly flu vaccine. If you get the flu, your health care provider may

prescribe medicine to help your body fight the infection and lessen symptoms.



Symptoms

Influenza (also known as the flu) is a

contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. It can cause mild

to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The flu is different



Symptoms

from a cold. The flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have the flu

often feel some or all of these symptoms:

-- Fever* or feeling feverish/chills

-- Cough

-- Sore throat



Symptoms

-- Runny or stuffy nose

-- Muscle or body aches

-- Headaches

-- Fatigue (tiredness)

-- Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.



Symptoms

* It's important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.



Diagnoses

Usually, healthcare providers diagnose

the flu on the basis of whether it is epidemic in the community and

whether the person's complaints fit the current pattern of symptoms.



Diagnoses

Healthcare providers rarely use laboratory tests to identify the virus

during an epidemic. Health officials, however, monitor certain U.S.

health clinics and do laboratory tests to determine which type of flu

virus is responsible for the epidemic.



Treatment

Most people with the flu have mild

illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. If you get sick

with flu symptoms, in most cases, you should stay home and avoid



Treatment

contact with other people except to get medical care.

If, however,

you have symptoms of flu and are very sick or worried about your

illness, contact your health care provider (doctor, physician’s



Treatment

assistant, etc.).

Certain people are at greater risk of serious

flu-related complications (including young children, elderly persons,

pregnant women and people with certain long-term medical conditions) and



Treatment

this is true both for seasonal flu and novel flu virus infections. (For

a full list of people at higher risk of flu-related complications, see People at High Risk of Developing Flu–Related Complications).

If you are in a high risk group and develop flu symptoms, it’s best for



Treatment

you to contact your doctor. Remind them about your high risk status for

flu.

Health care providers will determine whether influenza

testing and possible treatment are needed. Your doctor may prescribe



Treatment

antiviral drugs that can treat the flu. These drugs work better for

treatment the sooner they are started.

There are drugs your doctor may prescribe

for treating the flu called “antivirals.” These drugs can make you



Treatment

better faster and may also prevent serious complications. See Treatment - Antiviral Drugs for more information.

The CDC recommends that you stay home for at

least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or



Treatment

for other things you have to do and no one else can do for you. (Your

fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such

as Tylenol®.) You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping,

social events, and public gatherings.



Risks

You can have flu complications if you

get a bacterial infection, which can cause pneumonia in your weakened

lungs. Pneumonia also can be caused by the flu virus itself.



Risks

Complications usually appear after you start feeling better. After a

brief period of improvement, you may suddenly get these symptoms:

-- High fever

-- Shaking chills

-- Chest pain with each breath



Risks

-- Coughing that produces thick, yellow-greenish-colored mucus

Pneumonia can be a very serious and sometimes life-threatening

condition. If you have any of these symptoms, you should contact your

health care provider immediately to get the appropriate treatment.



Prevention

The single best way to protect against

the flu is to get a flu vaccine each year. CDC recommends that everyone 6



Prevention

months and older, especially people at high risk for developing serious complications from flu, get vaccinated each season. To learn more, see Key Facts about Flu Vaccine.

Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs:

-- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.



Prevention

-- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.*

-- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.

-- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

-- If



Prevention

you are sick with flu–like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home

for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical

care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the

use of a fever-reducing medicine.)



Prevention

-- While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

Also, , which can treat flu illness, may be used in certain circumstances to prevent the flu.


flu

Documents