flu
DESCRIPTION
Flu (influenza) is a respiratory infectioncaused by a number of viruses. The viruses pass through the air and enter yourbody through your nose or mouth. Between 5% and 20% of people in the U.S. getthe 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 areworse than those of the common cold. They may include:Body ormuscle achesChills Cough Fever Headache Sore throatIs it a cold or theflu? Colds rarely cause a fever or headaches. Flu almost never causes an upsetstomach. And "stomach flu" isn't really flu at all, but gastroenteritis.The main way to keep from getting the flu isto get a yearly flu vaccine. If you get the flu, your health care provider mayprescribe medicine to help your body fight the infection and lessen symptoms.TRANSCRIPT
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
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 2
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:
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 3
Overview
Body or
muscle aches
Chills
Cough
Fever
Headache
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 4
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.
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 5
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.
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 6
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
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 7
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
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 8
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.
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 9
Symptoms
* It's important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 10
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.
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 11
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.
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 12
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
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 13
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
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 14
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
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 15
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
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 16
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
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 17
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
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 18
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
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 19
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.
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 20
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.
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 21
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
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 22
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.
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 23
Prevention
The single best way to protect against
the flu is to get a flu vaccine each year. CDC recommends that everyone 6
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 24
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.
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 25
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
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 26
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.)
http://www.fitango.com/categories.php?id=118 27
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.