Influenza treatment
It is a highly contagious respiratory illness that is caused by influenza types A and B viruses. Flu activity often begins in October in the U.S., peaks December through February, and sometimes lasts until as late as May. Although flu and the common cold share many symptoms, they are vastly different.
For example, symptoms of cold arise gradually and are milder than those of flu, whereas symptoms of flu come on quickly, are intense, and may result in severe health problems such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, and hospitalizations.
Certain groups of people are at a greater risk of experiencing complications from flu. These groups include young children, pregnant women, adults over the age of 65 years, and those with chronic medical conditions.
And, unless you lock yourself away from everyone and everything, there is no foolproof strategy for dodging the flu completely. That said, steps can be taken to minimize your exposure, build up your immunity, and reduce your risk of infection.
Getting a flu shot is the single best thing that you can do each flu season to protect yourself from severe illness.
Seasonal flu shots created to protect against three or four flu viruses that are believed to be the most common during a specific flu season are vaccines that are usually injected into the arm with a needle.
Flu vaccines trigger antibodies to develop in the body, usually within 2 weeks of having the shot. The antibodies provide protection against the strains of flu infection contained in the vaccine. Although the flu shot may have side effects in some people, it cannot cause flu illness.
The flu vaccine saved 40,000 lives in the U.S. between 2005 and 2014 and can even decrease the likelihood of complications and death even when infection fails to be prevented. Everybody over the age of 6 months is recommended to get an annual flu vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Several flu shots are available depending on age and whether you are pregnant or have a chronic health condition.
Children under 6 months old are too young to receive a flu shot. People who have life-threatening allergies to any ingredient in the vaccine or have ever had Guillain-Barr syndrome should discuss the flu shot with their doctor before getting vaccinated.
Between 151 million and 166 million doses of injectable flu vaccine are estimated to be available for the 20172018 flu season. When the supply of the vaccine is limited, priority will often be given to:
children aged between 6 months and 4 years
adults aged 50 years and over
those with chronic pulmonary disorders or who are immunosuppressed
pregnant women
children and adolescents on long-term aspirin therapy
people who work in chronic care facilities and healthcare personnel
individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more
In people at risk of heart disease, their risk of heart attack is six times higher in the first 7 days of flu.
When the flu vaccine is well matched to the circulating flu viruses, the flu shot can reduce the risk of flu by 4060 percent.
A good match occurs when the viruses in the vaccine and the circulating flu viruses in any given flu season are closely related. The antibodies generated as a result of the vaccine will then effectively protect against infection from flu. Are you looking for ways to avoid being struck down by the flu? Although complete immunity cant be guaranteed, we have put together some top tips that might just protect you from getting sick this flu season. It is a highly contagious respiratory illness that is caused by influenza types A and B viruses. Flu activity often begins in October in the U.S., peaks December through February, and sometimes lasts until as late as May.
Although flu and the common cold share many symptoms, they are vastly different.
For example, symptoms of cold arise gradually and are milder than those of flu, whereas symptoms of flu come on quickly, are intense, and may result in severe health problems such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, and hospitalizations.
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