Introduction
Flu (influenza) seasons are the months of the year when many persons have it and it's easy to become infected. Outbreaks often begin suddenly and occur primarily in the late fall and winter. It is a respiratory disease caused by a number of different viruses. Vaccines are routinely given in the fall, before the onset of the flu season and are available as an injection or nasal mist. Injections are most important for: people 65 or older, nursing home patients, children over six months old, people with health problems such as asthma or with chronic diseases, such as HIV or heart disease, children or teen-agers who must often take aspirin, persons who are frequently around older persons or those with health problems. Symptoms can be mild or severe - and if they're mild can become severe without any notice.
Symptoms
Should you become infected by the virus, you will usually feel symptoms 1 to 4 days afterwards. Signs of the flu can incompass: fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, dizziness, loss of appetite, fatigue, cough, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, weakness, ear ache, diarrhea. They come on suddenly and are worse than those of the ordinary cold however; having these symptoms does not automatically mean that you have influenza. Many different deseases, including the common cold, can have similar symptoms. It is very difficult to distinguish the flu from other infections on the basis of these signs alone.
If you develop flu-like signs and are worried about your illness, especially if you are at high risk for complications, you should visit your health-care provider. Based on your symtoms, your doctor can usually tell if you have influenza, especially at times when a lot of it is going around. After 5 days, fever and other signs have usually disappeared, but a cough and weakness may continue for some time. All symptoms are usually gone within 7 to 14 days.
Vaccine
2 forms of flu vaccines are available in North American: The "flu shot" - an in-activated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is injected with a needle, usually in the arm OR the nasal-spray - a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause (sometimes called LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine" or FluMist(R)). On October 24, 2007 CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended expanding the utilization of the nasal influenza vaccine LAIV (FluMist) to include healthy children ages 2-4 years old without a past history of asthma or recurrent wheezing.
Any person who's at risk of becoming really sick needs to get a flu shot, or vaccine. It's good for kids who are around older persons and younger kids (like little brothers and sisters) to get the vaccine also. If you get the vaccination, or shot, it will protect you from getting a bad case of the flu. Whichever one you receive, you need to get a new vaccine every year because the flu virus changes every year and the vaccine is formulated to fight the viruses that are going to be a problem that year. The flu vaccine is normally offered between September and mid-November, although it may be given at other times of the year. Because it prevents infection from only a few of the viruses floating around that can produce flu-like symptoms, it is not a guaranteed protection against getting ill. Talk with your MD or local public health department about availability in your area.
Treatment
A large number people take care of their flu by simply Resting in bed, Drinking plenty of liquids, Taking over-the-counter medicine such as aspirin or Tylenol. You can develop complications if you get a bacterial infection, which may produce pneumonia in your weakened lungs. Treatment is usually not necessary for children, but if the illness is diagnosed early and the patient is at risk of developing a severe case, it can and should be started. Treatment can only help however; If begun early and only if the illness is actually influenza. Treatment incompasses bed rest and plenty of fluids; anti-viral medicines may also be prescribed.
Conclusion
Influenza usually begins suddenly and may include these symptoms: Fever (usually high), Headache, Tiredness (can be extreme), Cough, Sore throat, Runny or stuffy nose, Body aches, Diarrhea and vomiting (more common among children than adults). A doctors exam may be required to if you have developed the flu or a complication. There are tests that can determine if you have influenza as long as you are tested within the first 2 or 3 days of illness. In some persons, the illness can cause serious complications, including bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of on going medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. The flu can produce mild to severe illness and at times can cause death.
Although the majority of healthy people recover from the flu with no complications, some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health problems (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious complications. The virus normally spreads from person to person in respiratory droplets when people who are infected cough or sneeze. A person occasionally may become infected by touching something with the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. The single most effective way to protect yourself and others against influenza is to get a flu shot each year.
The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy persons and persons with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease). October or November is the best time to receive a vaccination, but getting vaccinated in December or even later can still be healthful since most influenza activity takes place in January or later in most years.
Flu (influenza) seasons are the months of the year when many persons have it and it's easy to become infected. Outbreaks often begin suddenly and occur primarily in the late fall and winter. It is a respiratory disease caused by a number of different viruses. Vaccines are routinely given in the fall, before the onset of the flu season and are available as an injection or nasal mist. Injections are most important for: people 65 or older, nursing home patients, children over six months old, people with health problems such as asthma or with chronic diseases, such as HIV or heart disease, children or teen-agers who must often take aspirin, persons who are frequently around older persons or those with health problems. Symptoms can be mild or severe - and if they're mild can become severe without any notice.
Symptoms
Should you become infected by the virus, you will usually feel symptoms 1 to 4 days afterwards. Signs of the flu can incompass: fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, dizziness, loss of appetite, fatigue, cough, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, weakness, ear ache, diarrhea. They come on suddenly and are worse than those of the ordinary cold however; having these symptoms does not automatically mean that you have influenza. Many different deseases, including the common cold, can have similar symptoms. It is very difficult to distinguish the flu from other infections on the basis of these signs alone.
If you develop flu-like signs and are worried about your illness, especially if you are at high risk for complications, you should visit your health-care provider. Based on your symtoms, your doctor can usually tell if you have influenza, especially at times when a lot of it is going around. After 5 days, fever and other signs have usually disappeared, but a cough and weakness may continue for some time. All symptoms are usually gone within 7 to 14 days.
Vaccine
2 forms of flu vaccines are available in North American: The "flu shot" - an in-activated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is injected with a needle, usually in the arm OR the nasal-spray - a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause (sometimes called LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine" or FluMist(R)). On October 24, 2007 CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended expanding the utilization of the nasal influenza vaccine LAIV (FluMist) to include healthy children ages 2-4 years old without a past history of asthma or recurrent wheezing.
Any person who's at risk of becoming really sick needs to get a flu shot, or vaccine. It's good for kids who are around older persons and younger kids (like little brothers and sisters) to get the vaccine also. If you get the vaccination, or shot, it will protect you from getting a bad case of the flu. Whichever one you receive, you need to get a new vaccine every year because the flu virus changes every year and the vaccine is formulated to fight the viruses that are going to be a problem that year. The flu vaccine is normally offered between September and mid-November, although it may be given at other times of the year. Because it prevents infection from only a few of the viruses floating around that can produce flu-like symptoms, it is not a guaranteed protection against getting ill. Talk with your MD or local public health department about availability in your area.
Treatment
A large number people take care of their flu by simply Resting in bed, Drinking plenty of liquids, Taking over-the-counter medicine such as aspirin or Tylenol. You can develop complications if you get a bacterial infection, which may produce pneumonia in your weakened lungs. Treatment is usually not necessary for children, but if the illness is diagnosed early and the patient is at risk of developing a severe case, it can and should be started. Treatment can only help however; If begun early and only if the illness is actually influenza. Treatment incompasses bed rest and plenty of fluids; anti-viral medicines may also be prescribed.
Conclusion
Influenza usually begins suddenly and may include these symptoms: Fever (usually high), Headache, Tiredness (can be extreme), Cough, Sore throat, Runny or stuffy nose, Body aches, Diarrhea and vomiting (more common among children than adults). A doctors exam may be required to if you have developed the flu or a complication. There are tests that can determine if you have influenza as long as you are tested within the first 2 or 3 days of illness. In some persons, the illness can cause serious complications, including bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of on going medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. The flu can produce mild to severe illness and at times can cause death.
Although the majority of healthy people recover from the flu with no complications, some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health problems (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious complications. The virus normally spreads from person to person in respiratory droplets when people who are infected cough or sneeze. A person occasionally may become infected by touching something with the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. The single most effective way to protect yourself and others against influenza is to get a flu shot each year.
The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy persons and persons with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease). October or November is the best time to receive a vaccination, but getting vaccinated in December or even later can still be healthful since most influenza activity takes place in January or later in most years.
About the Author:
Ricardo Henri is the owner of Natural Remedies,Treatments And Cures,a website containing a wealth of info concerning taking care of your health containingout dependingon medicationsand unnecessary surgery. Subscribe to his monthly newsletter @ natural remedies treatments cures
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