Protecting Yourself from the Flu: Key Facts, Symptoms, and Prevention

Seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. It represents a year-round disease burden. It causes illnesses that range in severity and sometimes lead to hospitalization and death.

Causation- Flu is a viral illness caused by influenza virus. The influenza virus is a smart virus that has an ability to change itself to skip to avoid recognition by immune system.

Symptoms of Flu- It includes fever, cough, running nose or stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, tiredness, body ache, vomiting, diarrhea. Symptoms usually appear within 2-4 days of exposure.

Transmission of Flu- 

• Influenza viruses are spread from person to person, primarily through respiratory droplets (for example- when an infected person coughs or sneezes near a susceptible person). 

• It’s often spread through airborne droplets that are coughed or sneezed into the air by the sick person the droplets are then included by another person.

• It may also be spread through contact with contaminated surfaces.

Prevention of Flu-

• Avoid close contact with person who are sick.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes.

• Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth.

• Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are often touched by others.

• Avoid crowds during peak flu season, when the flu spreads easily.

• The flu vaccine is the most important way to prevent the flu.

• Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

Homecare -

• Drink plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration.

• Get adequate sleep.

• Keeping warm.

• Paracetamol may be used for fever.

• Don’t use aspirin.

Danger Signs of Flu- 

• Fast breathing.

• Breathing difficulty.

• Blueish decolouration.

• Vomiting.

• High Grade fever.

• Seizures.

• Decreasing urine output.

• Dehydration.

• Generally has more severe symptoms at younger age especially less than 2 years of children who have higher chance of hospitalization and complications.