YSK with widespread flu activity in 46 states, the single-most effective way to prevent getting the flu is to wash your hands. Your next best defenses are to avoid touching your face and to receive a flu shot.
IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO GET YOUR FLU SHOT The flu primarily enters through the nose, mouth and eyes. While it may seem like common sense, you may not wash your hands as much as you think or realize you touch your face so much. With the average person touching their face around 2000-3000 times a day, this creates a perfect portal of entry for the influenza virus. Just go about your day and look at how often people touch their face. Wether its to scratch that itch or rub your nose, it can still get you sick.
The predominant flu strain this year is H3N2, a form of influenza A. Some Australian Medical Journals are reporting that this years flu vaccine only has a 10% effectiveness at stopping this strain of the virus. Due to this, the importance of proper hand washing and the avoidance of touching your face cannot be stressed enough. The full effectiveness of the vaccine cannot be determined until after the flu season. The vaccine can be effective against other strains of the flu too so it IS smart to get the vaccine.
How do I know if I have the flu? You may have the flu if you have some or all of these symptoms: - fever* - cough - sore throat - runny or stuffy nose - body aches - headache - chills - fatigue - sometimes diarrhea and vomiting *It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.
What to do if you get the flu: In most cases, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. -If, however, you have symptoms of flu and are in a high risk group, or are very sick or worried about your illness, contact your health care provider (doctor, physician assistant, etc.). see here for high risk groups
DO NOT GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM UNLESS YOU ARE VERY SICK. You should not go to the emergency room if you are only mildly ill. Currently in my home town the ER’s are overcrowded with flu patients and it is so bad that as soon as you walk into the door you are told to put on a mask.
What are the emergency warning signs of flu sickness? In children: - Fast breathing or trouble breathing - Bluish skin color - Not drinking enough fluids - Not waking up or not interacting - Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held - Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough - Fever with a rash In addition to the signs above, get medical help right away for any infant who has any of these signs: - Being unable to eat - Has trouble breathing - Has no tears when crying - Significantly fewer wet diapers than normal
In adults: - Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath - Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen - Sudden dizziness - Confusion - Severe or persistent vomiting - Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Medication for the flu: There are drugs your doctor may prescribe for treating the flu called “antivirals.” These drugs can make you better faster and may also prevent serious complications. There are three FDA-approved influenza antiviral drugs recommended by CDC this season to treat influenza: -oseltamivir (available as a generic version or under the trade name Tamiflu®), -zanamivir (trade name Relenza®), and -peramivir (trade name Rapivab®).
How long should you stay home for? CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or other necessities. Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®. Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. If you must leave home, for example to get medical care, wear a facemask if you have one, or cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Wash your hands often to keep from spreading flu to others.
SOURCES: http://ift.tt/2uW0YCc