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October 29, 2018
Eddie Phan
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Contents
Causes | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Complications | Prevention
Overview of the flu
Influenza is a respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses that spread through the air and enter the body through the nose or mouth. Five to twenty percent of Americans get the flu each year and everyone is susceptible to the virus.[1] During the 2017-2018 influenza season, about 900,000 people were hospitalized and 80,000 people died from flu complications, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.[2]
Flu symptoms range from mild to severe and may include fever, chills, sore muscles, sore throat, cough, and headache. Flu is often mistaken for colds, but flu symptoms develop more suddenly.[3]
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What causes the flu?
When a person who has the flu coughs or sneezes, droplets carrying the virus get into the air. You can get the flu if you inhale these droplets through your nose or mouth, or if you touch objects such as door handles or keyboards that are contaminated with the virus, and then touch your nose, eyes, or mouth.[[[[4]
Influenza viruses are constantly evolving. If you've had the flu before, you could contract it again. You are at greater risk of contracting the flu and developing complications if you: Advertisement – Continue reading below [5]
The symptoms of the flu often resemble those of the common cold, but they appear suddenly and are more serious. Symptoms include:[6]
If it's the flu season and you're generally healthy and have symptoms, you do not need to see a doctor, says Joseph Ladapo, MD, PhD, professor of medicine. at UCLA. Simply treat your symptoms with rest and over-the-counter medications. However, anyone at high risk – child, elderly adult, pregnant woman or suffering from a chronic health problem such as diabetes, heart disease or stroke – consult your doctor. "He or she can follow up with you to confirm that things are going in the right direction," says Dr. Ladapo, or counselor to seek more care if they deem it necessary.[[[[7]
Emily Schiff-Slater Advertisement – Continue reading below To determine if you have the flu or if you have a cold, your doctor will give you a physical exam, ask you about your symptoms, and possibly a lab test. The most common test is the rapid diagnostic test for influenza. Your doctor will swab the back of your nose or throat and look for antigen in the sample, which is responsible for the production of antibodies by your immune system. It takes less than half an hour to get results. However, as the results are not always accurate, your doctor can diagnose the flu without this test. "Trust your doctor and listen to your body," says Dr. Ladapo. Some specialized laboratories and hospitals use more specific tests that analyze the DNA or RNA of the virus. If you decide to consult your health care provider, be prepared to answer questions about your symptoms, how long you have them, and how serious they are. Also tell them about any medical condition, if you are pregnant, and if you live with a person at high risk of flu complications, says Dr. Ladapo. If you notice symptoms quickly, consult your doctor. He may give you an antiviral such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza). Tamiflu comes in capsule form,[[[[8]while Relenza is a powder that you inhale.[9] If taken within two days of the onset of symptoms, these can alleviate the symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness about one day. However, "it's far from being a slam dunk," says Dr. Ladapo. "By the time you can schedule a doctor's appointment, you can be outside the window where it is effective." Advertisement – Continue reading below Whether you take an antiviral or not, the best way to treat the flu is to rest, drink water and use any other remedy that best alleviates your symptoms, such as a pain reliever for your body. headaches and aching muscles. "All you have a habit of knowing and working for you is the appropriate treatment for the flu," says Michael P. Angarone, DO, Professor of Infectious Diseases at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.[10] Healthy people usually recover from influenza once the virus is transmitted. However, people at high risk of complications can develop life-threatening complications. These included:[11]
If you have a health problem and catch the flu, talk to your doctor, who can help you monitor your symptoms. If you have the flu and the fever persists for more than a few days or if you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent cough, many sputum (mucus), or if you feel weak or dizzy, see immediately doctor. "These are signs that the virus does not improve or that you may develop a complication," says Dr. Angarone. Advertisement – Continue reading below You can reduce your risk of getting the flu with some common sense health practices. Experts agree that the best way to protect yourself from the flu is to be vaccinated every year. The vaccine is suitable for people 6 months and older and it is important to receive it every year.[[[[12]The injection protects against three or four influenza viruses that, according to research, will be the most prevalent that year.[13] You can get a flu shot at your health care provider's office or at many pharmacies. And despite what you've heard, the vaccine can not give you the flu. "It's true that the vaccine can cause flu-like symptoms when the body reacts to the proteins in the vaccine. But even then, it remains protective and these symptoms are not as severe as those of the flu, "says Dr. Ladapo. In addition to the vaccine, good hygiene can prevent the spread of flu germs: Advertisement – Continue reading below [1] https://medlineplus.gov/flu.html [2] https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/press-conference-2018-19.htm [3] https://medlineplus.gov/flu.html, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/symptoms.htm [4] https://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm [5] https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/high_risk.htm [6] https://www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/symptoms.htm [7] Joseph Ladapo, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine at UCLA [8] https://www.gene.com/download/pdf/tamiflu_prescribing.pdf [9] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2011/021036s027lbl.pdf [10] https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/faculty-profiles/az/profile.html?xid=18170 [11] https://www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/symptoms.htm [12] https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm [13] https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/vaccine-selection.htm
Influenza risk factors
What are the symptoms of the flu?
Cold vs. flu
How is the flu diagnosed?
How is the flu treated?
Complications of the flu to know
How to prevent the flu
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