What is the flu?
The flu is a contagious respiratory
illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to
severe illness, and at times, can lead to death. Some people,
such as older people, young children, and people with certain
health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu
complications.
Each year, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu
complications and about 36,000 people die from the flu.
How is flu spread?
The flu is spread in respiratory droplets released by coughing
and sneezing. It usually spreads from person to person,
though occasionally people may be infected by touching something
with virus on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
People with flu are contagious beginning one day before getting
symptoms. Adults remain contagious up to seven days after
getting sick and children can remain contagious for even
longer.
Types of Flu
Seasonal flu can cause symptoms similar to the
common cold, but flu is a much more serious illness. Colds
tend to develop gradually while the flu tends to start very
suddenly. It is a contagious illness that affects the nose,
throat, lungs, and other parts of the body, and can spread quickly
from one person to another.
H1N1 flu is an influenza virus that was seen
for the first time in the United States in April 2009. It has
been called the "swine flu," because it looked similar to some flu
viruses that pigs get, however, it is not the same thing.
While the symptoms for both seasonal flu and H1N1 flu are
similar, there are some differences between the two types of
flu:
-
Seasonal flu occurs every year usually in winter and early
spring - H1N1 flu was first identified in April 2009 and has been
seen since that time through the present
-
Seasonal flu most affects people 65 years and older - H1N1 flu
mostly affects children and young adults (5-24 years old)
NOTE: The H1N1 flu has been deemed a
pandemic, but what does that really mean? This means the
influenza due to the H1N1 virus is occurring in multiple countries
around the world and that human infection is widespread.
However, this does NOT mean that the severity of the illness has
increased. Despite its wide and quick spread, most people who
have gotten H1N1 flu have had mild illness.
Flu Symptoms
The flu usually starts suddenly and may include the following
symptoms:
- Fever (usually high)
- Headache
- Extreme tiredness
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle aches
- Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, may
occur in children
Preventing the Flu
To reduce your chance of getting or spreading the flu:
- Get the flu vaccine.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough and
sneeze, or cough or sneeze into the crease of your elbow.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water.
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not
available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth - germs spread this
way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- Keep surfaces like bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom,
kitchen counters, and toys for children clean by wiping them down
with a household disinfectant according to directions on the
product label.
Diagnosis of Flu
Most people who have been sick with a flu virus recover at home
without treatment. Laboratory testing is rarely needed for
the diagnosis of influenza. A clinical assessment is more
accurate than a rapid antigen test (quick flu test) and is more
timely than a culture-based test. The quick flu tests are of
notoriously low sensitivity for 2009 pandemic H1N1
influenza. And, the culture-based tests are not all
that helpful because initial treatment decisions need to be made
before those results are available.
Treatment of Flu
Most patients with influenza will recover spontaneously.
Otherwise healthy patients with the usual mild illness need no
intervention and thus usually don't need to be seen at all.
Patients with above high-risk conditions may warrant
medicine.
With both seasonal flu and H1N1 flu, complications can
occur. Seek emergency medical care if the following warning
signs exist:
In children:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish or gray skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Not waking up or interacting as usual
- Being so irritable that your child does not even want to be
held
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse
cough
- Fever with a rash
In adults:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
For additional information about seasonal and H1N1 flu, visit
the following websites:
