Everything you should know about the flu Feel sick?
ASBURY PARK, N.J. — It’s the time of year when everyone starts thinking about the flu. Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can produce mild to severe illness. Adults 65 and older, young children and people with certain health conditions are at greater risk of serious flu complications and should consult with their primary care provider about the flu. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get flu-vaccinated every year. Flu season usually starts in October and runs through March. The sooner you get vaccinated, the more protected you will be.
Getting a flu vaccination
During the 2017-2018 flu season, AtlantiCare treated 19,689 people in the emergency department for significant flu-related health issues. Some were so sick, they were admitted to the hospital. Of those, 70 percent had not gotten the flu shot.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
172 children died in the U.S. during the 2017-2018 flu season due to complications of the flu.
The 2017-2018 season was the first season to be classified as a high severity season across all age groups
Influenza kills between 12,000 and 49,000 people and can send more than 700,000 people to the hospital.
The best way to prevent flu is by getting vaccinated.
It is vital to get the flu shot every year. The flu strain can change from year to year. Our immunity only lasts for about a year for flu after we are vaccinated.
Get the flu shot as soon as it is available. It takes most people about two weeks to build up immunity after being vaccinated. Check with your primary care provider and make an appointment to get the whole family vaccinated.
Some people have reservations about getting vaccinated. They think they will get the flu from the shot. There is no live virus in the injectable vaccine. You can’t get the flu from the flu shot.
Why get vaccinated?
A vaccinated person
❚ Is less likely to become infected with the flu virus
❚ Is less likely to transmit flu
❚ Should experience less severe and shorter duration of symptoms if he or she does get the flu.
Ways to avoid the flu and stop its spread
❚ Washing hands often is one of the best ways to prevent getting and/or spreading the flu. Use soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers. You should also disinfect surfaces at work and at home. ❚ Cover coughs and sneezes.
❚ Avoid others if you have flu-like symptoms. Rest at home until you haven’t had a fever for 24 hours.
❚ Keep your kids out of school if they aren’t feeling well. This will help prevent spreading the flu to others.
Recognizing the signs of flu
Symptoms of the flu include having a fever of 100 degrees or more with one or more of the following:
❚ Cough
❚ Sore throat
❚ Runny or stuffy nose
❚ Muscle or body aches
❚ Headaches
❚ Fatigue (tiredness)
❚ Vomiting and diarrhea
Where to seek treatment if you have the flu
If you are experiencing flu-like non-life-threatening symptoms, consult with your primary care or urgent care provider first, rather than going to an emergency department.