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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 5%-20% of the population get the flu each flu season. Of those, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and more than 36,000 die from the flu and its complications each year. The flu season runs from November through April and generally peaks between December and May. What is the flu? Influenza (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. Influenza goes by many names such as the "flu", Type A influenza, Type B influenza, Type C influenza, Spanish flu, Asian flu, Hong Kong flu, Russian flu, and so on. Even though some of the names reflect places where the outbreaks supposedly began, it is now believed that all four of these episodes originated in China. There are three types of flu virus: A, B and C. Influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of disease almost every winter in the United States. There are three types of flu virus. Type A influenza is usually responsible for the large outbreaks and is a constantly changing virus. In addition to infecting humans, Type A influenzas can also infect pigs, horses, seals, whales, and birds. New strains of Type A virus develop regularly and result in a new epidemic every few years. Types B and C influenzas are fairly stable viruses. Type B infects only humans and results in smaller outbreaks. Type C causes mild illness similar to the common cold. Influenza type C infections cause a mild respiratory illness and are not thought to cause epidemics. The flu is a viral respiratory infection that generally infects about 7 out of every 1,000 people. All types of the flu are spread from person to person by inhaling infected droplets released in the air (such as through coughing or sneezing) or direct contact with an infected object (work surface, telephone, doorknob, handrail, handshake). The period between exposure and illness is short-usually 1-3 days. An infected person can spread the flu before his/her symptoms even start and for up to 3-4 days after symptoms occur. The acute symptoms usually last 3-5 days and go away fully in 7-10 days. In rare cases, the flu can progress to ear and sinus infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, or secondary bacterial infections. How can you tell the difference between a Cold, Anthrax and the Flu? The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Because these two types of illnesses have similar flu-like symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations. Flu symptoms are similar to those of many respiratory disease processes. So how can someone tell if they have a cold, the flu, or anthrax? The following table compares the symptoms associated with these diseases. A definitive diagnosis can be made by your health care provider by doing cultures and blood tests. If in doubt, consult your physician.
How can I avoid getting the flu? The best defense against the flu is annual vaccination which is especially important for certain priority groups. There are other good health habits that can help prevent the flu. These are:
Although yearly vaccination with the flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs can be effective for prevention and treatment of the flu. For prevention of the flu, antiviral drugs are 70% to 90% effective in preventing infection. If you develop flu-like symptoms or are exposed to the flu before you get a flu vaccine, your health care professional will decide whether you should take antiviral drugs. For treatment of the flu, antiviral drugs should be started within 48 hours of getting sick. For more about treating the flu with antiviral drugs, see Influenza Antiviral Drugs. What can I do if I get the flu? The goal of flu treatment is to alleviate the symptoms, since antibiotics are not effective against viruses. If you do get the flu:
Prescription antiviral medications are now available that may prevent or lessen the severity of flu symptoms. Two antiviral drugs are approved for treatment of the flu, which are listed below.
To be effective, these medications must be started within the first 48 hours of illness and usually taken for five days. However, they are not flawless. In addition to not being effective against Type B influenza viruses, the influenza viruses also seem to become resistant to the drugs fairly easily which results in a drug-resistant version of the virus being spread to other people. If you develop flu-like symptoms and are concerned about your illness, especially if are at high risk for complications of the flu, you should consult your health-care provider. Those at high risk for complications include people 65 years or older, people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant women, and young children. Emergency Warning Signs In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Seek medical care immediately (call your doctor or go to an emergency room) if you or someone you know is experiencing any of the signs above. When you arrive, tell the reception staff that you think you have the flu. You may be asked to wear a mask and/or sit in a separate area to protect others from getting sick For more information about the flu:
Influenza (Flu) - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
This Year's Flu Season - An Old Problem With a New Twist by Rebecca Dobbs, Ph.D.
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