Guess what friends? Flu season has hit!
The CDC recently issued an advisory alerting healthcare providers that severe influenza illness is being reported. So, here’s what you need to know.
- The best way to prevent the flu is to get the flu vaccine. Oh, I know! I know! You don’t get the flu! You’ll continue along this path of denial with your fever, chills, body aches and headache even after I diagnosis you with flu in the ER. So listen, the flu vaccine is not 100% effective but nothing in life is. The vaccine decreases your chances of getting the flu. Even if you got the flu shot last flu season, you need to get vaccinate this year. This year’s vaccine protects against the currently circulating flu viruses.
- So, let’s say that you, your child, or a loved one is one of the unfortunate ones to get the flu, here are your symptoms:
- Fever and Chills (Hot, sweaty, and then cold)
- Headache (Often throbbing and very annoying)
- Cough (Dry and hacking)
- Runny nose (Drip! Drip!)
- Muscle aches (Oh, your poor back and legs)
- Occasionally Nausea, Vomiting, and Diarrhea (Going at it from both ends is the worst!)
- Fatigue (Laid up in the bed all day)
- If you develop symptoms of the flu it is best to get treated with antivirals within the first 48 hours of your symptoms developing, the sooner the better. This is particularly true for the very ill and those high-risk patients.
- People at high-risk for getting the flu and its complications such as pneumonia are the following:
- Children aged younger than 2 years
- Adults aged 65 years and older
- People with chronic illnesses such as; asthma, heart, liver, kidney and diseases, diabetes, epilepsy, stroke, developmental delays, spinal cord injuries and HIV
- Women who are pregnant or within two weeks after delivery
- Persons aged younger than 19 who are receiving long term aspirin therapy
- American Indians/Alaska Natives
- Those living in nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities
Protect yourself and your family from the flu and stay Fabulous!