How Do I Know if My Baby Has the Flu or a Cold
"The flu" is a term unremarkably used to describe seasonal influenza, an illness caused past one of numerous influenza viruses. This highly contagious infection affects your respiratory system, causing symptoms that can range from balmy to life-threatening.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 3–11% of the population within the United States becomes infected with the flu each year. Amongst infected individuals, hundreds of thousands may require hospitalization and more than 36,000 individuals typically dice each yr from the flu. Infections are most common in the fall and winter, so this menstruation of each year is referred to as "flu season." If you're concerned about the influenza, learn more than nigh the symptoms to expect out for, along with some important tips for stopping the spread of this serious illness.
There are several types of influenza viruses that tin can cause infection. Each of these viruses is spread from person to person via aerosol that are naturally expelled when nosotros talk, cough, sing or sneeze. Other people can so inhale the droplets or transfer them into their bodies by touching a contaminated surface and so touching their optics, olfactory organ or oral fissure. Once the virus enters your body, it rapidly replicates and causes symptoms of the flu.
A person who'due south infected with an influenza virus is typically contagious i mean solar day before their symptoms brainstorm appearing and up to vii days subsequently their symptoms beginning outset. During this period, the virus is actively replicating and can easily be passed on to other people who are in close contact.
Symptoms of Flu
Symptoms of the flu usually begin within one to four days of exposure to the virus. Many common influenza symptoms are very like to cold symptoms, though they typically come on more of a sudden than they do when you have a cold. When you've been infected with an flu virus, you lot'll probable experience some or all of the following:
- Fever
- Coughing
- Sore throat
- Runny olfactory organ
- Congestion
- Headaches
- Body or muscle aches
- Chills
- Fatigue or weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea (these occur more than often in children)
By and large speaking, influenza symptoms are more severe and more debilitating than symptoms of the common cold. Flu symptoms typically last for i to two weeks and near oftentimes resolve on their own. Notwithstanding, in certain cases, influenza infections can lead to more serious complications and require intervention from a medical professional.
Certain populations are at a higher risk of developing health complications related to the seasonal flu. These individuals include:
- Children under five years old (children under 6 months have an fifty-fifty greater risk)
- Adults 65 years of age or older (particularly in long-term care environments)
- Pregnant people or those who take recently given birth
People living with the following wellness conditions as well may be at a higher risk for developing complications from the influenza:
- Chronic lung disease or asthma
- Centre disease
- Blood, kidney or liver disorders
- Metabolic disorders
- Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions
- Obesity
- Individuals under the age of 19 who are taking long-term aspirin therapy
- Anyone with a compromised allowed system, like people living with cancer, HIV or AIDS
If y'all experience influenza-related complications, you may need to be hospitalized to receive effective intendance. Flu-related complications include:
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis or astringent asthma
- Middle problems
- Ear infections
- Death
Diagnosing Influenza
Often, when influenza symptoms are balmy and occur during flu flavor, your healthcare provider may brand a diagnosis based on your medical history and symptom report alone. Information technology'southward also possible to directly exam for the presence of the influenza virus via a respiratory swab. Your medico may collect a sample of fluid from your nasal passage, and this sample will be tested to determine whether you have the virus. The md may guild blood tests or X-rays if the severity of the infection indicates you may feel possible complications.
If you fit into whatever of the above categories that have a college risk for developing unsafe complications from influenza, information technology's important to contact a healthcare provider right away when yous develop symptoms. If you experience any difficulty breathing, dizziness or chest pain, contact emergency services past dialing 911 immediately.
Handling for Flu
Unless you're at risk of developing flu-related complications, you can probable care for seasonal influenza at home under your doctor's guidance. Recommendations include:
- Drinking enough of fluids and maintaining a good for you nutritional intake
- Getting adequate remainder
- Using over-the-counter pain and fever relief medications
- Avoiding close contact with others as much as possible until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without medication
If you're at a college take chances of developing complications or if your symptoms increase in severity, your medico may be able to give you certain antiviral medications to treat the flu. These medications are meant to shorten the duration of an infection.
Because of the highly contagious nature of influenza, and its almanac prevalence, it's very important to accept precautions to assistance prevent the spread of this illness. Keep the post-obit tips in listen, especially during influenza season each year:
- Wash your hands ofttimes, peculiarly after touching high-contact surfaces
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Keep surfaces around your home and workspace make clean and disinfected
- Be mindful of crowds and avoid them whenever possible
- Maintain distance from anyone who'southward ill or known to be infected
- Go a flu shot every year
Vaccinations, or flu shots, are available every yr and are specifically developed to target the strains of flu that are most likely to be dominant that yr. The CDC recommends that every person over the age of half-dozen months receive a flu shot each year to effectively protect against influenza infection and its possible serious consequences.
Vaccinations tin take the form of an intramuscular injection or a nasal spray, and they piece of work by causing your body to develop antibodies that can and then recognize and fight off the flu virus if yous come up into contact with it in the future. Flu vaccinations practise not crusade illness, and they're an effective tool for preventing the effects of influenza in individuals and communities. Talk with your healthcare provider about the appropriate type and timing of vaccination for you.
Resource Links:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm
https://world wide web.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-weather/flu
https://www.ors.od.nih.gov/influenza/pages/default.aspx
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-atmospheric condition/flu/symptoms-causes/syc-20351719
https://www.cdc.gov/influenza/forbid/keyfacts.htm
Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/health/flu-condition?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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