The Flu: Awareness Could Prevent Illness
Linna Jones
Commentary Editor
If you have ever had the flu, you know the feeling of a sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, extreme tiredness and other uncomfortable symptoms. Many people avoid the flu by taking care of themselves, making sure they wash their hands or getting a flu shot.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention describes the flu as a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. The virus can cause mild to severe illness and sometimes lead to death. The CDC Website said the best way to prevent the flu is by getting a vaccination each year.
On average, five to 20 percent of the United State’s population will get the flu. Flu complications hospitalize more than 200,000 people and about 36,000 people die from the illness each year. Older people, young children and people with certain health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease are at a high risk for serious flu complications.
What are the symptoms? When the flu moves in, it brings several symptoms with it including; fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches and stomach symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Stomach symptoms commonly occur more in children than adults.
Complications of the flu can make the condition worse by adding by to the mix other conditions including: bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration and worsening of chronic medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes.
However, some symptoms named occur in other respiratory illnesses such as the common cold or upper respiratory infection show the same symptoms.
According to Terri Richardson, director of Student Health Services and Registered Nurse, the University of Arkansas-Monticello campus, Drew County and Arkansas reported having not as many cases of the flu and that it is lower than expected. Several students have upper respiratory infections, sinus infections and ear infections, which are many of the same symptoms of the flu.
According to Richardson, the CDC has not issued a remark about the cause of the decreased numbers of influenza case for this year. Several reasons for this decrease could be the flu shots may have worked accurately, more people may have received their flu shot, people may have been reducing the spread of the flu by using better hygiene or the flu might have started later than usual.
Richardson advised people to seek medical care immediately if they suspect they have flu-like symptoms. There are treatments available which can shorten the duration of the flu if administered in the first 48 hours.
How can you prevent getting the flu? You can prevent getting the flu by getting vaccinated and practicing good health habits.
The CDC recommends getting the vaccine as soon as the vaccine is available. The yearly flu vaccination should begin in September and continues throughout the influenza season, into December, January and beyond. The timing and duration of the influenza season varies and outbreaks can happen as early as October. Most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later.
The CDC Web site describes two types of vaccines: the “flu shot” and the nasal spray flu vaccine. For information about key facts about the seasonal flu vaccine and who should get vaccinated click on the link.
The CDC offers six good health habits for prevention as well including:
- Avoid close contact
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your nose and mouth
- Clean your hands
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Practice other good health habits such as get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
The flu spreads through person-to-person contact in the form of respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes.
If you have the flu, you might be spreading the virus before you know you are sick and even while you are sick. Symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body and most healthy adults may be able to infect others from day 1 before the symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick.
Students attending class is a very important thing to do, but if you have a confirmed case of the flu do your fellow classmates a favor - stay home. Many teachers understand if you are sick and they do not want to get sick themselves by you attending class carrying a contagious illness.
For more information about the flu and how to take care of yourself if you get the flu, go to the CDC.gov and search for “flu.”
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©The Voice 2009
