Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a highly contagious viral respiratory illness that affects the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. Oftentimes confused with a common cold, the flu can pose a greater risk to your health. The flu can cause mild to severe symptoms, ranging from sore throat and cough to vomiting and difficulty breathing. This serious illness can cause further serious complications for the body, including pneumonia, ear/sinus infection, dehydration, and can even be fatal if left unaddressed. To reduce the spread and protect public health, annual flu vaccination is strongly recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are a billion cases of seasonal influenza each year, and 3-5 million cases with severe complications. To protect ourselves and our community, health experts recommend that anyone 6 months of age or older get vaccinated each year.
Causes
The flu spreads in two main ways:
- Inhaling airborne droplets of the virus through your mouth or nose from someone who has coughed or sneezed nearby.
- Touching surfaces contaminated by the virus, such as handrails or doorknobs, and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes
Symptoms
Symptoms of the flu typically occur 1-4 days after the first infection and last approximately seven days. Common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Fatigue
Flu can worsen the symptoms of other chronic diseases such as diabetes or respiratory illness. Most people do not need to seek emergency services for the flu, however, in some cases, you can develop pneumonia, sepsis, or other life-threatening conditions. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing
- Blue-hued skin
- Inability to drink fluids or eat food
- Fever with a rash
- Loss of cognition/heightened confusion
- Pain or pressure in chest/abdomen
- Severe and persistent vomiting
What is the difference between the flu and a common cold?
The flu and the common cold share many of the same symptoms, which can make differentiating between the two difficult. One key difference between a cold and the flu is the severity of your symptoms. Flu symptoms often begin suddenly and are often far more severe than a cold. Additionally, individuals with a cold are more likely to experience a runny or stuffy nose than those who have the flu. Differentiating between the flu and a common cold can be tricky. Contact your healthcare provider to learn more about your condition and undergo flu testing.
Flu Treatment
Treatment for the flu can differ depending on the severity of their condition. Some individuals with the flu undergo treatment with Tamiflu, a prescription medication that can shorten the duration of the illness and minimize the severity of symptoms, if administered within the first 48 hours that symptoms appear. Due to the timeliness of some forms of flu treatment, it’s a good idea to contact your provider sooner rather than later if you notice the signs of the flu.
Flu Prevention
Annual flu vaccination is the most effective way to prevent flu. The vaccine uses a deactivated or extremely weakened version of the flu virus to signal to your body to produce more virus-fighting antibodies, which can better recognize when your system encounters the flu virus and are more equipped to fight the virus off.
The CDC recommends that individuals in Hamptons Roads receive vaccination ideally in the early fall, during September and October. By vaccinating before flu season peaks (December-February is peak season), you give the vaccine time to develop enough antibodies to fight off any serious virus. Even if you miss the cut-off to get your flu vaccination by the end of October, the CDC still recommends you get a flu vaccination, as some protection is better than none.
In addition to vaccination, you can play your part to prevent the spread of flu and other highly transmissible conditions by covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, washing your hands thoroughly and often, and staying home from popular events or wearing a mask around your close family when you feel under the weather.
Why do I need a flu vaccine every year?
While it may feel inconvenient to get a flu vaccination year-to-year, it is the safest way to ensure you are protected from a rapidly changing flu virus. Like our phones, the flu virus updates itself over time, evolving to overcome the previous year’s vaccine effectiveness. In a year-round public health initiative, U.S. health experts check which strains of the flu circulate the country and adapt the current vaccine to fight those strains more effectively. Additionally, the protection provided from the previous year’s flu vaccinations diminishes over time, leaving individuals vulnerable to all strains of the flu by the following flu season.
TPMG flu vaccine distribution typically starts at the end of September each year. To schedule a flu vaccination, please call your TPMG Primary Care Provider.
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