What do you do to prevent the seasonal flu?
Every year we hear about seasonal flu in the news. But what is the flu? How do you get it? How do you treat it? How do you keep from getting it?
What is the flu?
Influenza or “the flu” is an illness that affects our entire body, including the lungs. As many as one in five Americans will get the flu each year. A virus that spreads from person to person causes flu. The illness can be mild, like a bad cold, or it can be very serious. In fact, people can die from the flu.
How do you get the flu?
You get the flu from other people. The flu virus spreads through coughing or sneezing. It also spreads by touching something that a sick person has touched and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
How do you know you have the flu?
Sometimes you can have the flu and not know it. Here are some signs that you might have the flu:
- high fever (temperature higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit)
- headache
- fatigue
- dry cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
Children and some adults may also have:
- upset stomach
- vomiting.
What should you do if you have the flu?
There is no instant cure for the flu. But there are things you can do to help yourself feel better:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Drink lots of liquids like water, fruit juice and thin soup.
- Avoid drinking alcohol.
- Don’t smoke.
You can buy over-the-counter medicines that treat flu symptoms at the store. They might make you feel better, but they will not cure the flu.
Should you get a flu vaccine?
The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot each fall. You can get a flu shot from your doctor, your local public health department or an urgent care center. A flu shot can keep you from getting sick. It also will stop the spread of the flu virus to others.
Here are the groups that should get a flu vaccine as early as possible:
These People Should Get a Seasonal Flu Vaccine ASAP |
These People Should Get a Novel H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Vaccine ASAP |
| Those age 50 and older | Pregnant women |
| Pregnant women | Household contacts and caregivers for babies younger than 6 months of age |
| Children 6 months to 18 years of age | Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel |
| People of any age who have chronic medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes, congestive heart failure, lung disease) | All children from 6 months to 17 years of age |
| People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities | Young adults 18 to 24 years of age |
| People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu. | People 25 through 64 years of age who have health conditions that put them at higher risk of medical complications from flu. |
If you cannot get a flu shot, talk to your doctor about anti-viral medications. Antivirals can shorten the course or severity of the flu if they are taken at the first signs of illness.
What are some other things you can do to stay well?
Stay away from people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.- Stay home from work, school and errands if you are sick. You will help keep others from getting sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue, if one is handy. Throw it away immediately after use. Otherwise, use your upper sleeve.
- Wash your hands often and thoroughly.
- Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
When should you go to the doctor?
Some cases of the flu are serious. If you or someone in your family is very sick, you should call your doctor right away.
In children, the flu is serious if the child has:
- a high fever that won’t go away
- trouble breathing
- a bluish skin color
- refused fluids
- another medical condition that gets worse, like asthma.
Instead of aspirin, give a child or teenager an aspirin substitute, such as Tylenol® or Advil®.
In adults, the flu is serious if they have:
- a high fever that won’t go away
- trouble breathing
- pain or pressure in the chest
- fainted or feel like fainting
- confusion.
Prevention is the best medicine. Just because it is flu season doesn’t mean you will get sick. Be safe. Be smart. Take steps to stay healthy and avoid the flu.
Cover your mouth! Coughing and sneezing spread the flu.
Get a seasonal flu shot every year. It’s inexpensive, and you can get one from your doctor, local public health department, or urgent care center.
Get updates on vaccine availability in South Carolina, learn more about vaccine safety, and find a flu vaccine clinic in your local area.
Flu Information in Other Languages:
- American Sign Language Videos on Flu for People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- Flu.gov Multi-Language Fact Sheets in Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, German, Italian, Korean, Russian, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
If, after reading the information available here, you have questions about the 2009 H1N1 vaccine,
please call 1-800-27SHOTS (1-800-277-4687).
