Mom’s Home Care wants to make sure that you aware of the dangers of the flu. Influenza, better known to most as "the flu", is a respiratory illness caused by a contagious respiratory illness that infects the nose, throat, and lungs.  Influenza can start out as a mild illness and quickly evolve into a much more serious threat and even lead to death.  The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine every year.  The influenza vaccine produces antibodies that protect against the disease.  If unvaccinated, influenza can wreak havoc on the unprotected, especially those with high risk groups such as young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.

Those who have already been infected from the flu will often encounter some or all of the following signs and symptoms:

  • fever/chills
  • muscle/ body aches
  • fatigue/extreme tiredness
  • headaches
  • sore throat
  • cough
  • runny or stuffy nose
  • vomiting or diarrhea (more common in children than in adults)

Influenza spreads by airborne droplets from sneezing and coughing. It can also be transmitted with skin to skin contact, saliva, and touching contaminated surfaces. If you are surrounded by others often, make sure that both you and them are taking the necessary precautions  Adults can be contagious from 1 to 2 days before coming down with symptoms and for up to 7 days after becoming ill.  This means that you can make other people sick before you even know that you are ill.  A scary thought, isn't it?  And to make things worse, up to 200,000 people are hospitalized every year from flu complications and up to 36,000 die from it.  It is reported that most deaths from the flu occur in those aged over 65. 

For most people, getting the flu is usually not serious, mainly just very unpleasant and the body must take its course to run the illness out.  But for the unfortunates, like young children, older adults, and individuals with other underlying illnesses, it can become much more serious.  More serious complications that occur can include severe dehydration, congestive heart failure, bacterial pneumonia, severe sinus and ear infections, and worsening of other chronic medical issues.  And since the flu is caused by a virus, antibiotics are usually of no use unless there is another illness that has attached itself to the host. 

In treating individuals with influenza, there are several measures that must be followed to ensure the best possible course of recovery:

  • avoid contact with others when possible so as not to infect friends and loved ones. It is very important for family and caregivers to wash their hands as well if they are in contact.
  • keep warm and rest as much as possible
  • consume plenty of fluids and electrolytes
  • avoid alcohol and smoking
  • eat bland foods if possible
  • stay at home
  • people who live alone should let others know they are ill with the flu and make sure to tell caregivers and family if you think you’re getting sick just in case any complications arise.
  • inform your doctor if you are frail or elderly or if temperatures remain high for several days, you have shortness of breath,  feel seriously ill, or feel any chest pain

Doctors and health experts across the globe concur that the single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year.  There are two ways to administer the vaccine.  One is by shot, and the other is offered by nasal-spray vaccine.  The shot may be administered to anyone over 6 months of age, and the nasal-spray vaccine contains a live weakened flu virus that will not cause illness.  Since viruses adapt and change, so do the vaccines every year.  What the contents contain is based on scientists international calculations about which viruses and strains will circulate in that given year.  The protection of the virus will start approximately 2 weeks after the vaccine has been administered.

Most vaccinations start in the month of September before the flu season starts, and continue into the winter months.  The timing of the flu can start as early as October and has shown to peak around January in many cases.  Always check with your doctor to make sure you are a candidate for the flu vaccine, and if experiencing any fevers or illnesses to wait until you recover before receiving this vaccine.  Spread the word to all of your family and friends to get vaccinated today against influenza.