How Do You Know You Have the Flu
Influenza season can hit hard, causing you lot to accept time off from work or schoolhouse while you spend time recovering from your symptoms. Even if you lot get the latest vaccine, yous can still come down with the influenza particularly during autumn and winter. That's why it'south important to learn the symptoms; when y'all recognize them early, you can start treatment and ease some of the discomfort.
Flu, otherwise known as the "flu," is a respiratory affliction. It's caused by a virus, and information technology's easily transmitted from person to person. It tin can cause a range of symptoms that range from mild to severe.
Because the influenza is a virus, it mutates, pregnant that it changes its construction over fourth dimension. That's why people need to go flu shots every year. The previous year'south shots were made to combat the prominent strains that were circulating that yr, only past the time the next flue season rolls around, different versions of the virus begin making people sick, so the vaccines are no longer effective. They're but different enough to infect yous, but not enough to cause distinctly unlike symptoms.
Because the flue is a respiratory disease, it primarily affects your nose, throat and sometimes lungs. If you come up down with the flu, you're likely to experience symptoms in these areas of your body — and others. About viii% of the U.Due south. population comes downwardly with the influenza every year.
How Practice You Catch the Flu?
The flu virus spreads while people are in the contagious stage of the disease. When you talk, cough or sneeze, tiny, virus-infected droplets spray out of your oral fissure and sometimes your nose. When this happens, the droplets can state in other people'southward mouths or noses, infecting them in the process. This isn't the but manner the influenza spreads, even so.
The droplets can land on surfaces and remain active there for several hours. They tend to survive longest on difficult surfaces like stainless steel and plastic, and they don't remain active as long outside your trunk when they state on material or other soft surfaces. If you touch an infected surface and and then touch your nose, eyes or oral cavity, you might infect yourself with flu germs. The well-nigh common way to contract the flu, though, is by inhaling droplets from an infected person'south cough or sneeze.
The contagious stage of the flu can terminal quite a while, and it'due south possible that, in the earliest stage, y'all've been infected only aren't showing any symptoms yet. During this time, which lasts about a day or ii, you lot can nonetheless pass the virus to other people. You lot can also transmit the influenza to other people for effectually seven days or so after you lot beginning experiencing symptoms.
Flu Virus Symptoms
Although flu viruses are somewhat dissimilar from each other from twelvemonth to year, the symptoms they cause generally remain the same. Although some of the symptoms resemble those of the common cold, the flu comes on more suddenly instead of worsening progressively over the grade of a few days.
It's common for the flu to requite you some respiratory symptoms. You might have a running or congested nose and a sore pharynx. A persistent, dry cough is besides an early symptom you may experience before some of the more than uncomfortable effects of the influenza develop. This virus also causes pain. The muscles all over your body may ache, causing you to feel weak and making it difficult to motility. You might also experience a headache because your nasal and sinus cavities become inflamed.
Another hallmark of the flu is a fever, meaning your body temperature is over 100.iv degrees Fahrenheit. This is another symptom that's mutual in the earlier stages of the flu, and it'southward often accompanied by chills that cause y'all to shiver. You may also feel extremely tired, and this fatigue tin can come on speedily. While you're this exhausted, you may discover it hard to engage in your normal daily activities.
When you have the flu, y'all might feel some or all of these symptoms. Some may be more than astringent than others. Although some people believe that the flu always causes a fever, this isn't necessarily the case. You can nonetheless take the influenza and not accept a fever, headache or other common symptom.
Emergency Symptoms
With residuum and proper intendance, you lot can unremarkably treat the flu on your ain at home. But it's essential to remember that not everyone responds to the virus the same way. Sometimes, the flu is more than severe and can crusade symptoms that crave emergency medical care.
If you're experiencing chest pain and tightness, problems breathing or a blueish tint to your skin and lips, go medical care right away. Your body may not be getting plenty oxygen, and it'southward important that you're nether a doctor'southward intendance to treat these symptoms.
A fever that doesn't go abroad after a few days, goes away and comes back or keeps climbing higher also requires emergency care. You may also feel airheaded or confused; even if your fever isn't worsening, you should nonetheless have a physician check monitor these symptoms.
Your flu symptoms should begin to ease and disappear inside a week or ii. If they're not getting worse but they as well don't seem to be getting better, phone call upwardly your master intendance doctor to learn your next steps.
Treatment Options for the Flu
Your doctor may perform a exam to diagnose you with the flu, but information technology's more than common that they'll ask near your signs and symptoms to effigy out what's going on. Afterward diagnosing you with the flu, your md might prescribe an antiviral medicine that can lessen your symptoms if y'all take it soon plenty later on those symptoms begin. This medicine can shorten the time you're ill and help forestall complications. Usually, doctors save this type of treatment for people who have severe cases of the illness or those who are at a higher risk of developing complications.
Getting enough of rest and drinking fluids while staying home are some of the virtually effective treatments for helping your torso fight the infection. Opt for clear liquids like water, juice and broth to keep yourself from dehydrating. Sleeping equally much every bit yous need to can help your immune system fight off the virus. Over-the-counter pain relievers, cough suppressants and decongestants can aid you manage your symptoms and keep yourself more comfortable.
Resource Links:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/influenza/about/viruses/types.htm
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/good-answers/infectious-disease/faq-20057907
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351725
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/handling/takingcare.htm
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/influenza
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/symptoms-causes/syc-20351719
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/index.htm
https://world wide web.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm
Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/health/what-are-flu-virus-symptoms-treatment-options?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex