If I Get the Flu Can I Get It Again
"The flu" is a term commonly used to depict seasonal flu, an affliction acquired by one of numerous influenza viruses. This highly contagious infection affects your respiratory system, causing symptoms that can range from balmy to life-threatening.
The Centers for Illness Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 3–xi% of the population inside the United States becomes infected with the flu each year. Amidst infected individuals, hundreds of thousands may require hospitalization and more than than 36,000 individuals typically die each yr from the influenza. Infections are about common in the fall and winter, so this flow of each year is referred to as "influenza season." If you're concerned about the influenza, learn more about the symptoms to look out for, along with some important tips for stopping the spread of this serious illness.
There are several types of influenza viruses that can crusade infection. Each of these viruses is spread from person to person via droplets that are naturally expelled when we talk, cough, sing or sneeze. Other people tin can and so inhale the droplets or transfer them into their bodies by touching a contaminated surface and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Once the virus enters your body, it quickly replicates and causes symptoms of the flu.
A person who's infected with an influenza virus is typically contagious ane day before their symptoms brainstorm appearing and upward to 7 days afterward their symptoms start first. During this period, the virus is actively replicating and tin hands be passed on to other people who are in shut contact.
Symptoms of Flu
Symptoms of the flu commonly brainstorm within one to iv days of exposure to the virus. Many common flu symptoms are very similar to cold symptoms, though they typically come on more of a sudden than they practise when you take a cold. When you've been infected with an influenza virus, you'll probable feel some or all of the following:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore pharynx
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Headaches
- Body or muscle aches
- Chills
- Fatigue or weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea, airsickness or diarrhea (these occur more often in children)
More often than not speaking, flu symptoms are more severe and more than debilitating than symptoms of the cold. Influenza symptoms typically last for ane to 2 weeks and nigh frequently resolve on their own. All the same, in sure cases, influenza infections can lead to more serious complications and require intervention from a medical professional.
Sure populations are at a higher risk of developing health complications related to the seasonal influenza. These individuals include:
- Children under 5 years old (children nether 6 months take an even greater risk)
- Adults 65 years of age or older (particularly in long-term care environments)
- Meaning people or those who take recently given nascency
People living with the post-obit health conditions also may be at a college risk for developing complications from the flu:
- Chronic lung illness or asthma
- Heart affliction
- Blood, kidney or liver disorders
- Metabolic disorders
- Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions
- Obesity
- Individuals under the age of 19 who are taking long-term aspirin therapy
- Anyone with a compromised immune system, like people living with cancer, HIV or AIDS
If you experience flu-related complications, you may need to exist hospitalized to receive effective care. Flu-related complications include:
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis or severe asthma
- Heart problems
- Ear infections
- Death
Diagnosing Flu
Often, when influenza symptoms are mild and occur during flu season, your healthcare provider may make a diagnosis based on your medical history and symptom report alone. It's as well possible to directly test for the presence of the influenza virus via a respiratory swab. Your doctor may collect a sample of fluid from your nasal passage, and this sample will be tested to determine whether y'all accept the virus. The md may order claret tests or Ten-rays if the severity of the infection indicates you may experience possible complications.
If you fit into any of the higher up categories that have a higher risk for developing dangerous complications from influenza, it's important to contact a healthcare provider correct away when you develop symptoms. If you experience whatever difficulty breathing, dizziness or chest pain, contact emergency services by dialing 911 immediately.
Handling for Flu
Unless you're at risk of developing influenza-related complications, you can likely care for seasonal influenza at home nether your doc'south guidance. Recommendations include:
- Drinking plenty of fluids and maintaining a good for you nutritional intake
- Getting acceptable residual
- Using over-the-counter pain and fever relief medications
- Avoiding close contact with others every bit much every bit possible until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without medication
If you're at a higher hazard of developing complications or if your symptoms increment in severity, your doctor may be able to give you sure antiviral medications to care for the flu. These medications are meant to shorten the elapsing of an infection.
Because of the highly contagious nature of influenza, and its annual prevalence, it's very important to take precautions to help forestall the spread of this disease. Go on the post-obit tips in listen, especially during flu flavour each twelvemonth:
- Wash your hands frequently, specially later touching high-contact surfaces
- Avoid touching your optics, nose and mouth
- Continue surfaces effectually your home and workspace clean and disinfected
- Be mindful of crowds and avoid them whenever possible
- Maintain distance from anyone who's sick or known to be infected
- Get a flu shot every year
Vaccinations, or flu shots, are available every year and are specifically developed to target the strains of influenza that are most likely to be dominant that year. The CDC recommends that every person over the historic period of half dozen months receive a flu shot each twelvemonth to effectively protect confronting influenza infection and its possible serious consequences.
Vaccinations tin can take the course of an intramuscular injection or a nasal spray, and they work by causing your torso to develop antibodies that tin can and then recognize and fight off the influenza virus if you come into contact with it in the future. Flu vaccinations do non cause illness, and they're an effective tool for preventing the effects of flu in individuals and communities. Talk with your healthcare provider almost the appropriate blazon and timing of vaccination for you.
Resource Links:
https://www.cdc.gov/influenza/about/keyfacts.htm
https://world wide web.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/influenza
https://www.ors.od.nih.gov/influenza/pages/default.aspx
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/influenza/symptoms-causes/syc-20351719
https://world wide web.cdc.gov/flu/foreclose/keyfacts.htm
Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/health/flu-condition?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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