Flu Prevention

What causes flu?

Influenza virus causes flu. The virus enters through the nose, throat, mouth, eyes, and lungs. The virus is contracted when a person with the infection sneezes, coughs, or talks to you. The virus is emitted in the air in droplets and you can unluckily inhale the droplets directly. Picking up objects that contain the virus is also a possible mode of infection (telephone, computer keyboard). A person who has the virus can transfer from the days before the symptoms appear and until about 5 days after the appearance of the symptoms. This is not an absolute rule because the virus and virus activity can change from time to time and from one season to another.

Is flu a deadly condition?

Flu is a self-limiting condition. Said in another way, it can go away even without medicine. It is however considered to become a deadly condition to some people who are at risk. People who are under age 5, and those over 65 are at risk of getting pneumonia, the most serious complication of flu. People who have lowered immune system (example, cancer patients), pregnant women, women who have just delivered, people with chronic illnesses (asthma, liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease), the very obese, and institutionalized patients and those under long-term treatment also belong to the high-risk population for the complications of flu. Other complications include: ear infection, heart problems, bronchitis, and asthma flare-ups.

Symptoms of flu include the following: Fever, muscle and body aches, fatigue and weakness, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, chills and sweats, and headache.

Flu vaccine is not 100% effective. The strain of flu virus changes from time to time. What attacks people this year may not be the same flu virus next year.

Preventing the flu

1. Wash your hands frequently. Use alcohol-based sanitizer.

2. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneezed. It is better if you sneeze into a tissue. Avoiding coming near a sneezing or coughing person.

3. Avoid crowds.

4. Stay at home when you are sick. You may just need home remedy for the flu.

5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

6. Get plenty of sleep. Exercise. Drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods.