Influenza or Flu is the contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. If not cured properly and get severe at times it can lead to death. Flu and cold are different respiratory illness often mistaken with for each other. In general flu is worse than cold and accompanied by fever, body ache, tiredness,sore throat, headache, chills, fatigue and dry cough which if intense can cause health problems like pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations. Sometimes symptoms also include vomiting and diarrhea. People with colds generally suffer from runny or stuffy nose. The best way to avoid flu is to get vaccinated every year.
Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at higher risk for serious flu complications. Also, smokers are at higher risk to catch flu than non-smokers. Smoking is bad in every aspects for your life. As smoking affects the immune system of the smokers, they catch respiratory tract infection more easily than nonsmokers. Smoking can lead to chronic coughing and wheezing among adults and children. It also lead to chronic bronchitis and emphysema among adults. Your body starts recovering after twenty minutes you smoke the last cigarette and quitting smoking will continue it further.
How Does The Germs Spread -
Infected person spreads the flu through droplets formed while coughing, sneezing and talking. Touching the surface infected with flu virus also spread germs when your hands come in contact with your nose, mouth and eyes. Also the infected person starts spreading viruses one day before the symptoms is shown on the body and continue till 5-7 days after becoming sick and it may be longer if the immune system of the infected person is weak.
Treatments
The best treatment for everyone is to get vaccinated every year, especially children younger than six
months should get it.
Children with long term health conditions and should also be given this vaccine.
Giving this injection to the pregnant women protects her and baby in womb from getting infected while she is pregnant and for the few month when the baby is born.
Flu illness is also cured by antiviral drugs. Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics and should be given at the initial stage of the illness.
Precautions
Stay away from the infected people as much as possible.
Wash your hands thoroughly after touching the surface around the infected person.
Wash your hands thoroughly after touching the surface around the infected person.
Don't touch your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands.
Wash your hands with soap often and if soap is not available use alcohol based hand rub.
If your child is healthy and got flu, consult doctor and give him plenty of rest and fluid. Take extra care if your child is younger than 5 years.
Stay at home and avoid spreading flu to others.
Stay at home from office, school or any other outdoor activity for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone. (Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)A fever is defined as 100°F (37.8°C) or higher.
Maintain hygiene. It's the biggest precaution you can take to prevent and cure flu.
AWARENESS IS THE KEY TO PREVENTION
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Seasonal Influenza: Flu Basics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Cold Versus Flu
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/updated/a_flu_guide_for_parents.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -Treatment - Antiviral Drugs
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Smoking and Influenza
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Cold Versus Flu
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/updated/a_flu_guide_for_parents.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -Treatment - Antiviral Drugs
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Smoking and Influenza
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