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Summary: Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing from people with influenza. Most adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Influenza, commonly known as flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). In humans, common symptoms of influenza are fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort. In more serious cases, influenza causes pneumonia, which can be fatal, particularly in young children and the elderly. Children and teenagers with flu symptoms (particularly fever) should avoid taking aspirin as taking aspirin in the presence of influenza infection (especially Influenzavirus B) can lead to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease of the liver. Typically influenza is transmitted from infected humans through the air by coughs or sneezes, creating aerosols containing the virus. Influenza can also be transmitted by saliva, nasal secretions, faeces and blood. Infections also occur through contact with these body fluids or with contaminated surfaces. Flu viruses can remain infectious for about one week at human body temperature, over 30 days at 0 °C (32 °F). Most influenza strains can be inactivated easily by disinfectants and detergents. Preventing the spread of the flu virus should be the concern of everyone. 1. Wash your hands after sneezing and coughing
2. Always cover your mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing
3. Do not go to work, you'll only spread the flu to your workmates.
4. Drink plenty of fluids
5. Seek medical advice if conditions worsen after a few days [ source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza ]
What To Do About The Flu | (NAPSI)- Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing from people with influenza. Most adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
In fact, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that most influenza infections in children were not diagnosed clinically. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 to 20 percent of the population will get the flu and up to 200,000 people will be hospitalized. Worse, every year approximately 36,000 people in the U.S. die from influenza. Influenza can also lead to secondary complications including pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus and ear infections and worsening of chronic health conditions. Influenza is a contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory tract and has a variety of symptoms, including muscle aches, fever, headache and sore throat. Because the flu can be difficult to diagnose based on symptoms alone, it is critical that you get tested so that appropriate treatment can begin as soon as possible. One test that has gained widespread popularity among physicians is the QuickVue® Influenza test, a fast and painless test that can check for the presence of the influenza virus. The test is simple and can provide results in 10 minutes or less. Using a rapid diagnostic test such as the QuickVue test can prevent unnecessary testing and treatment, thus sparing you and your child from additional tests, which can sometimes be difficult. For more information, visit www.flutest.com or ask your physician about flu testing. A rapid diagnostic test for influenza can help physicians identify flu accurately. |
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