Influenza (the Flu) is extremely contagious

Pamela Egan Practical Practitioner

 

By: Pamela Egan, FNP-C CDE

 


 

Influenza (the Flu) is extremely contagious

 

 

Influenza, commonly called “the flu” is an extremely contagious viral disease that appears most frequently in winter and early spring. The infection spreads through the upper respiratory tract and sometimes invades the lungs.

Influenza and its complications are still fatal to about 20,000 people in the United States annually. Specific strains of the disease can be prevented by a flu vaccine.

With influenza, you are likely to run a high fever for several days, and your head and body will ache. A severe case of the flu can lead to a life-threatening illness such as pneumonia. New strains of influenza evolve every few years.

Since this disease is viral, it can’t be conquered by antibiotics, which only treat bacterial infections, but a few antiviral medications recently came available to help treat influenza.

There are four antiviral drugs for the treatment and prevention of influenza including Symmetrel, Flumadine, Relenza and Tamiflu.

All of these drugs are oral pills except Relenza, which is inhaled like an asthma medication.

Secondary infections may also need to be treated. If you find that your symptoms aren’t clearing up or they started to and they are now getting worse again, you may have a secondary infection. Influenza makes everyone more susceptible to other infections.

The flu virus is transmitted by inhaling droplets in the air that contain the virus or by handling items contaminated by an infected person.

The virus on your skin then gets in mainly when you touch or rub you eyes. Hand washing is an important way to limit the spread of influenza. The symptoms start to develop from one to four days after infection with the virus. You can never develop a permanent immunity to influenza.

Even if you develop antibodies against a flu virus one year, those antibodies are unlikely to protect you against a new strain of the virus the next year.

Symptoms of the flu include:

  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Dry, hacking cough
  • Aching muscles
  • General fatigue and weakness
  • Nasal congestion, sneezing
  • Headache

If you have the flu, eat nourishing food if you feel up to it, rest and most important, drink plenty of fluids. Fever causes you to lose a lot of fluid, so you need to replace what is lost by drinking more. If you’re not eating, then taking your fluid in the form of soup may be a good idea. Also, electrolyte solutions like Gatorade and Powerade may be good options, but for most people, plain water is usually sufficient. Jello and popsicles are a good choice for kids.

The most effective preventive measure against influenza is to be immunized every fall against strains that have developed since the previous outbreak. If you are vaccinated, you may still come down with flu, but your symptoms are likely to be milder than they would have been had you not had a vaccination. Getting a flu shot may not be the world’s most pleasant experience, but it is far less unpleasant than a bad case of the flu.

Other preventive measure you can take during flu season:

  • Quit smoking, which damages your respiratory tract

  • Avoid sleeping in a room with someone who has flu, as the virus is easily spread in the air
  • Wash your hands often to kill or rinse-off viruses you may have picked up by touching contaminated objects such as doorknobs or phone receivers
  • Try to avoid crowds, and people who are coughing or sneezing
  • Keep your resistance by following a good diet, drinking lots of fluids, and getting plenty of rest.

    Stay warm and dry so that your body can fight off infection


This article was originally published February 17, 2003 in The St. Tammany News.

 

PamelaEgan.com > Health Articles > Disease