Cold and Flu Season

Your Guide to the Cold and Flu!

So you aren’t feeling well and you want to know if it’s just the common cold (not as bad) or if you have the flu (more serious). Here are the signs and symptoms of the flu.

Source: www.flufacts.com

Symptoms
Fever Aches (usually very severe)
Chills (very common)
Tiredness (severe)
Sudden Symptoms (can appear very quickly, 3-6 hours)
Coughing (dry, unproductive cough)
Headache
Chest Discomfort

Flu Prevention Information Question:

What is the best way to prevent getting the flu?
Answer: Get the flu vaccine and wash your hands regularly.
Question: What are the peak flu months?
Answer: January and February.
Question: Is the flu vaccine 100% effective in preventing the flu?
Answer: No, it’s 70%-90% effective. It depends on the strains of flu that is in the vaccine compared to the strain that is spreading during flu season.
Question: Besides the vaccine, what are other effective ways of preventing the flu?
Answer: Hand washing regularly, coughing into your shoulder not your hands or forearm, limiting the amount you touch your face, as this is one way of getting the virus.
Question: How many flu viruses are in the vaccine?
Answer: Three.
Question: Who should be vaccinated? A
nswer: The elderly, children, those with compromised immune systems, pregnant women and those living in close living environments (college students).
Question: Who shouldn’t get vaccinated?
Answer: If you have a severe allergy to chicken or eggs, have had a severe reaction to the shot in the past, children under 6 months, of if you have a fever.
Question: How does the flu spread?
Answer: The flu spreads from person to person in respiratory droplets when people who are infected cough or sneeze. The person becomes infected through inhalation, or my touching something with the virus on it then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. What to do if you get the flu? Get rest, drink plenty of fluids, take some over the counter medications to relieve they symptoms and stay home to prevent spreading the virus. See a doctor if symptoms worsen or if you have a high fever that doesn’t break after a day.

Prevention of the flu: (Source: www.cdc.gov) Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent other from catching your illness. Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or turn into your shoulder when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his/her eyes, nose or mouth. Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods.