What Can a Pregnant Woman Take for Flu
"The flu" is a term commonly used to describe seasonal influenza, an illness caused by one of numerous influenza viruses. This highly contagious infection affects your respiratory organization, causing symptoms that can range from mild to life-threatening.
The Centers for Affliction Command and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 3–11% of the population within the United States becomes infected with the flu each yr. Amongst infected individuals, hundreds of thousands may require hospitalization and more 36,000 individuals typically dice each year from the flu. Infections are nigh common in the fall and wintertime, so this period of each year is referred to as "flu flavour." If you're concerned almost the flu, learn more than about the symptoms to look out for, along with some important tips for stopping the spread of this serious illness.
At that place are several types of influenza viruses that tin cause infection. Each of these viruses is spread from person to person via droplets that are naturally expelled when nosotros talk, cough, sing or sneeze. Other people can then inhale the droplets or transfer them into their bodies by touching a contaminated surface so touching their eyes, nose or rima oris. Once the virus enters your body, it quickly replicates and causes symptoms of the flu.
A person who's infected with an flu virus is typically contagious one twenty-four hours before their symptoms begin appearing and upwards to seven days after their symptoms get-go start. During this period, the virus is actively replicating and can hands be passed on to other people who are in close contact.
Symptoms of Influenza
Symptoms of the flu ordinarily begin within one to 4 days of exposure to the virus. Many common flu symptoms are very similar to cold symptoms, though they typically come on more of a sudden than they do when you have a cold. When y'all've been infected with an influenza virus, you lot'll likely experience some or all of the following:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Headaches
- Body or muscle aches
- Chills
- Fatigue or weakness
- Loss of ambition
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea (these occur more often in children)
By and large speaking, flu symptoms are more severe and more debilitating than symptoms of the common cold. Flu symptoms typically final for i to two weeks and almost often resolve on their own. Nevertheless, in certain cases, influenza infections can lead to more serious complications and require intervention from a medical professional.
Certain populations are at a college risk of developing health complications related to the seasonal influenza. These individuals include:
- Children under 5 years erstwhile (children nether 6 months have an even greater risk)
- Adults 65 years of age or older (especially in long-term care environments)
- Pregnant people or those who have recently given nascence
People living with the following wellness conditions too may be at a higher chance for developing complications from the influenza:
- Chronic lung disease or asthma
- Heart affliction
- Blood, kidney or liver disorders
- Metabolic disorders
- Neurological and neurodevelopmental atmospheric condition
- Obesity
- Individuals under the age of 19 who are taking long-term aspirin therapy
- Anyone with a compromised immune arrangement, similar people living with cancer, HIV or AIDS
If yous feel flu-related complications, you may demand to exist hospitalized to receive constructive care. Flu-related complications include:
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis or severe asthma
- Heart problems
- Ear infections
- Decease
Diagnosing Influenza
Often, when influenza symptoms are balmy and occur during influenza flavour, your healthcare provider may make a diagnosis based on your medical history and symptom report solitary. It's also possible to directly test for the presence of the influenza virus via a respiratory swab. Your doctor may collect a sample of fluid from your nasal passage, and this sample will exist tested to determine whether you have the virus. The physician may lodge blood tests or X-rays if the severity of the infection indicates you may experience possible complications.
If you fit into whatsoever of the above categories that have a higher risk for developing dangerous complications from flu, it'south important to contact a healthcare provider right away when you develop symptoms. If you experience any difficulty animate, dizziness or chest hurting, contact emergency services by dialing 911 immediately.
Treatment for Influenza
Unless y'all're at take a chance of developing influenza-related complications, yous tin likely treat seasonal flu at home under your doctor's guidance. Recommendations include:
- Drinking plenty of fluids and maintaining a salubrious nutritional intake
- Getting adequate rest
- Using over-the-counter pain and fever relief medications
- Fugitive close contact with others as much equally possible until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without medication
If you're at a higher gamble of developing complications or if your symptoms increment in severity, your doctor may be able to requite yous sure antiviral medications to treat the influenza. These medications are meant to shorten the duration of an infection.
Because of the highly contagious nature of influenza, and its annual prevalence, it's very important to take precautions to aid forestall the spread of this illness. Keep the post-obit tips in heed, especially during flu season each twelvemonth:
- Launder your hands frequently, specially later on touching high-contact surfaces
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and oral fissure
- Continue surfaces effectually your home and workspace clean and disinfected
- Be mindful of crowds and avoid them whenever possible
- Maintain distance from anyone who's ill or known to be infected
- Get a flu shot every year
Vaccinations, or flu shots, are available every year and are specifically developed to target the strains of influenza that are most likely to be dominant that twelvemonth. The CDC recommends that every person over the age of 6 months receive a influenza shot each twelvemonth to finer protect against influenza infection and its possible serious consequences.
Vaccinations tin accept the form of an intramuscular injection or a nasal spray, and they work by causing your torso to develop antibodies that can then recognize and fight off the influenza virus if yous come into contact with it in the hereafter. Influenza vaccinations do not cause illness, and they're an constructive tool for preventing the furnishings of influenza in individuals and communities. Talk with your healthcare provider about the appropriate type and timing of vaccination for you.
Resource Links:
https://www.cdc.gov/influenza/about/keyfacts.htm
https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/influenza
https://www.ors.od.nih.gov/flu/pages/default.aspx
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/symptoms-causes/syc-20351719
https://world wide web.cdc.gov/influenza/preclude/keyfacts.htm
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