Who has the Flu?
Don’t let it be you!
Here's how...

    What is Seasonal Influenza (Flu)?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.

    How do I know if I have the flu?
Influenza usually starts suddenly and may include the following symptoms, some of which are also signs of the common cold:

• Fever (usually above 101 degrees)
• Headache
• Tiredness (can be extreme)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Diarrhea and vomiting (more common among children than adults)
  However, if you have diarrhea and vomiting but do not have respiratory symptoms, it is unlikely that you have the flu.

    What are the risks?
In some people, the flu can cause serious complications, including bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. Children and adults may develop sinus problems and ear infections.

    How is the flu spread?
The flu usually spreads from person to person in respiratory droplets when people who are infected cough or sneeze. People occasionally may become infected by touching something with influenza virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes. Healthy adults may be able to infect others 1 day before getting symptoms and up to 5 days after getting sick. Therefore, it is possible to give someone the flu before you know you are sick as well as while you are sick.

    How can we avoid spreading the flu?
Some simple hygienic behaviors that can help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses such as the flu are:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If you are not near water, use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• If you get the flu, stay home from work, school, and social gatherings. In this way you will help prevent others from catching your illness.
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs often spread this way.

    What about flu vaccine?
The single best way to protect yourself and others against influenza is to get a flu vaccination each year. Two kinds of flu vaccine are available in the United States. Get the one that’s right for you from your health care provider or at various locations in the community.

• The "flu shot" - an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
• The nasal-spray flu vaccine - a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine"). On September 19, 2007 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved use of the nasal influenza vaccine LAIV (FluMist®) for healthy children ages 2-4 years old (24-59 months old) without a history of recurrent wheezing, as well as for healthy persons ages 5-49 years who are not pregnant. Previously, approval was for healthy persons ages 5-49 years who are not pregnant.

    What about "influenza antiviral drugs?"
While getting a flu vaccine each year is the best way to protect you from the flu, there also are "influenza antiviral drugs" that can fight against influenza viruses, offering a second line of defense against the flu. Antiviral drugs (such as amantadine, rimantadine, zanamivir and oseltamivir) must be prescribed by a health care professional and only work against influenza viruses. They will not help treat or prevent symptoms caused by infection from other viruses that can cause symptoms similar to the flu.

Antiviral drugs are used in different settings and circumstances to treat the flu and to prevent people from getting the flu:

• Antiviral drugs are used to help control flu outbreaks in places where a lot of people at high risk of serious flu complications live in close contact with each other, like nursing homes or hospital wards, for example.
• Antiviral drugs are used in the community setting to treat people with the flu to reduce severity of symptoms and reduce the number of days that people are sick.
• Antiviral drugs are used to prevent the flu:
  for people who have been close to someone with the flu, or
  for people that need protection from the flu but they either don't get protection after vaccination, or the vaccine is unavailable, or they can't get the vaccine because of allergies, for example.

While most healthy people recover from the flu and don't have serious complications, some people - such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions - are at higher risk for serious flu-related complications. It's especially important that these people are protected from the flu. Remember, a flu vaccine is the first and best defense against the flu, but antiviral drugs can be an important second line of defense to treat the flu or prevent flu infection.

    What should I do if I get sick?
It is very difficult to know flu from other infections on the basis of symptoms alone. A doctor's exam may be needed to tell whether you have developed the flu or a complication of the flu. There are tests that can determine if you have the flu as long you are tested within the first 2 or 3 days of illness.

If you develop flu-like symptoms and are concerned about your illness, especially if you are at high risk for complications of the flu, you should consult your health care provider. Those at high risk for complications include people 65 years or older, people with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, and young children.

If you get the flu, get plenty of rest, drink a lot of liquids, and avoid using alcohol and tobacco. Also, you can take medications such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) to relieve the fever and muscle aches associated with the flu. Never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, especially fever.

If you get the flu, stay home from work, school, and social gatherings. In this way you will help prevent others from catching your illness.

Don’t let you be the one who spreads the flu!
 

Florida Department of Health Bureau of Epidemiology
www.doh.state.fl.us

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