12 Symptoms You Should Never Ignore in Children
The Flu: Everything You Must Know For The 2020-2021 Season
Table of ContentsCausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentComplicationsPrevention
Flu overview Influenza is a contagious respiratory infection caused by flu viruses that travel through the air and enter the body through the nose or mouth. On average, roughly 8% of Americans get the flu each year, ranging between 3 and 11%, and anyone is susceptible to the virus.[1] From October 2019 through early April 2020, up to 62,000 people died due to flu complications, while up to 740,000 people were hospitalized, according to preliminary estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During the 2018-2019 flu season, an estimated 490,600 people were hospitalized and 34,200 people died due to flu complications.[2] Flu symptoms range from mild to severe and can include fever, chills, achy muscles, sore throat, cough, and headache. The flu is often confused with the common cold, but flu symptoms develop more suddenly and severely.[3] Symptoms can also overlap with those of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus. What causes the flu? When someone with the flu coughs or sneezes, droplets carrying the virus enter the air. You can catch the flu if you inhale these droplets through your nose or mouth, or if you touch objects such as doorknobs or keyboards that are contaminated with the virus and then touch your nose, eyes, or mouth. If you have the flu, you can spread the virus a day before your symptoms develop and up to seven days after you become sick. People with the flu are most contagious during the first 3 to 4 days of their illness.[4] Flu risk factorsFlu viruses are constantly changing, so if you've had influenza in the past, you may come down with it again. You are at greater risk of catching the flu and developing complications if you:
[5]
IN DEPTH: FLU RISKS What are the symptoms of the flu? Symptoms of influenza are often similar to those of a common cold and COVID-19. This can include some or all of the following: Fever or feeling feverish Achy muscles, especially in your back, arms, and legs Runny or stuffy nose Sore throat Cough Chills and sweats Weakness and fatigue Headaches Vomiting or diarrhea [6] If it is flu season and you are generally healthy and experience symptoms, you don't need to see a doctor right away, says Joseph Ladapo, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine at UCLA. Simply treat your symptoms with rest and over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. However, anyone who is at high risk—that is, a child, older adult, pregnant woman, or someone with a chronic condition such as diabetes, heart disease, or stroke—should see their doctor. "He or she can follow up with you to confirm that things are going in the right direction," Dr. Ladapo says, or advise on seeking more care if they feel it's necessary.[7] If you suspect your illness is due to COVID-19, click here for more information on when to see your doctor. Cold vs. Flu
Emily Schiff-Slater
Despite similar symptoms, a cold is milder than the flu and comes on more gradually. "If you don't feel horrible, you probably don't have flu," Dr. Ladapo says. Most cold symptoms primarily show up above your neck (like swollen glands and a runny nose), while flu symptoms can impact your body above and below the neck. Ask yourself these questions:
How severe does this feel?Cold: You feel a bit icky and things get worse slowly. The first signs to watch for include slight aches, a scratchy throat, headaches, and/or low-grade fever.
Flu: The flu hits you hard. You may first feel feverish at first, and quickly become too fatigued to do daily activities. Every inch of your body aches.
Can I get out of bed?Cold: Yes, you can walk around. While you may not feel like going to work or getting your kids ready for school, you can still go about your day.
Flu: Absolutely not—you're flat on your back and staying there. Extreme fatigue is going to incapacitate you for at least a few days.
IN DEPTH: FLU SYMPTOMS How is the flu diagnosed? To determine if you have the flu, a cold, or COVID-19, your doctor will do a physical exam, ask about your symptoms, and possibly do a lab test. The most common test is the rapid influenza diagnostics test. Your doctor will swab the back of your nose or throat and check the sample for antigens, substances that cause your immune system to produce antibodies. It takes less than a half hour to get results. However, results aren't always accurate, so your doctor may diagnose the flu without this test. "Trust your doctor and listen to your body," Dr. Ladapo says. Some specialized labs and hospitals use more accurate tests that look at the DNA or RNA of the virus. If you decide to see your health care provider, be ready to answer questions about your symptoms, how long you've had them, and how severe they are. Also let them know of any medical conditions, if you are pregnant, and if you live with anyone at high risk of influenza or COVID-19 complications, Dr. Ladapo says. How is the flu treated? If you promptly see your doctor upon noticing symptoms, he or she may give you an antiviral such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza). Tamiflu comes in capsule form,[8] while Relenza is a powder you inhale.[9] If taken within two days of the onset of symptoms, these can lessen symptoms and shorten the length of time you are sick by about a day. However, "it's far from a slam dunk," Dr. Ladapo says. "By the time you can schedule a doctor's appointment, you may be outside the window where it's effective." Whether or not you take an antiviral, the best way to treat the flu is to rest, drink fluids, and use any other remedies that best alleviate your symptoms such as pain reliever for headaches and achy muscles. "Whatever you are used to and know works for you, that is the appropriate treatment for flu," says Michael P. Angarone, D.O., professor of infectious diseases at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.[10] Flu complications to knowHealthy people typically recover from the flu once the virus passes. However, those at high risk of complications may develop complications, which can be deadly. These include:[11]
If you have a health condition and come down with the flu, talk to your doctor, who can help monitor your symptoms. If you have the flu and the fever persists for more than a few days or you experience difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent cough, lots of sputum (mucus), or feel weak or lightheaded, seek medical attention immediately. "These are signs the virus is not getting better or you may be developing a complication," Dr. Angarone explains.
In Depth: Flu Treatments How to prevent the fluYou can reduce your risk of contracting influenza with some common-sense health practices.
Experts widely agree that the single best way to protect against the flu is getting the flu vaccine. The vaccine is appropriate for anyone 6 months and older, and it's important to get the flu shot each year.[12]
It's also especially crucial to get the flu shot as COVID-19 continues to circulate, says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Flu cases "compete with the same resources," like ICU beds and medical personnel, he explains. "The more room we have in our hospitals to take care of COVID-19 patients, the better."
The injection protects against the three or four flu viruses that research indicates will be most common that year.[13] You can get the flu vaccine at your health care provider's office or at many pharmacies.
And despite what you may have heard, the vaccine cannot give you the flu. "It is true that the vaccine can lead to flu-like symptoms when the body responds to the proteins in the vaccine. But even then, it's still protective, and those symptoms are not as severe as the flu," Dr. Ladapo says.
In addition to the vaccine, practicing good hygiene can prevent flu germs from spreading:
✔️Wash your hands. Use soap and water, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds (or as long as the Happy Birthday song). When soap isn't available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
✔️Cough or sneeze into a tissue and discard the tissue. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow.
✔️Avoid crowded areas. The flu spreads more easily in heavily trafficked places such as public transportation, schools, and offices. If you are sick, stay home for at least 24 hours after any fever subsides.
✔️Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth to avoid germs entering your body.
✔️Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects such as keyboards, doorknobs, and telephones that may be contaminated with germs.
✔️Follow state orders that are in place to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, which may include wearing a face mask in public and maintaining a six-foot distance from others.
Additional reporting by Jessica Migala and Korin Miller
IN DEPTH: FLU PREVENTION Sources[1] https://www.Cdc.Gov/flu/about/keyfacts.Htm
[2] https://www.Cdc.Gov/flu/about/burden/2018-2019.Html
[3] https://medlineplus.Gov/flu.Html, https://www.Cdc.Gov/flu/consumer/symptoms.Htm
[4] https://www.Cdc.Gov/flu/keyfacts.Htm
[5] https://www.Cdc.Gov/flu/about/disease/high_risk.Htm
[6] https://www.Cdc.Gov/flu/consumer/symptoms.Htm
[7] Joseph Ladapo, MD, PhD, professor of medicine at UCLA
[8] https://www.Gene.Com/download/pdf/tamiflu_prescribing.Pdf
[9] https://www.Accessdata.Fda.Gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2011/021036s027lbl.Pdf
[10] https://www.Feinberg.Northwestern.Edu/faculty-profiles/az/profile.Html?Xid=18170
[11] https://www.Cdc.Gov/flu/consumer/symptoms.Htm
[12] https://www.Cdc.Gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.Htm
[13] https://www.Cdc.Gov/flu/about/season/vaccine-selection.Htm
Flu Shot Better Than Last Year, Despite Tough Season For Kids
Despite enduring two waves of viruses during the 2019-2020 flu season, new estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that the vaccine is relatively good match for this year's flu strains.
While we won't have exact figures until after the flu season is over, the 2019-2020 vaccine is estimated to be 45% effective overall and 55% effective in children.
MORE: CDC reports flu cases on rise as a second wave appears to hit
In comparison, the 2018-2019 flu vaccine was roughly 29% effective.
Despite those encouraging numbers, this season's flu has been particularly hard on children, with 13 kids dying this week, and 105 having died since the beginning of flu season, according to CDC estimates released Friday.
During recent flu seasons, deaths among children have ranged from 37 to 187.
As always, the best protection against the flu is getting a flu shot, health experts said.
"The influenza vaccine protects against various strains, three or four, depending on which vaccine you receive," said Dr. William Schaffner, medical director for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
Early 2019 to 2020 flu activity primarily was driven by influenza B/Victoria viruses, for which the vaccine is not a great match, Schaffner said. Later, flu activity shifted and the country saw a rising number of cases from the A/H1N1 viruses.
The flu shot was a better match for A/H1N1.
"The vaccine is exactly on target against this strain," Schaffner said.
MORE: Flu season, with activity in 30 states, gets earliest start in a decade
In general, influenza B is more common in children, while influenza A, also called H1N1, is more commonly seen in older adults, according to Dr. Jessica Grayson, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
So far, 16,000 people have died and 280,000 people have been hospitalized during the 2019-2020 flu season, according to preliminary estimates from the CDC.
"The flu season began early this year and took off aggressively," added Schaffner. "It began prominently in the southeastern states but quickly spread. So far, there is no sign that the momentum of the annual epidemic is slowing."
The majority of states, as well as New York City and Puerto Rico, are seeing high flu activity.
In total, the CDC estimates that 29 million people have gotten the flu so far this season.
2019 - 2020 Flu Season Activity for the week ending feb. 15
CDC
Typical flu symptoms include fever, sore throat, aches, chills and sweats and fatigue, according to the Mayo Clinic.
While the flu might seem relatively minor because it's so common, complications from the flu, which can include pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma flare-ups and heart problems, can be deadly.
(MORE: President Trump issues executive order to improve flu vaccine)
People with weakened immune systems, adults older than age 65 and babies are all at a higher risk of contracting the flu
If you experience flu symptoms, Grayson recommends staying home from work and other public places to avoid transmitting the disease to others. Wash your hands often and avoid others who are ill.
MORE: As states cut vaccine exemptions, skeptical parents may switch tactics
"Before going to your doctor's office, call," Grayson said. "They may have a different waiting room for those who are sick."
How to protect yourself -- and your childGetting vaccinated against the flu is the best way to protect against the disease, according to experts.
Receiving the vaccine earlier in the season is preferable, because the vaccine takes about two weeks to kick in, but even partial protection against the flu can ward off the worst symptoms and make the duration of the disease less severe.
"It's not too late to get vaccinated," Grayson stressed. "We still have a lot of flu season left."
A woman is shown getting a vaccine.
STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images
Guidelines for children are slightly different than for adults, according to the CDC. The agency is now recommending that some children between the ages of 6 months and 8 years old get two doses of the vaccine, spaced at least four weeks apart. The child's doctor or health care provider should determine whether he or she needs a second dose for the best possible protection against the flu.
MORE: Flu shot is critical, but only half of American adults plan to get it
Despite those recommendations, however, many Americans mistakenly believe that the flu vaccine doesn't work or has side effects. Apart from soreness at the needle's injection site, there are no notable side effects linked to the flu vaccine.
Partly because of these misconceptions, only half of Americans reported that they planned to get the flu vaccine this year, according to a survey conducted by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases this summer.
In addition to the flu vaccine, there are four Food and Drug Administration-approved antiviral drugs that the CDC recommends for treating the flu.
You're Sick. Are Your Symptoms COVID-19, The Flu Or A Common Cold?
Your browser is not supporteddispatch.Com
dispatch.Com wants to ensure the best experience for all of our readers, so we built our site to take advantage of the latest technology, making it faster and easier to use.
Unfortunately, your browser is not supported. Please download one of these browsers for the best experience on dispatch.Com
Comments
Post a Comment