What is the expected timing for the flu season in this current year?
In the approaching colder months, it's crucial to be aware of the flu and its potential impacts. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you understand the virus, its symptoms, vaccination, and precautions.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people receive all vaccines in a setting where healthcare professionals can monitor for an allergic reaction. This is particularly important for those with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome, as well as those with severe and life-threatening allergies to certain vaccine ingredients. Mild allergies to gelatin, certain antibiotics, or other common flu vaccine ingredients may also require discussion with a doctor.
Flu symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, aches and pain, nasal congestion, headaches, fatigue, and may also include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in children. If you suspect you have the flu, a test is required to confirm. This involves swabbing the inside of the nose or the back of the throat to collect a sample for testing.
Flu vaccines are readily available at various locations such as pharmacies, health clinics, doctors' offices, health centers, local health departments, workplaces, schools, and can be found using the CDC vaccine finder. It's important to note that infants younger than 6 months old cannot get the flu vaccine, but can be protected through the vaccination of those around them.
Antiviral medications can shorten the duration of the flu and prevent serious complications such as pneumonia. The recommended antiviral medications for the flu may change each flu season based on the specific virus strains that are circulating.
The flu is a contagious virus that mainly spreads through coughing, sneezing, or talking near others, and can also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces. The flu season typically starts in the fall when the weather gets colder and ends in late spring. In recent years, the flu season in Australia has shown a strong increase in cases during their winter, with record high hospitalizations reported in July.
Stay informed, stay healthy. Get vaccinated, practice good hygiene, and remember to consult a doctor if you suspect you have the flu. Together, we can help reduce the spread of the flu and keep our communities safe.
Read also:
- Essential Information on Cushing Syndrome: a Disorder Caused by High Cortisol Levels
- Starting in September, elderly individuals aged 75 years and above will be enrolled in a preventive program for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
- Financial burdens associated with alcohol-induced offenses and criminal justice system expenses
- Health Updates: Brief Snippets of Health-Related News for Today
