Seasonal Flu Advice
What is Flu?
Influenza, commonly shortened to flu, is an extremely contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza A, B or C viruses. Flu appears most frequently in winter and early spring. The flu virus attacks the body by spreading through the upper and/or lower respiratory tract.
How is Flu Transmitted?
Transmission is either by:
- Droplet due to coughing/sneezing.
- Direct nasal or eye contact with hands carrying the virus
What are the Symptoms of Flu?
- Sudden onset of high temperature
- Severe aches and pains in the joints and muscles and around the eyes
- Generalised body weakness
- Looking 'ill' with warm, flushed skin and red, watery eyes
- Headache
- Cough
- Sore throat and watery discharge from your nose.
The symptoms usually peak after two to three days and you should begin to feel much better within five to eight days. However, you may have a cough and still feel very tired for a further two to three weeks.
Ways of Preventing Flu
1. Good Hygiene
Preventing the spread of germs is the most effective way to slow the spread of flu. Always:
- Make sure you wash your hands regularly with soap and water.
- Clean surfaces like your keyboard, telephone and door handle regularly to get rid of germs.
- Use tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
- Put used tissues in a bin as soon as possible.
2. The Flu Vaccine
The flu vaccine can provide protection against flu and is available free to the following high-risk people, to protect them from flu
- People aged 65 or over
- pregnant women
- people with a serious medical condition
- people living in a residential or nursing home
- carers of people at risk of complications of the flu
- healthcare professionals
If you think you need the vaccine, talk to your doctor or nurse. Individuals not in the above risk groups can have a flu vaccine privately through company occupational health schemes or your local pharmacy.
3. Antiviral medication
If you have been exposed to the Flu virus or are in a high risk group, you may be able to obtain antiviral medication for the prevention of flu from the doctor.
Treatment
Although flu vaccines can prevent certain strains of the flu, there's not much you can do after you are infected with it. To ease flu symptoms, you can:
- Take over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or paracetamol – to lower high temperature and relieve aches
- Take over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants to help with congestion.
- Drink lots of fluids.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Keep warm
The doctor may prescribe an antiviral drug that can reduce some of the symptoms if taken within 48 hours of getting the virus.
