If you are unable to get a flu shot this year, there are simple steps you can take to protect yourself against the flu and help prevent its spread.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highly recommends:
To help prevent getting the flu:
• Wash your hands often.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
To help prevent the spread of flu, if you are sick:
• Keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.
• Stay home from work, school, and errands.
• Keep your sneezes and coughs to yourself. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Wash your hands afterward.
If you do not have easy access to soap and water to wash your hands, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is an acceptable alternative.
And boost your immune system by taking good care of yourself. Get enough sleep, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy diet, and manage your stress.
|
Symptoms |
Cold |
Flu |
|
Fever |
Rare |
Characteristic, high
(102°-104° F); lasts 3-4 days |
|
Headache |
Rare |
Prominent |
|
General Aches, Pains |
Slight |
Usual; often severe |
|
Fatigue, Weakness |
Quite mild |
Can last up to 2-3 weeks |
|
Extreme Exhaustion |
Never |
Early and prominent |
|
Stuffy Nose |
Common |
Sometimes |
|
Sneezing |
Usual |
Sometimes |
|
Sore Throat |
Common |
Sometimes |
|
Chest Discomfort, Cough |
Mild to moderate; hacking cough |
Common; can become severe |
|
Complications |
Sinus congestion or earache |
Bronchitis, pneumonia; can be life-threatening |
|
Prevention |
None |
Annual vaccination; antiviral medicines – see your doctor |
|
Treatment |
Only temporary relief of symptoms |
Antiviral medicines – see your doctor |
|
Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, www.niaid.nih.gov |
Medicine for Treating the Flu
If you do get the flu, there are four antiviral medicines that your health care provider can prescribe to speed up your recovery. These can reduce the length of time for the fever and other flu symptoms and make it possible for you to return to your regular routine quicker.
To work well, you must take an antiviral medicine within 48 hours after the flu begins. If you think that you have got the flu, contact your health care provider as soon as possible to see if one of the antiviral medicines is right for you.
Source: Source: “Flu Fact Sheet,” National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, www.niaid.nih.gov
