Getting a grippe shot is n’t a warranty you wo n’t get theflu : The vaccinum protect against the four strains of the grippe computer virus scientist predict will be most vulgar each time of year , but if you ’re exposed to a unlike strain , all bets are off . And because it take about two weeks for granting immunity from flu to kick back in post - vaccination , if you chance a influenza virus before that happen you could wind up brainsick .
And having the grippe is no joyride , withsymptomsmore comparable to COVID-19 than to the coarse cold . Flu is colligate with a range ofcomplicationsas well — from ear infection to pneumonia — although again , if you ’re immunise you ’ll be far less likely to have complications , consort to areport published in June 2021 in the journalVaccine .
Whether you ’ve been immunize or not , it ’s important to understand how to pick out thesymptoms of fluand if you or someone you care for wind up getting macabre , to cognize the steps to take for a rapid retrieval .
How to Know It’s Really Flu
First things first : In lodge to have a go at it how to manage flu , you ’ll need to make indisputable that ’s what you ’re dealing with . For exercise , it ’s wanton to misidentify grippe for COVID-19 , or even a vulgar cold , as all three can cause acough , chest discomfort , sensitive pharynx , runny nozzle , and tiredness .
But colds and COVID are because of dissimilar viruses than flu , so they do have some key difference of opinion . For one thing , “ colds usually fare on slowly , over several days , and cause mild malady , ” explainsEric A. Weiss , MD , prof emeritus of emergency brake medicine at the Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto , California .
Flu , on the other hand , can hit you like a truck : You suddenly feel fallible and recover yourself overcome with abrupt chills , a febricity that step by step rises , muscle aches , shortness of intimation , and weariness .
And like influenza , COVID can make severe illness , but is relate with a few unequaled symptoms . thorax painful sensation is a common symptom for both , for example , but with flu it tends to be mild to moderate while COVID can have persistent pain and interpose with breathing .
TheCDCrecommends managing flu with relaxation and drink plenty of water to preventdehydration . Acetaminophen ( Tylenol ) or ibuprofen ( Advil , Motrin ) can help ease muscle aches and relieve pyrexia . Because the virus is highly contagious , staying domicile is also important so as not to pass around the malady to others .
When to Consider Antiviral Drugs
Antivirals do n’t actually kill the grippe virus . Instead , they block it from replicating or reproducing in the body . They can be helpful whether you have been vaccinated or not .
When take within 24 to 48 time of day of when symptom set about , these ethical drug drug make symptoms less austere and canshorten the amount of time you palpate sickby about a twenty-four hour period , saysWilliam Schaffner , MD , an infectious disease medical specialist and a prof of preventive medicine and wellness policy at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville , Tennessee .
Four antiviral medicinal drug are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration totreat flu :
Experts do n’t always harmonize about who should take antiviral drug for grippe , but these medication in general are recommend for people who have severe influenza symptoms or are at high risk for serious complications . If you fall into one of these category , see your health care supplier as shortly as possible , as antiviral are most effective when taken early in the course of infection .
When the Going Gets Tough
Extreme grippe symptoms command immediate aesculapian attention . The most common are :
“ If you ’re getting bad , if you ’re having trouble ventilation , or if you ’re so crazy you ca n’t keep fluid down and you ’re getting dehydrated , you absolutely require to essay aesculapian forethought , ” enjoin Dr. Schaffner .
He apprise the great unwashed who are especially vulnerable toflu complicatedness — those over 65 , significant citizenry , and people with chronic malady — to be on the alert for extreme symptoms . Parents should also keep an eye on Kyd who come down with the flu .
How Vaccinations Help
TheCDCadvises everyone sometime than 6 months get aflu shot . Again , although the vaccinum is not a guarantee you wo n’t get along down with the influenza , it ’s estimated it canreduce the riskof malady by 40 to 60 per centum .
What ’s more , it ’s never too late to get immunize , Weiss says . Although grippe time of year peaks from December through February , it can last well into May . Also , the predominant flu strains circulating in a undivided time of year can change , so even if you get the flu early you should still get vaccinated to protect yourself from the hypothesis you ’ll bump a different strain later in the time of year .
Weiss advises the great unwashed with mild upper respiratory infection ( coldness ) get vaccinated even if they are sick , but people who have moderate to severe illnesses with or without a fever should wait until they reclaim or consult their doctor before getting vaccinated .
“ Vaccination does n’t influence the effectiveness of the treatment , ” says Schaffner . “ The vaccine makes it probable that you will have a less severe infection , but that does n’t entail you should n’t get treatment in addition . ”
Jane Yoon Scott , MD , is an infective disease physician and an assistant prof of medication atEmory Universityin Atlanta . Dr. Scott enjoys connect with her patient , authorize them to empathize and take possession of their health , and encourage them to ask enquiry so that they can make informed and attentive decision .
She graduated with the in high spirits honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology , then received her MD from the Medical College of Georgia . She completed her internal medicine residence education and chief residency at Temple University Hospital , as well as a fellowship in infectious disease at Emory University . She is board - licence in both internal medicinal drug and infectious diseases .
When she is not seeing patients , Dr. Scott works with neighboring health departments to promote public wellness , especially to communities that have been historically underserved . She also teaches medical trainee and lectures aesculapian students at the Emory University School of Medicine .
In her free meter , Dr. Scott appreciate a unspoilt chocolate shop , weekend hikes , playing guitar , saunter through city , try out eating house , and travel to new places .
Don Rauf has been a free-lance wellness writer for over 12 years and his writing has been featured in HealthDay , CBS News , WebMD , U.S. News & World Report , Mental Floss , United Press International ( UPI),Health , and MedicineNet . He was previously a reporter for DailyRx.com where he covered stories touch to cardiology , diabetes , lung genus Cancer , prostate gland genus Cancer , erectile dysfunction , menopause , and allergies . He has interviewed doc and pharmaceutic representatives in the U.S. and abroad .
He is a prolific writer and has write more than 50 books , includingLost America : Vanished Civilizations , Abandoned Towns , andRoadside Attractions . Rauf know in Seattle , Washington .
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