as of November 21, 2009
Flu Corner
OVERVIEW
The flu is a contagious infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by the influenza virus.
CAUSES/RISK FACTORS
The most common way to catch the flu is by breathing in droplets from coughs or sneezes. Less often, it is spread when you touch a surface such as a faucet handle or phone that has the virus on it, and then touch your own mouth, nose, or eyes.
Symptoms appear 1 - 7 days later (usually within 2 - 3 days). Because the flu spreads through the air and is very contagious, it often strikes a community all at once. This creates a cluster of school and work absences. Many students become sick within 2 or 3 weeks of the flu's arrival in a school.
SYMPTOMS
-Fever - may be high
-Headache
-Tiredness
-Dry cough
-Sore throat
-Stuffy, congested nose
-Muscle aches and stiffness
Other symptoms may include:
-Nasal discharge
-Shortness of breath
-Wheezing
-Croupy cough
-Chills
-Fatigue
-Malaise
-Sweating
-Loss of appetite
-Vomiting
-Dizziness
-Worsening of underlying illness, such as asthma or heart failure
CARE/TREATMENT
If you have mild illness and are not at high risk, take these steps:
-Rest
-Take medicines that relieve symptoms and help you rest
-Drink plenty of liquids
-Avoid aspirin (especially teens and children)
-Avoid alcohol and tobacco
-Avoid antibiotics (unless necessary for another illness)
If the flu is diagnosed within 48 hours of when symptoms begin, especially if you are at high risk for complications, antiviral medications may help shorten the length of symptoms by about one day.
Treatment is usually not necessary for children, but if the illness is diagnosed early and the patient is at risk of developing a severe case, it can be started.
Treatment will only help if started early and only if the illness is actually influenza. It will not help treat a regular cold.
PREVENTION
A yearly vaccine is recommended for many people.
A flu shot and a new nasal spray-type flu vaccine are currently available.
Real Stories, Expert Advice
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In the News: Flu
No Time For Complacency On Swine Flu - Australian Medical Association
Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:00 PST
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171684.php
AMA Vice President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that the AMA is encouraging people to visit their GP to be immunised against swine flu. It has been reported that there are still far too many Australians who have not been vaccinated to protect themselves from the virus. Dr Hambleton said that people should not be complacent because of the warmer weather or because swine flu is no longer dominating the TV and radio news or the newspaper headlines.
With Pets Also Vulnerable To The Flu, PurinaCare(R) Pet Health Insurance Extends Coverage For The H3N8 (Dog Flu) Treatment
Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171592.php
PurinaCare® Pet Health Insurance, which is committed to help pet owners provide a lifetime of care for their dogs and cats, is alerting dog owners to the dangers of the H3N8 virus, more commonly referred to as the Dog Flu or canine influenza. Canine influenza is extremely contagious and while humans are not affected by this flu strain, they can unknowingly pass it from an infected dog to an unaffected dog.