Dear friends and children
Do you know a little bit about the flu?
Come and listen to the CDC tell you~
01
The flu is not a common cold
The common cold is often caused by cold or respiratory diseases caused by rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, bacteria and other pathogens, and is not highly contagious, the symptoms are mild, and they are self-limiting.
Influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by infection with influenza viruses (influenza A and B viruses), which is mainly transmitted through its close respiratory droplets, but can also be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with mucous membranes such as mouth, nasal cavity, and eyes, and clusters of outbreaks occur in places where people gather.
02
How can I tell if I have the flu?
Influenza is acute and mostly self-limiting, but some complications such as pneumonia can progress to severe influenza, and a few severe cases progress rapidly and can die from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or multiple organ failure.
The symptoms of influenza are the main basis for clinical routine diagnosis and treatment, influenza is generally manifested as acute onset, fever (some cases can have high fever, up to 39-40 ° C), cough, sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, body pain, chills, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting and other symptoms.
The symptoms and signs of influenza lack specificity and are easily confused with the common cold and other upper respiratory tract infections. Diagnosis of influenza depends on laboratory diagnosis, and tests include viral nucleic acid detection, isolation and culture of the virus, antigen testing, and serological testing.
03
Who is susceptible to the flu?
Influenza is generally susceptible to people. Severe influenza occurs mainly in high-risk groups such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women or people with chronic underlying medical conditions, but can also occur in the general population.
04
What happens if I get the flu?
Most people present with mild symptoms that resolve spontaneously within a week.
Some people, especially pregnant women, children, the elderly, chronic disease patients and other high-risk groups infected with influenza can lead to complications, serious clinical consequences and even death, and it is necessary to pay close attention to the changes in the condition of severe patients and high-risk groups.
05
Annual influenza vaccination is the most effective means of preventing influenza.
Annual influenza vaccination is the most effective means of preventing influenza and can significantly reduce the risk of influenza and serious complications in vaccinated people. Influenza viruses are susceptible to mutation, and immunity to vaccination gradually weakens over time, so influenza vaccines need to be given annually.
06
Is the flu vaccine safe and effective?
Influenza vaccines are safe and effective and are the best means of preventing influenza. In most years, the flu vaccine is well matched with the influenza epidemic strain and has good protection. Influenza vaccination is safe, only a few occurrences of redness, swelling, heat pain, drowsiness, fatigue, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and other minor adverse reactions at the vaccination site, usually disappear within a few days, rarely severe reactions.
07
Who needs the flu vaccine?
In principle, all people aged 6 months and older who are willing to get the flu vaccine and have no contraindications can get the flu vaccine.
The CDC recommends priority vaccination for children aged 6 months to 5 years, people aged 60 years and older, people with chronic diseases, medical staff, family members and caregivers of infants under 6 months of age, pregnant women, or women preparing to become pregnant during influenza season. Healthcare providers should recommend that the public and patients get the flu vaccine annually to increase the rate of influenza vaccination.
08
When is the flu vaccine?
To gain protection before the season of high incidence of influenza, it is best to complete immunization by the end of October. If you miss the time, you can also be vaccinated at any time during the epidemic season. During the same influenza epidemic season, people who have already completed their flu vaccinations do not need to repeat the vaccinations.
09
Trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines, which should be vaccinated?
The trivalent vaccine contains one of the influenza A(H1N1), H3N2 and influenza B viruses, and the quadrivalent vaccine adds an influenza B virus. Both types of vaccines can be used to prevent influenza infection, and either influenza vaccine can be voluntarily given without priority recommendation.
10
What other tips are there to prevent the flu in your daily life?
Taking daily precautions can also be effective in reducing the infection and spread of influenza:
- Maintain good respiratory hygiene, cover your mouth and nose with tissues, towels, etc. when coughing or sneezing;
- Wash your hands frequently and try to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth;
- Eat a balanced diet, exercise in moderation, and rest adequately;
- Avoid close contact with people with flu-like symptoms, during the influenza epidemic season, and try to avoid going to crowded places;
- After the appearance of influenza-like symptoms, the patient is isolated at home for observation, goes to work and class without illness, and wears a mask when contacting family members to reduce the spread of the disease;
- When patients with influenza-like symptoms go to the hospital, patients and accompanying staff should wear masks to avoid cross-infection.
11
Can influenza be prevented with medication?
High-risk groups of severe influenza who have not been vaccinated or have not yet acquired immunity after vaccination are subjected to drug-based prophylaxis after contact with influenza patients, using oseltamivir, zanamivir, etc., but pharmacological prophylaxis is an urgent temporary preventive measure and cannot replace vaccination.
12
Treatment of influenza
In general, patients are advised to rest at home and keep the room ventilated after the onset of symptoms. Rest well, drink plenty of water, and eat an easy-to-digest and nutritious diet. Minimize contact with others to avoid infection. Treatment focuses on relieving flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, etc., and patients should be closely observed for changes in the condition, and should be treated promptly once there is a persistent high fever, accompanied by severe cough, dyspnea, altered consciousness, severe vomiting and diarrhea.
Pregnant women, children, the elderly and patients with chronic diseases and other high-risk influenza people are more likely to cause severe illness after infection with influenza, and should seek medical treatment as soon as possible, use antiviral drugs (neuraminidase inhibitor drugs, such as oseltamivir, peramivir, etc.) as soon as possible under the guidance of a doctor, and use antibiotics and hormones that are ineffective against influenza viruses.
Source: Wuwei Disease Control WeChat public account