What is the influenza?
Flu is a common respiratory illness brought on by influenza viruses that can sometimes spread to the lungs as well as the nose and throat. It can lead to mild to severe disease, and occasionally even death. Getting vaccinated against the flu every year is the greatest approach to prevent the virus.
Virus symptoms
Flu, also known as the “flu,” can sometimes result in death and cause mild to severe disease. Symptoms of the flu typically appear suddenly. Many flu sufferers have any or all of the following symptoms:
- Fever, chills, or feeling feverish
- Cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, aches in the body or the muscles, and headaches
- Weariness or fatigue
- Vomiting and diarrhea are prevalent in some persons, but more so in children than in adults.
How Does Flu Spread?
According to the majority of specialists, flu viruses are primarily transferred by the little droplets produced when sick persons cough, sneeze, or talk. People close may catch these droplets in their mouths or noses. Less frequently, someone can contract the flu by contacting anything or a surface that has the virus and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly eyes.
How Many People Get Sick with Flu Every Year?
A 2018 CDC study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases looked at the percentage of the U.S. population who got sick with flu using two different methods and compared the findings. Both methods had similar findings, which suggested that on average, about 8 percent of the U.S. population gets sick from flu each season, with a range of between 3 percent and 11 percent, depending on the season.
Who is most likely to get sick with flu?
The same CID study found that children are most likely to get sick from flu and that people 65 and older are least likely to get sick from flu. Median incidence values (or attack rate) by age group were 9.3% for children 0-17 years, 8.8% for adults 18-64 years, and 3.9% for adults 65 years and older. This means that children younger than 18 are more than twice as likely to develop a symptomatic flu virus infection than adults 65 and older.
How is seasonal incidence of flu estimated?
Flu virus infection is very common, and the number of people infected each season can only be estimated because not everyone will seek medical care or get tested. Statistical estimations are based on CDC-measured flu hospitalization rates that are adjusted to estimate the total number of flu virus infections in the United States for a given flu season.
The estimates for the number of flu virus infections are then divided by the census population to estimate how common flu virus infections are in the population (called seasonal incidence or attack rate).
Does the severity of the flu season affect the seasonal incidence of the disease?
Yes. The percentage of people who contract the flu varies. According to a research that appeared in CID, every year, between 3 and 11 percent of Americans become ill with the flu. The H1N1-predominant 2011–2012 season, which was rated as having low severity, is where the 3 percent estimate comes from. There was an estimated 11% flu sickness incidence over the course of two seasons; 2012–2013 saw a moderately severe H3N2-predominant season, while 2014–2015 saw a high severity H3N2-predominant season.
Period of Contagiousness
You may be able to spread flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as when you are sick with symptoms.
- People with flu are most contagious in the first 3-4 days after their illness begins.
- Some otherwise healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick.
- Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time.
Beginning of Symptoms
The period of time between exposure to and infection with the flu and the onset of symptoms is typically two days, but it can be anything between one and four days.
Flu complications
Bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, and a worsening of long-term health issues like congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes can all be complications of the flu.
Those Who Are More Prone to the Flu
Everyone can acquire the flu (including healthy individuals), and significant complications from the virus can occur at any age, but some people are more likely to experience major complications from the flu if they get it. This includes persons 65 years of age and older, as well as people of any age who suffer from certain chronic medical illnesses (such as heart disease, diabetes, or asthma), women who are pregnant, and young children under the age of five.
Stopping the Seasonal Flu
Getting vaccinated against the flu each year is the first and most crucial step in preventing the illness. It has been demonstrated that the flu vaccine lowers the chance of significant flu complications, which can lead to hospitalization or even death, as well as flu-related illnesses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also advises taking routine preventative measures (such as avoiding sick people, covering coughs and sneezes, and often washing hands) to reduce the spread of germs that cause respiratory (nose, throat, and lungs) infections, such as the flu.
Identifying Flu
Based solely on symptoms, it can be exceedingly challenging to identify flu from other viral or bacterial respiratory infections. The flu can be diagnosed using tests. There is more information at Diagnosing Flu.
Healthy Practices to Prevent the Flu
- Avoid making eye contact. Avoid being in close proximity to sick people.
- When you are sick, stay at home.
- Put your nose and mouth covered.
- Sanitize your hands.
- Do not touch your lips, nose, or eyes.
- Adopt additional healthy behaviors.
