Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Millions of people get the flu every year, an annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against the flu.
What is Influenza?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.
Influenza viruses that infect humans can be classified into three main groups; Infection can be serious and cause widespread outbreaks and disease.
Influenza has more common forms of this infection, routinely causing seasonal outbreaks and mild respiratory infections.
What causes the Flu?
The virus enters your body through your nose, eyes or mouth. The most common way people get the flu is by touching their hands to their mouth or nose after coming into contact with a person or everyday item – think doorknobs, elevator buttons, keyboards, pens at checkout – that has been contaminated.
You also can get sick from breathing in the virus, or by kissing someone who has the flu.
Symptoms:
People who are sick with flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:
Fever or feeling feverish/chills
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle or body aches
Fatigue (tiredness)
Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults
Don’t self-diagnose your condition. The flu can resemble the common cold, but may trigger worsening symptoms. If you think you’ve contracted influenza, schedule a visit with your doctor to discuss treatment.
Treatment and Prevention:
In some cases, influenza symptoms can clear on their own with ample rest
and fluid intake. In other cases, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medication to fight the infection.
The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. Also, there is flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and prevent flu.
Other ways to prevent spreading this disease include:
washing your hands regularly
avoiding large crowds, specifically during a flu outbreak
covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
staying home if you develop a fever and for at least 24 hours after it goes away
Clinica Medica Familiar is a family medicine practice that is offering Covid vaccines in our three locations: Magnolia, Mead Valley, and Montclair. Please call us at 855-505-7467 to schedule you today or visit our website https://www.clinicamedicafamiliardrrios.com/booking-calendar
In order to help stop the spread of the flu, Clinica Medica Familiar is NOW offering Telemedicine(Telehealth/video call) and Flu Shots. Please call us at 855-505-7467 to learn more about these amazing services and bilingual providers, we are now providing services throughout Corona, Montclair, Riverside, Perris, Moreno Valley, Lake Elsinore, Temecula, and Indio.
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