Most people with the flu take care of themselves at home and do not seek medical care.
Certain high-risk groups of people are in danger of developing complications from the flu and should contact their doctors if symptoms develop:
Complications may develop with the flu. Seek care in a hospital's emergency department for the following developments. These symptoms may signify a more severe and complicated attack of flu—for example,sinus and ear infections, bronchitis, and the development of pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, and it may be caused by the flu virus itself or by a bacterial infection that may occur when the person is weakened during a flu attack.
Caution: For children younger than 16 years with symptoms of flu or cold, aspirin is not recommended because it is associated with liver and brain damage (a condition known as Reye syndrome).
Steam inhalations may be useful in opening up a blocked nose and thus make breathing easier.
To create steam, boil water on the stove, remove the pot from the stove, then sit with a towel over your head and inhale the steam. The water should be hot, not boiling under your face. Use caution if you have asthma. You may enhance the decongestant effect of the steam by adding a half teaspoon of Vicks VapoRub, 1-2 drops of eucalyptus oil, or a few slices of ginger to the boiling water.
Another simple method is steaming up the bathroom by letting the shower run with hot water only. Inhaling the moisture in a steamy room can serve a similar purpose. Be careful, however, not to sit directly under the shower in order to avoid getting burned.
Avoid touching hard surfaces where flu viruses may remain alive: handrails, telephones, doors, faucets, and counters. Wash your hands often, especially after being in public places or at work.
Cough and sneeze into a soft tissue or handkerchief. Carefully dispose of soft tissues after using them.
Stay away from people who have the flu, if possible.
Generally, no follow-up is needed for most flu cases unless fever or cough returns along with other new symptoms, which could signal a complication.
The best means of preventing the flu is getting an influenza vaccination. Two types of vaccines are available. One is the injectable vaccine made from inactivated virus, known as the flu shot. The other is a live attenuated, or weakened, virus that is squirted into the nose. The flu shot contains only killed influenza viruses A and B. The shot is given in the upper arm once every year during the fall, prior to flu season. Immunity to the flu virus develops after about 2 weeks. Thus, the best time to get a flu shot is from October to mid November.
Because of substantial vaccine distribution delays during previous influenza seasons and the possibility of similar delays in the future, it is recommended that anyone at high risk for complications from the flu get a flu shot in September. This same group of people can even get the vaccine in December and throughout the flu season.
The vaccine is effective in about 70-90% of those who get the shot, especially in older people. Not only does it decrease the risk of getting flu infection, but it can also decrease the number of visits to a doctor's office, hospitalizations, and risk of death from the flu virus.
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