How long does the flu last? Discover the typical duration of flu symptoms, when you’re most contagious, and how to prevent spreading the virus.

Understanding Flu Season and Severity

Flu season typically occurs in the fall and winter months, with cases usually peaking in February and December. This year’s flu season is already shaping up to be particularly severe, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting at least 880,000 flu illnesses, 6,900 hospitalizations, and 360 deaths so far.

“This is shaping up to be a severe flu season,” says Neha Vyas, MD, a family medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic. “There are more positive flu cases this year and also much earlier in the season than what’s been seen in more than a decade.”

The flu can be life-threatening, particularly for certain high-risk groups. “The flu, before the COVID pandemic, killed between 35,000 and 50,000 persons in the U.S. each year, usually about 200 children and the rest older persons, often with pre-existing conditions,” says Susan E. Hassig, DrPH, MPH, an associate professor at Tulane University’s School of Public Health.

Recognizing the Symptoms of the Flu

The symptoms of the flu can vary somewhat, but generally include sudden high fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, sore throat, and nasal congestion or a runny nose. In severe cases, complications like pneumonia, shortness of breath, cardiac problems, and brain inflammation can develop, often requiring hospitalization and potentially resulting in death.

How can you get an official flu diagnosis? “There are a number of different tests, similar to the methods used for SARS-CoV2 (antigen detection, rapid PCR, etc.) that can be done in a clinic setting (doctor’s office, urgent care, or the ER),” explains Dr. Hassig. “But many clinicians will make a determination of influenza on the basis of patient symptoms only (perhaps after doing a test for SARS-CoV2), especially when we are in flu season.”

The Typical Duration of Flu Symptoms

For most adults and teens, the flu lasts for five to seven days, says Natasha Bhuyan, MD, an infectious disease specialist and family physician in Phoenix, Arizona. In children, flu symptoms like cough and fatigue can last up to two weeks.

One thing that can help shorten the flu’s duration if you do get it is the flu shot. While it can’t completely protect you from the flu, it greatly reduces your chances of getting the virus and makes the experience less severe if you do contract it. This is especially important for pregnant women and seniors, as the flu symptoms can last longer and be more dangerous for these high-risk groups.

How Long Are You Contagious with the Flu?

Most people with the flu are contagious even before they show symptoms—for about a day or so, in fact, says Dr. Bhuyan. Teenagers and adults are the most contagious around three to four days into their illness, but can continue to be contagious for about a week after symptoms appear. Infants and older adults (with weaker immune systems) can be contagious even beyond a week after they show symptoms.

These periods when you’re contagious without appearing sick are what make the flu so easy to spread. That’s why getting a flu shot and staying home when you’re feeling sick, even at the first sign of symptoms, is so important to prevent passing the virus on to others.

Preventing the Spread of the Flu

The number one thing you can do to prevent the spread of the flu is to stay home and isolate yourself from others when you’re feeling sick (even in the beginning, when you’re just a little under the weather but suspect you might be getting sick). Take that time to rest up and recover.

In addition to getting the flu shot, other preventive measures include washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, and practicing good cough and sneeze etiquette by covering your mouth and nose.

Seeking Medical Attention for the Flu

While the flu is usually not life-threatening for healthy individuals, it’s important to seek medical attention if you experience severe symptoms or are in a high-risk group. Seek immediate medical care if you experience difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, sudden dizziness, or confusion.

Remember, the flu can be a serious illness, so it’s important to take it seriously and take steps to prevent the spread of the virus. By understanding the typical duration of flu symptoms and how to recognize when to seek medical care, you can better protect yourself and your loved ones this flu season.

Key Takeaways

• This year’s flu season is shaping up to be particularly severe, with higher case numbers and an earlier start than in over a decade.
• Flu symptoms can include sudden high fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, sore throat, and nasal congestion. Severe cases can lead to complications like pneumonia, shortness of breath, and brain inflammation.
• For most adults and teens, the flu lasts for five to seven days, while in children, symptoms can last up to two weeks.
• People with the flu are contagious even before showing symptoms and can continue to be contagious for about a week after symptoms appear, making the flu easy to spread.
• The best ways to prevent the spread of the flu are to get the flu shot, stay home when sick, wash your hands frequently, and practice good cough and sneeze etiquette.

How Long Does The Flu Last? Flu Symptoms Duration

The colder months are synonymous with flu season. Even though there are several health threats around right now, it’s still important to know the signs and symptoms of the flu so you can get to a doctor if necessary and make sure you don’t give it to others. And if you do come down with the virus, one of the main questions you might have is how long does the flu last?

First, let’s get the timeline straight: Flu season occurs in fall and winter and typically peaks in February and December, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And this year’s flu season is already rearing its head.

“This is shaping up to be a severe flu season,” says Neha Vyas, MD, a family medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic. “There are more positive flu cases this year and also much earlier in the season than what’s been seen in more than a decade.”

So far, there have been at least 880,000 flu illnesses, 6,900 hospitalizations, and 360 deaths from the flu this year alone, the CDC reports. While most people associate the flu with a bad cold and take it to mean they are down and out for a few days, it can actually be life-threatening.

“The flu, before the COVID pandemic, killed between 35,000 and 50,000 persons in the U.S. each year, usually about 200 children and the rest older persons, often with pre-existing conditions,” says Susan E. Hassig, DrPH, MPH, an associate professor within the epidemiology department at Tulane University’s School of Public Health. Pregnant women are also at higher risk for severe flu.

So, when it comes to the flu, you don’t want to mess around. Here’s how to recognize whether you caught the virus, how long the symptoms last, and what you can do to prevent getting sick in the first place.

Meet the experts: Neha Vyas, MD, is a family medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic.

Susan E. Hassig, DrPH, MPH, is an associate professor in the department of epidemiology at Tulane University.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

If you think you have the flu, the symptoms can vary somewhat, says Dr. Hassig. But generally they include sudden high fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, sore throat, and nasal congestion or a runny nose.

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“In severe cases, pneumonia, shortness of breath, cardiac problems, and inflammation of the brain can also develop, and generally require hospitalization and may result in death,” notes Dr. Hassig.

How do you actually get diagnosed with the flu?

If you really want to find out if you have the flu, you may have to get tested for an official diagnosis.

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“There are a number of different tests, similar to the methods used for SARS-CoV2 (antigen detection, rapid PCR, etc. ) that can be done in a clinic setting (doctor’s office, urgent care, or the ER),” explains Dr. Hassig. “But many clinicians will make a determination of influenza on the basis of patient symptoms only (perhaps after doing a test for SARS-CoV2), especially when we are in flu season.”

So, how long do flu symptoms typically last?

For most adults and teens, the flu lasts for five to seven days, says Natasha Bhuyan, MD, an infectious disease specialist and family physician in Phoenix, Arizona. In children, flu symptoms like cough and fatigue can last two weeks.

One thing that can help shorten the flu’s duration is the flu shot.

One thing that can help shorten the flu’s duration if you do get it is the flu shot. It can’t completely protect you from the flu, but it greatly reduces your chances of getting the virus, and makes the whole experience less miz if you do. It’s especially important for pregnant women and seniors to get the flu shot since the symptoms can last longer and be more dangerous for them (more on that below).

How long are you contagious when you have the flu?

Most people with the flu are contagious even before they show symptoms—for about a day or so, in fact, says Dr. Bhuyan. Teenagers and adults are the most contagious around three to four days into their illness, but can continue to be contagious for about a week after symptoms appear. Infants and older adults (with weaker immune systems) can be contagious even beyond a week after they show symptoms. These periods when you’re contagious without appearing sick are what make the flu so easy to spread (again, this is why getting a flu shot is so important!).

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The number one thing you can do to prevent the spread of the flu is to stay home and isolate yourself from others when you’re feeling sick (even in the beginning, when you’re just a little under the weather but suspect you might be getting sick). Take that time to stay in and rest up as much as you can.

What can make the flu worse or more dangerous?

The flu might not seem like a big deal to you, but it certainly can be for others. Flu symptoms can be more dangerous in certain populations, such as people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, children under the age of 5, people in long-term care facilities, seniors, or those with underlying lung issues, like asthma.

If you’re pregnant, flu symptoms are more likely to be severe because of changes that occur in a woman’s immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy. This makes pregnant women (and women up to two weeks postpartum) more prone to serious complications that can result in hospitalization, according to the CDC.

The flu may also be harmful for a developing baby, as having a fever while you’re pregnant can be associated with neural tube defects and other serious complications, per March of Dimes. This is why it’s especially important to get your flu shot if you’re pregnant, as it will also protect your baby from the flu after birth, since you’ll pass your antibodies onto them during pregnancy (very cool!).

People over 65 are also at higher risk of serious complications from the flu, since the strength of your immune system decreases as you get older, according to the CDC. In fact, the CDC estimates that between 70 to 85 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths have occurred in people 65 years and older, and between 50 and 70 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations have occurred among older adults.

Again, staying home and resting is key when you have the flu. Trying to push through your symptoms will only make you more fatigued and it will take longer for you to recover. Hydration is also particularly important, and if you exercise too much during the flu, this could be dehydrating, says Dr. Bhuyan.

“Anything that adds additional strain to your body can potentially delay your recovery from the flu. This includes things like not getting enough sleep, not staying hydrated, pushing yourself to continue to work, or even strenuous exercise,” she says. “That being said, people have different severities of the flu and if someone has a mild case, it’s okay for them to do light exercise in their home, away from others, while ensuring they are taking good care of the rest of their health as they recover.”

How can you get over the flu more quickly?

First of all, give your immune system all the support you can. “To ensure your immune system is functioning at its best, be sure to stay hydrated, get plenty of sleep, and eat mostly natural plant-based foods,” says Dr. Bhuyan.

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There are many over-the-counter products that can provide symptom relief while you have the flu, like fever-reducing medication. There is also a prescription anti-viral medication that can shorten the duration of the flu and might be appropriate for certain people—just ask your doc if it’s right for you, says Dr. Bhuyan.

How can you protect yourself from the flu?

The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu shot, says Dr. Bhuyan. Anyone older than six months can get it. You should also wash your hands frequently with soap and water. If you cough or sneeze, use a tissue and immediately throw it away. Avoiding sharing foods, cups, or utensils with anyone as well.

“If you have flu-like symptoms, avoid going to work or school. The same things that prevent the spread of COVID can also reduce the risk of flu transmission, such as masks and social distancing,” says Dr. Bhuyan.

When should you see a doctor if you think you have the flu?

In prior years, many people with mild flu symptoms were able to recover at home without much intervention, says Dr. Bhuyan. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important from a public health perspective to understand if you have the flu or COVID-19, as management options may be different. “During COVID-19, anyone with flu-like symptoms should reach out to their family physician virtually to discuss if they should get any diagnostic testing for the flu or COVID,” says Dr. Bhuyan.

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“Most family physicians have virtual care options and they can advise any diagnostic testing or management,” she explains. “Your family physician can also provide you with guidance on how long to quarantine or isolate and when you can return to work or school.”

Emilia Benton

Contributing Writer

Emilia Benton is a Houston-based freelance writer and editor. In addition to Runner’s World, she has contributed health, fitness and wellness content to Women’s Health, SELF, Prevention, Healthline, and the Houston Chronicle, among other publications. She is also an 11-time marathoner, a USATF Level 1-certified running coach, and an avid traveler.

Emily Shiffer

Emily Shiffer is a freelance health and wellness writer living in Pennsylvania.  

Flu Facts (for Teens) – Nemours KidsHealth

What Is the Flu?

Flu is the common name for influenza. It’s caused by a virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs.

Often, when you’re sick with a virus, your body builds a defense system by making antibodies against it. That means you usually don’t get that particular type of virus again. Unfortunately, flu viruses mutate (change) each year. So getting sick once doesn’t protect you from the flu forever.

Some years, the change in the flu virus is slight. So if you do get the flu, it’s mild. The antibodies from having the flu before give you some protection. But other years, the flu virus goes through a major change and many people get very sick.

When Is Flu Season?

Flu viruses usually cause the most illness during the colder months of the year. In the United States, flu season is from October to May. Kids get the flu most often. But people in every age group can catch it.

How Does the Flu Spread?

The flu virus spreads through the air when a person who has the virus sneezes, coughs, or speaks. The flu can sometimes spread through objects that someone with the virus touched, sneezed, or coughed on. When a healthy person touches these contaminated items and then touches their mouth or nose, the virus can enter their body.

People carrying the virus can be contagious from the day before their symptoms start until about a week later. So it’s possible to spread the flu before you know you’re sick.

Viruses like the flu virus can spread easily in schools. Then, students can bring the virus home to family members and people around them, spreading the illness in their communities.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of the Flu?

Flu symptoms start about 2 days after a person was exposed to the virus. The main symptoms are:

• headache
• sore throat
• a high fever that comes on suddenly
• chills
• muscle aches
• stuffy nose
• dry cough
• feeling very tired or weak
• loss of appetite

The fever and aches usually stop in a few days. But the sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, and tiredness may go on for a week or more.

The flu also can cause vomiting, belly pain, and diarrhea. But if you have only vomiting and diarrhea without the other flu symptoms, you probably have gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis, often called the “stomach flu,” isn’t the same as influenza. It’s usually caused by common viruses that we come into contact with every day.

How Is the Flu Diagnosed?

Based on your symptoms and how you look, your doctor usually can tell if you have the flu. Most people who have it look ill and miserable.

Other infections can cause symptoms similar to the flu. So if a doctor needs to be sure that someone has the flu, they might do a test. They’ll take a sample of mucus by wiping a long cotton swab inside the nose or throat. Results might be ready quickly, or can take longer if the test is sent to a lab.

You may feel miserable if you get the flu, but it’s unlikely to be serious. It’s rare that healthy teens get other problems from the flu. Older adults (over age 65), young kids (under age 5), and people with ongoing medical conditions are more likely to become seriously ill with the flu.

What Should I Do if I Have the Flu?

If you get the flu, the best way to take care of yourself is to rest in bed and drink lots of liquids like water and other non-caffeinated drinks. Stay home from school until you feel better and your temperature has returned to normal.

Most people get better on their own after the virus runs its course. But call your doctor if you have the flu and:

• You’re getting worse instead of better.
• You have trouble breathing.
• You have a medical condition (such as diabetes, heart problems, asthma, or other lung problems).

Most teens can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help with fever and aches. Don’t take aspirin or any products that contain aspirin, though. If kids and teens take aspirin while they have the flu, it puts them at risk for Reye syndrome , which is rare but can be serious.

Antibiotics don’t work on viruses, so they won’t help someone with the flu get better. Sometimes doctors can prescribe an antiviral medicine to cut down how long a person is ill from the flu. These medicines are effective only against some types of flu virus and work best when taken within 48 hours of when symptoms start. Doctors usually use this medicine for people who are very young, elderly, or at risk for serious problems, like people with asthma.

Can the Flu Be Prevented?

There’s no guaranteed way to avoid the flu. But getting the flu vaccine can help. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get it every year.

Flu vaccines are available as a shot or as a nasal spray. Both work equally well. This flu season (2022–2023), get the vaccine your doctor recommends. People with weak immune systems or some health conditions (such as asthma) and pregnant women should not get the nasal spray vaccine.

What else can you do? Wash your hands well and often. Avoid sharing cups, utensils, or towels with others. If you do catch the flu, use tissues whenever you sneeze or cough to avoid spreading the virus.

If you do get the flu this season, take care of yourself and call your doctor with any questions or concerns. When you’re feeling bad, remember that the flu usually lasts a week or less and you’ll be back to normal before too long.

Why the flu is dangerous and how to get out of the epidemic with the least losses – Into-Sana

Unfortunately, the situation repeats itself year after year: in the cold season, society is faced with an influenza epidemic. During this period, many people around us “fall down” for several days or weeks with a high temperature. In institutions, an anti-epidemic regime is being introduced, and schools often go on forced vacations.

What do you need to know about the flu in order not to get sick, or at least to avoid complications?

How you get the flu

• Influenza is an acute viral infectious disease.
• The source of the disease is a sick person.
• Transmission route – airborne, i.e. through the air in an enclosed space.
• You can get infected through household items.
• The incubation period (the time from infection to the onset of symptoms) for influenza ranges from several hours to several days.
• Hypothermia is not the cause of the flu.

The course of the disease

• The main symptoms of influenza are a rapid onset, high fever and signs of intoxication (chills, weakness, aching muscles, headaches), runny nose, cough, watery eyes. Most often, the fever lasts 4-5 days.

Main dangers

• Influenza is dangerous primarily for its complications, which can be associated with both the virus itself and the attached bacterial infection.
• Influenza contributes to the exacerbation of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular and endocrine.
• The risk group for the development of severe forms and complications includes children, the elderly, patients with chronic diseases.
• In severe and complicated forms, treatment in a hospital is necessary, because. possible damage to the nervous system and other vital organs. You should be alerted if the temperature is above 40 ° C or fever for more than 5 days, vomiting with blood, nosebleeds, fainting, convulsions, chest pain. The most severe complications of influenza are pneumonia, infectious-toxic shock, acute respiratory failure, meningoencephalitis. Damage to the ENT organs, heart muscle, and kidneys is also possible. A number of complications may appear days or weeks after “recovery”. Be attentive to yourself.
• Fatigue, weakness, headache, irritability, insomnia, etc. can often persist for 2–3 weeks after influenza.

What to do if you get sick

• In order to minimize the likelihood of complications, you should go to bed at the first signs of illness.
• Be sure to drink plenty of water (at least 2-3 liters per day).
• Symptomatic treatment: antipyretic at high temperature, vasoconstrictor drops at runny nose. Expectorants as needed. Vitamin C has a positive effect.
• Talk to your doctor before using specific antivirals.
• Indications for hospital treatment are: the presence of severe comorbidities, respiratory and cardiovascular failure, prolonged or high fever, impaired consciousness, vomiting, convulsions, bleeding.
• Patients with chronic diseases (eg, diabetes) often have to increase the doses of their specific treatment due to influenza.
• A special category of patients are pregnant women. On the one hand, fever and a viral infection in themselves can cause a violation of the development of the child, and on the other hand, not all drugs can be used during pregnancy. Therefore, if a pregnant woman is ill with the flu, she should immediately be hospitalized in a specialized department.

Flu Prevention

• Avoid crowded areas during the epidemic.
• Use gauze masks when in contact with sick people.
• Ventilate the room regularly.
• Moist clean.
• Wash your hands regularly.
• Include enough vitamins, trace elements and protein in your diet.
• Vaccination should be carried out a few weeks before the start of the epidemic.

Be attentive to yourself and your loved ones, take simple preventive measures, do not self-medicate, and the flu will not become a serious problem in your life.

Elena Burakova, Into-Sana endocrinologist

Caution influenza

900 03

REMINDER FOR THE POPULATION

FLU AND SARS PREVENTION

What is influenza ?

Influenza is a severe viral infection that affects men, women and children of all ages and nationalities. Influenza epidemics happen every year, usually during the cold season. Influenza and ARVI rank first in the number of cases in the world, the share in the structure of infectious diseases reaches 95%.

Influenza and SARS, gradually undermining health, reduce the average life expectancy of a person by several years. In severe cases of influenza, irreversible damage to the cardiovascular system, respiratory organs, and central nervous system often occurs, provoking heart and vascular diseases, pneumonia, tracheobronchitis, and meningoencephalitis. Common complications after influenza are rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis, exacerbation of chronic diseases, bacterial superinfection. A bacterial infection (pneumococcal, hemophilic, staphylococcal) is often introduced into an organism weakened by influenza. Influenza collects the greatest victims among the elderly population groups suffering from chronic diseases. Death from influenza can occur from intoxication, cerebral hemorrhages, pulmonary complications (pneumonia), heart or cardiopulmonary failure.

What is SARS? How is it different from the flu?

The term “acute respiratory disease” (ARI) or “acute respiratory viral infection” (ARVI) covers a large number of diseases that are very similar to each other. Their main similarity is that they are all caused by viruses that enter the body along with inhaled air through the mouth and nasopharynx, and also that they are all characterized by the same set of symptoms. The patient has a few days of fever, sore throat, cough and headache. The most common symptom of respiratory disease is a runny nose; it is caused by a number of related viruses known as rhinoviruses. With recovery, all these symptoms disappear and do not leave behind any traces.

The influenza virus is very easily transmitted. The most common route of transmission of infection is airborne. It is also possible and household way of transmission, for example through household items. When coughing, sneezing, talking, particles of saliva, mucus, sputum with pathogenic microflora, including influenza viruses, are ejected from the nasopharynx of a patient or a virus carrier. An infected zone is formed around the patient with a maximum concentration of aerosol particles. The range of their scattering usually does not exceed 2 – 3 m.

Flu symptoms.

Influenza usually starts acutely. The incubation (hidden) period usually lasts 2-5 days. Then the period of acute clinical manifestations begins. The severity of the disease depends on the general state of health, age, whether the patient has previously been in contact with this type of virus. Depending on this, the patient may develop one of four forms of influenza: mild, moderate, severe, hypertoxic.

Prevention of influenza and SARS is subdivided into non-specific and specific.

Methods of non-specific prophylaxis:
1. Personal hygiene.
In other words, many diseases are associated with unwashed hands. The source, as before, is a sick person. Avoid shaking hands during this period. After contact with door handles, toilets, handrails in public places, treat hands with an antiseptic or wash them thoroughly. Do not touch your nose, eyes, mouth with dirty, unwashed hands.
2. Rinse the nose.

Even if you don’t know how to do it, it’s time to learn. Now many doctors advise moisturizing or rinsing the nose during epidemics. This can be done with a saline solution (1 teaspoon of salt per liter of water) or special salt sprays, of which there are many in pharmacies.

3. Putting on masks .

Moreover, it is worth putting it on a sick person in order to prevent large particles of saliva from entering the space when coughing and sneezing, but it does not retain small particles.

4. Thorough cleaning of premises . The virus loves warm and dusty rooms, so you should take the time to wet cleaning and airing.

5. Avoid crowds . During this period, it is better to refrain from going to theaters, circuses, cafes and other places where infected people may be and where the chance of catching the virus is high.

6. Other methods , which include a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, exercise, walking and more.

The World Health Organization considers vaccination to be the only socially and economically feasible way to fight influenza. Vaccination reduces morbidity by 90% and hospitalization by 60%.

The main method of specific prophylaxis against influenza is active immunization – vaccination, when a particle of an infectious agent is introduced into the body. The viruses (its parts) contained in the vaccine stimulate the body to produce antibodies (they begin to be produced on average after two weeks), which prevent the reproduction of viruses and infection of the body.

It is best to vaccinate in the fall, as influenza epidemics usually occur between November and March.

In the pre-epidemic season 2015-2016 in the Arkhangelsk region, it is planned to vaccinate 315,000 people, including 90,000 children. Currently, the vaccine has arrived in the medical and preventive organizations of the region.

Influenza vaccination can be done in the vaccination office at the local clinic – free of charge!

Press service of Rospotrebnadzor

in the Arkhangelsk region

Memo for the population on the prevention of influenza
A (h2N1)2009

HOW TO PROTECT FROM FLU A (h2) N1) 2009

The so-called “swine flu” » ( Influenza A(h2N1) 2009) is a human disease. Influenza A (h2N1) virus is easily transmitted from person to person and causes respiratory diseases of varying severity. The symptoms of the disease are similar to those of a regular (seasonal) flu. The severity of the disease depends on a number of factors, including the general condition of the body and age. Predisposed to the disease: the elderly, young children, pregnant women and people suffering from chronic diseases (asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease), and with a weakened immune system. How to protect yourself from the flu?

RULE 1: WASH

Hand hygiene is an important step in preventing the spread of the flu. Washing with soap removes and destroys germs. If it is not possible to wash your hands with soap and water, use alcohol-containing or disinfectant wipes.

Cleaning and regular disinfection of surfaces (tables, doorknobs, chairs, etc.) removes and destroys the virus.

RULE 2: KEEP DISTANCE AND Etiquette

Avoid close contact with sick people. Maintain a distance of at least 1 meter from patients. Avoid travel and crowded places. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Influenza virus spreads in these ways. Don’t spit in public places. Wear a mask or use other available protective equipment to reduce the risk of getting sick.

The virus is easily transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person by airborne droplets (when sneezing, coughing), so it is necessary to keep a distance of at least 1 meter from sick people. When coughing, sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues, which should be thrown away after use. By avoiding unnecessary visits to crowded places, we reduce the risk of disease.

RULE 3. LIVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Maintain a healthy lifestyle, including proper sleep, intake of foods rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals, and physical activity.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF FLU A (h2N1) 2009?

The most common symptoms of influenza A(H1N1)2009:

• high body temperature (97%),

• cough (94%),

• runny nose (59%) ,

• sore throat (50%),

• headache (47%),

• rapid breathing (41%),

• muscle pain (35%),

9000 2 • Conjunctivitis (9%).

In some cases, symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders were observed (which are not characteristic of seasonal influenza) : nausea, vomiting (18%), diarrhea (12%).

Complications of influenza A(H1N1)2009:

A characteristic feature is the early occurrence of complications. If seasonal flu complications occur, as a rule, on the 5-7th day and later, then with influenza A (H1N1) 2009already on the 2-3rd day of illness.

The leading complication is primary viral pneumonia . Viral pneumonia worsens rapidly, and many patients develop respiratory failure within 24 hours, requiring immediate respiratory support with mechanical ventilation. Promptly started treatment helps to alleviate the severity of the disease.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE ILL?

Stay at home and seek immediate medical attention. Follow your doctor’s orders, stay in bed, and drink plenty of fluids. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. Wash your hands with soap as often as possible.

WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY IS ILL WITH FLU?

Give the patient a separate room in the house.