As the days start to get colder and darker, the annual flu season also starts to gain momentum. Flu season in Canada starts in November and continues until approximately March, with significant peaks in December and late January/early February. While flu season coincides with the winter season that is commonly associated with increases in the common cold, it is important to remember that the two are not the same and that the flu is typically more severe and can be life threatening. Fortunately, there are an assortment of ways that everyone can try to keep themselves and others safe from catching the flu.
What is the flu, and why does it make people so sick?
The flu, also known as influenza, is a virus that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. Viruses are tiny organisms that can replicate inside the cells of the host quickly. The flu virus spreads by droplets made when an infected individual sneezes, coughs or talks. You can become infected by the virus by direct contact or by touching your nose, mouth and/or eyes after touching an object that was infected by a droplet (ie. a door knob, toy)
The human body is well equipped to eliminate viruses before they affect the individual. People will notice cold symptoms or “feel sick” when the immune system is fighting off a threat. While symptoms like congestion or fever are unpleasant, they are key elements in how the body protects itself. The human immune system stores the information about the virus that it just eliminated so that the next time the same virus enters the body, it can be eliminated quickly, possibly without developing symptoms.
Different viruses can affect different parts of the body. The flu virus symptoms generally include sudden onset of:
- High fever (above 39ºC) that can last 3-4 days
- Cough
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Chills
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Runny or congested nose
- Some may experience nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea
These symptoms show typically 1-4 days after infection and most recover from the flu within 7-10 days. Common cold symptoms are generally milder than the flu, with a more gradual onset, and do not last as long.
Anyone can be exposed to influenza virus but some individuals can be more at risk of complications like pneumonia or being hospitalized. These include individuals with chronic health conditions like cancer, diabetes, heart disease and lung disease, those in long term care facilities, seniors, pregnant women and indigenous people.
Immediate medical care is encouraged if any of the following symptoms develop:
- Shortness of breath
- Fast or difficult breathing
- Chest pain
- Blue or greyish skin
- Bloody mucus or saliva
- Sudden dizziness or confusion
- Severe, ongoing vomiting
- A fever above 39ºC for more than 3 days
- Decreased blood pressure
Flu Prevention
Vaccines are a safe way to help the immune system fight off illness. By providing a harmless version of the virus, the body can develop its own defences to the threat without getting sick. You cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine.
The flu virus poses a problem to the human immune system and medical professionals because it changes and mutates quite quickly over one year, meaning that the virus faced in one flu season is very different from the ones faced before or in subsequent seasons. The body will not have any natural defences to match the new flu virus each year and because the immune response from the vaccine declines over time, an annual flu vaccine becomes very important defense against the spread of the flu virus. Every year, medical professionals and scientists work to predict what the new strain of the flu will be in each flu season. Data is collected from the past season of illness and the flu season in the southern hemisphere that occurs in the months of June through September. This data is then used to predict the strains of influenza for the coming season and used to decide which viruses to include in the influenza vaccine. These predictions are then used to create the best vaccine possible to protect people against the threats of a new flu season. The predictive nature of the vaccine is not always 100 percent correct but the vaccine will still allow for some protection from the flu that would not have been possible without the flu shot.
Some people may choose to forgo the flu vaccine for convenience, gambling that they will not get ill, or that if they do catch the flu that it won’t be that bad. Unfortunately, even if a healthy adult can handle the flu virus by themselves without complications, they still pose a serious risk of infecting someone close to them, that may not fight off the virus so easily. Flu vaccines can reduce flu illnesses, doctor’s visits and missed school and work.
The first line of defence to avoid catching the flu is getting a flu shot. This is a quick process that can be performed at Medicentres locations visit our online wait timer here, as well as most clinics and an assortment of community organizations or even schools and workplaces. Anyone as young as 6 months of age is eligible for a flu shot. It takes about two weeks after the vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body to provide protection and so is recommended to get the vaccination early in the season.
What if you catch the flu?
The best defence if flu symptoms occur is to stay home and rest. Drinking lots of fluids and taking over the counter medications such as tylenol or advil for pain and fever can help to manage symptoms. To keep others safe from the flu virus, it is important that people cough and sneeze into the bend of their arm instead of their hand. Additionally, people should avoid touching their nose, mouth or eyes, and are strongly recommended to frequently wash their hands thoroughly with soap, as well as cleaning surfaces such as door knobs, laptop computers, or other frequently touched objects.
Finally, it is heavily advised that if someone falls ill that they stay at home to rest and recover. Continuing to work or attend school with the flu is a huge risk to everyone sharing that indoor space, as well as likely prolonging the duration of the illness.
References:
- World Health Organization. WHO Public Health Research Agenda For Influenza Version 1, 2009. Geneva: WHO Press, Web. 2010 (http://www.who.int/influenza/resources/research/2010_04_29_global_influenza_research_agenda_version_01_en.pdf )
- Public Health Agency of Canada. Is It a Cold or Is It Flu?. n.p. Canada: PHAC, Web. 2016 (https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/publications/diseases-conditions/is-it-cold-or-flu/pub-eng.pdf )
- “Influenza Immunization: Stay Healthy” albertahealthservices.ca. Alberta Health Services, 2017. Web. ( http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/influenza/influenza.aspx )
- “Prevention of Flu (Influenza)” canada.ca. Government of Canada (Department of Health), 2015. Web. (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/flu-influenza.html )