OR influenza It is an acute respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses and is easily transmitted from one person to another.
Influenza can cause mild to very serious illness. Most healthy people go beyond the flu without having complications,
However, some people who belong to high -risk groups are at greater risk for serious influenza complications.
In Greece, seasonal influenza outbreaks occur during the winter months (from October to April).
Monitoring of the disease has shown that influenza activity usually begins to increase in January, and culminates in February – March.
The best and safest available means of prevention for the disease is vaccination against seasonal influenza.
Vaccination must be performed each year during the period October-November. However, one can be vaccinated later, if it belongs to vulnerable groups and for some reason it was not vaccinated in a timely manner. It takes about two weeks of vaccination so that your body can create protective antibodies for the flu.
Because influenza virus may be in mutations, vaccination is necessary to repeat each year with emphasis on specific groups of increased risk for vaccination, according to the Ministry of Health’s circular.
But let’s look at some frequently questions and answers that EDY provides for better protection of citizens.
What is the flu?
Influenza is an acute disease of the respiratory system caused by influenza viruses. There are three types of influenza viruses, A, B and C. Type A or B viruses are the main causes of influenza in humans, while cases of C -type influenza are very rare.
Influenza viruses affect the upper and/or lower part of the respiratory system (nose, pharynx, larynx, bronchi). In everyday language, the term “flu” is often used as a synonym of “colds” or “healing” but, in the strict medical sense of the term, “flu” is the disease due to the above specific viruses.
How is the flu transmitted?
Influenza is transmitted from one person to another when a patient coughs, sneezes or speaks and disperses the viruses into the air in the form of very small, invisible droplets. The influenza viruses are also transmitted through the hands when one touches objects and surfaces that are infected and then grasps his eyes, nose or mouth.
Factors such as cold weather and synchronization (concentration of many people in indoors) increase influenza transmission. To avoid the transmission, you should cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and wash your hands regularly.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
The symptoms of influenza usually start abruptly and include high fever, muscle and joint pain, headache, severe fatigue, runny nose, sore throat, cough (usually dry).
Children may have symptoms of gastrointestinal tract, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, while in adults these symptoms are rare.
How long do the flu symptoms last usually?
Symptoms begin 1-4 days after the virus infestation and last 2-7 days, but the cough can insist for a long time.
What are the complications of the flu?
Some of the complications are pneumonia from the influenza virus itself or by germs, mainly from pneumococcus, dehydration, asthma attacks in people with bronchial asthma, exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, deterioration of heart failure.
Children may also have sinusitis and otitis.
Which people belong to high -risk groups?
Influenza virus can infect all age groups. However, the highest risk for severe disease and complications are specifically:
1. People aged 60 and older
2. Children> 6 months and adults presenting one or more of the following aggravating factors or chronic diseases:
- Asthma or other chronic pulmonary diseases
- Heart disease with severe hemodynamic disorders
- Immunosuppression (hereditary or acquired by a disease or treatment).
- Organ transplant
- Sickle cell disease (and other hemoglobinopathies)
- Diabetes mellitus or other chronic metabolic disease
- Chronic nephropathy
- Neuromuscular or neurological diseases
3. Pregnant Women of Independent Pregnancy Age
4.
5. Breastfeeding
6. People with body mass index (BMI)> 40 <§^
7. Children taking aspirin long -term (eg Kawasaki disease, rheumatoid arthritis and others), for the potential risk of reye syndrome after flu
8. People who are in close contact with children <6 months of age or take care of people with underlying disease, who are at increased risk
9. Closed populations (staff and domestic students of schools, military and police schools, special schools or schools, food and institutions, recruits in the Armed Forces, etc.). Army in the ranking centers and especially those who are ranked during the winter months (October-March).
10. Employees in Health Services Provisions (Named Staff and Other Employees)
11. Professionals, such as veterinarians, poultry farmers, pigs, slaughterers and generally people who come into systematic contact with poultry.
If you belong to any of the above high -risk groups, you should consult your doctor as soon as you experience flu symptoms.
Are there other respiratory viruses circulating during the influenza era?
Other viruses are circulating during the influenza era that affect the respiratory and causing similar symptoms to those of influenza.
These viruses include rhinoviruses, which are the main cause of common colds, and respiratory sync, which is the most common cause of severe respiratory disease in children and one of the main causes of severe disease or death in older people.
Other viruses that can also cause a clinical picture similar to that of influenza are the adenoviruses and viruses of the beach.
What is the flu from the common cold?
The common cold is caused by viruses different from the influenza viruses. Its symptoms are usually lighter, limited to upper respiratory (runny nose, sneezing, sore throat), lasting less, and complications rarely occur.
On the contrary, influenza can cause serious disease and complications that can sometimes be fatal for some individuals, e.g. People with chronic diseases.
How can I stand out if I have a flu or a common cold?
Many times a severe cold and a moderate influenza gravity can occur with the same clinical picture.
Below are the “classic” differences between the common cold and the flu – although these symptoms do not always appear.
Fever
Common cold: rarely in adults and older children. However, it can be high (up to 39 ° C) in infants and young children.
Influenza: Usually high fever, from 38.5 ° C to 40 ° C, which usually lasts 3-4 days.
Headache
Common Cold: There is rarely.
Influenza: sharp start. Can be intense.
Muscle aches
Common Cold: Moderate gravity.
Influenza: Usually intense.
Fatigue
Common Cold: Moderate gravity.
Influenza: Often intense. Can take two or more weeks.
Exhaustion
Common Cold: No.
Influenza: Sudden start. Can be very intense.
Catarrh
Common cold: often.
Influenza: Sometimes.
Sneezing
Common cold: often.
Influenza: Sometimes.
Sore throat
Common cold: often.
Influenza: Sometimes.
Cough
Common cold: Moderate gravity paroxysmal cough.
Influenza: Usually severe cough.
How do I know that I have got the flu?
You may have influenza if you have a sudden fever, symptoms of respiratory (runny nose, cough), severe muscle aches, and this is the case during the winter months, mainly from December to March. Of course, you may have flu any other time of year, but this is rare.
What should you do if you get sick
Keeping basic hygiene rules is a fairly effective way to protect ourselves and those around us from the flu. That’s why:
Avoid close contact with other people.
Avoid coming into contact with people who are sick.
Keep distance from others when you are sick to protect them and not get sick.
Stay at home when you are sick. When you are sick, avoid, if this is possible, go to work, school, family or social gatherings, in crowded places and circulate by public transport. This will help you do not get sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you cough or sneeze. In this way you protect those who are around you and significantly reduces the likelihood of they too.
Frequently wash your hands. Frequent hand washing significantly reduces virus dispersion. This way you protect yourself and those around you.
Avoid grasping your eyes, nose or mouth. Influenza viruses are often transmitted when one touches objects and surfaces that are infected and then grasps his eyes, nose or mouth.