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What is it about ?
The flu is caused by a virus that spreads through the air and through direct contact with infected people (cough, sneezing, shaking / holding hands, etc.). After contamination, it takes 1 to 7 days before symptoms appear.
When, where, and how often?
The flu usually occurs during winter and early spring, with a peak around January and February. Every winter, on average 1 in 10 people get the flu. The flu can be more or less serious. In some, the flu looks like a common cold, while others will develop a severe infection that can have fatal consequences. Hundreds of people still die from the flu each year. These are usually people with lower resistance, such as the elderly and those with chronic illness.
How to recognize it?
The flu comes on suddenly and usually lasts 3 to 8 days. It is characterized by a fever of over 38 ° C, muscle pain, headache, chills, a general feeling of weakness, sweating and severe fatigue. A cough dry, sore throat, aversion to bright light and joint pain can also occur. Nasal symptoms are rarely seen in adults at the initial stage.
The most common complications are respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia. Pneumonia can be caused by the virus itself or by bacteria. The most common complication in children is an ear infection (acute otitis media). Inflammation of the myocardium (muscle of the heart) and the nervous system (meningitis, encephalitis) are rare consequences.
In children, it is often difficult to distinguish the flu from a common cold.
How is the diagnosis made?
Your doctor will ask you questions and examine you carefully. Auscultation of the lungs is important to identify a pneumonia. In children, the ears are also examined to rule out any ear infections (acute otitis media). This information is usually sufficient to make the diagnosis.
A smear of the nose and throat is done in some situations and a electrocardiogram (ECG) can be done in case of heart problems. In this case, electrodes are placed on the body to measure the electrical activity of the heart.
What can you do ?
If you are in a risk group, it is recommended that you get your flu shot every year between mid-October and mid-November. This is an important precaution as new variants of the influenza virus emerge every year. If you are part of a risk group, the vaccine will be partially reimbursed. Some mutual funds and some employers even provide for additional reimbursement. Vaccination is usually done by injection into the muscle of the shoulder. Check with your doctor if you are in a risk group.
The flu shot is strongly recommended for:
- people over 65;
- people suffering from one of the following chronic diseases: heart, lung (including cystic fibrosis), liver or kidney disease, diabetes, nervous system disorders, abnormalities of red blood cells (hemoglobinopathy);
- people with weakened resistance (for example, people infected with HIV)
- people working in the health sector, in particular those who come into direct contact with people at increased risk of complications (nursing home staff, doctors, etc.);
- the pregnant women ;
- people living in an institution;
- people living under the same roof as the people at risk mentioned above or caring for babies under 6 months old.
Remember that you are contagious one to two days before you get sick and up to a week after the onset of the disease. Even if you are not vaccinated, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of catching the flu and passing it on to someone else:
- wash your hands well,
- use a mask,
- put your arm or a tissue in front of your mouth when you cough or sneeze,
- use handkerchiefs only once,
- regularly clean hard surfaces, door handles and kitchen appliances with ordinary cleaning products,
- consult a doctor in case of severe symptoms.
What can your doctor do?
Your doctor will place particular emphasis on prevention and will encourage people in risk groups to get vaccinated. The usual treatment for influenza is paracetamol and rest. Anti-inflammatory drugs can also be used. Aspirin is not recommended for children and adolescents. Antibiotics are of no use because the flu is caused by a virus and antibiotics only kill bacteria. However, they can be useful if a bacterial infection is added to the flu. There is an influenza virus medicine on the market. Its usefulness is still unclear. Your doctor will need to carefully consider the pros and cons of its use on a case-by-case basis.
Want to know more?
- Vaccination against influenza – AVIQ – Agency for a Quality Life
- Flu: vaccine, the real one, the false one – mongeneraliste.be – SSMG – Scientific Society of General Medicine
- Flu – Vaccination-Info.be
- For the vaccine, I hesitate … Is it serious doctor? – Health question
- Paracetamol – CBIP – Belgian Center for Pharmacotherapeutic Information
- Antibiotics do not act against all diseases – BAPCOC – Belgian Commission for the coordination of antibiotic policy
Sources
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