How Many Times Can You Get the Flu in a Year
Each twelvemonth, thousands of Americans come down with the flu. For most people, having the flu is an unpleasant experience, but overall it's not too harmful. However, the flu can exist dangerous for those with underlying health conditions — and some of the myths surrounding a bout with influenza can do much more harm than good, likewise.
That's why it's useful to take an understanding of what the flu is, how to best protect yourself from information technology each yr and which usually held beliefs are actually misconceptions that nosotros all need to unlearn. It's time to dispel some of the most common myths about the flu to gear up the record straight.
Contrary to what many people believe, you lot cannot go the flu from getting a flu shot. The viral material used to create influenza vaccinations is either completely inactive or weakened and so information technology's incapable of causing infection. Furthermore, the vaccines are put through a series of rigorous tests earlier medical professionals are allowed to administrate them to people. In that location are some potential side effects from getting a flu shot, such every bit hurting at the site of injection and, rarely, a balmy fever. However, the influenza shot is considered very safety and is effective in protecting you lot from seasonal influenza.
2. Yous need antibiotics to get rid of the flu.
Antibiotics are only effective for fighting bacterial infections. They won't help to treat the flu because the flu is caused by a virus, non bacteria. Your dr. might recommend antiviral medications, which are created to treat viruses, for the treatment of influenza. In rare cases, vulnerable people may go infected with a bacterial infection at the aforementioned time that they take the flu. This tin brand people feel very unwell and does require treatment with antibiotics.
three. You tin can only get the influenza once each flu season.
In that location are two common types of the influenza virus: type A and blazon B. They both cause people to experience similar symptoms, and information technology'south impossible to tell which strain you have without laboratory testing. Becoming infected with one of the influenza viruses prompts your trunk to produce antibodies, which "remember" the virus and piece of work to make it highly unlikely that you'll go infected once more with the same strain. However, becoming infected with one strain does non provide immunity to the other strain(southward). Therefore, it's possible that yous might become the flu more than one time during a season considering two different strains can crusade separate illnesses.
four. Healthy people don't need to go a flu vaccination.
Anyone can become infected with the flu, and the Centers for Illness Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination for anybody over the historic period of six months, with rare exceptions. It'southward true that if you're healthier yous're also less likely to become unwell from the flu, and you lot're more likely to have a speedy recovery.
However, having the flu withal isn't usually the nigh pleasant experience, and while you're infected it's possible for yous to pass the virus on to people who are more than vulnerable. Therefore, vaccination isn't just beneficial for protecting yourself; it's likewise necessary for protecting your loved ones, coworkers and other members of your community.
5. At that place is no treatment for the flu.
While in that location's no quick "cure" for influenza, there are many treatments that make the symptoms more than bearable. The use of over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can assistance salvage fever symptoms and aches and pains. Staying hydrated and getting plenty of residue tin can help your immune system fight off the virus.
If you get unwell with the flu or are at high risk of developing complications from having the influenza, antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) may be recommended. These drugs aren't available over the counter; your physician must prescribe them. They aid to lessen flu symptoms, particularly if yous accept them within 48 hours of the onset of whatever flu-like symptoms. Although they don't cure the flu, they tin reduce the length of time that you're ill, help you feel better faster and brand y'all less contagious to others.
half dozen. Influenza vaccinations outset to wear off towards the stop of flu flavor.
Flu vaccinations are manufactured to target the flu viruses that are predicted to exist most prevalent each year. Each year's newly formulated flu vaccine is designed to provide lasting protection that persists throughout one entire flu flavour. There's no evidence that the influenza vaccine "wears off" by the stop of the season or is any less effective at preventing infection if y'all go it later in the season. In fact, information technology's advisable to get your flu shot early on on in the season to do good from maximum protection.
seven. The tum flu is the aforementioned thing as the influenza.
"Stomach flu" is the term given to the symptoms that occur when a person becomes infected with a gastrointestinal virus — an infection in your intestines. The symptoms of this type of virus may include vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. The tummy flu is caused by viruses other than flu viruses, and then it'south not the aforementioned affliction every bit the flu.
8. You lot can grab the flu from going out in the cold without a glaze or with wet hair.
You tin can only catch the flu from existence exposed to the influenza virus. Cold weather condition, seasonally inappropriate clothing and moisture hair — or a combination of the three — cannot give you lot the flu. Notwithstanding, influenza season does coincide with the onset of winter in most places, which is where this mutual misconception may accept arisen.
nine. If you're feeling well, then you can't spread the flu.
Information technology'due south hard to tell what proportion of people are infected with the influenza but have no symptoms. Electric current research estimates that up to 50% of influenza infections are asymptomatic. You can notwithstanding laissez passer influenza to another person even if yous have no symptoms, but that'southward much less likely to happen than if you have symptoms. Still, if you recall you might have been exposed to the influenza, it'south sensible to avoid shut contact with others to prevent asymptomatic transmission.
Evidence also suggests that if you do develop symptoms, you can transmit the virus to others for the entire flow that you're symptomatic — non just for the first day or 2, which is a ordinarily held myth. Transmission is unlikely once your symptoms have completely resolved, but it'south critical to avoid shut contact with others until you feel totally well once again.
10. You can't die from the flu.
Unfortunately, seasonal flu causes many deaths per twelvemonth. Vulnerable people — specially young children, the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions — tin develop astringent illness as a outcome of influenza infection. In analyzing data from the United States from 2010 to 2020, the CDC found that 140,000–810,000 people are hospitalized with influenza each yr. And, influenza results in between 12,000 and 61,000 deaths each year. That's why it'due south so of import to take the flu seriously, get your almanac influenza shot and, if you lot do come up downwardly with the flu, stay away from vulnerable people until you've recovered.
Resources Links:
https://medlineplus.gov/flu.html
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/virtually/keyfacts.htm
https://www.nhs.uk/weather condition/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/
https://www.nhs.britain/weather/influenza
https://world wide web.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal)
https://world wide web.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/misconceptions.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/index.html
https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/six
https://world wide web.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/what-should-you-do-if-you lot-take-covid-19-or-the-influenza
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-weather/viral-gastroenteritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20378847
Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/health/10-common-flu-myths-stop-believing?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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