These days, we see many patients with symptoms of runny nose, fever and cough in our country. In fact, we see this at least twice every year between December and February. What we fear is that this flu will cause an epidemic in people with low resistance and some chronic diseases (diabetes-asthma). -such as heart disease) pneumonia, severe complications and life-threatening.
Flu is transmitted by contact, respiratory tract and droplets. The fact that we, as a society, love kissing very much is the biggest reason for the spread of such diseases. Again, in cold weather, closed and crowded areas, classrooms, school buses and cinemas are environments that facilitate transmission.
There is no fever in the common cold or it is mild, there is high fever in the flu.
Headache sometimes occurs in upper respiratory tract infections. There is a headache almost always in flu.
Sneezing is often present in upper respiratory tract infections, sneezing is less common in flu.
There is a mild cough in upper respiratory tract infections, and a more severe cough in flu.
There is mild weakness in upper respiratory tract infections, and the children's energy level is not affected much. In flu, fatigue is more pronounced and can last for weeks.
Throat pain is usually present in upper respiratory tract infections, sore throat is less common in flu.
How is flu transmitted?
People with flu spread flu germs through sneezing and coughing. When you are around these people, the flu germ enters our body through the mouth or nose. The virus can be transmitted to you when you touch places such as a door handle, telephone handset, or faucet that a person with flu has touched, and then when you touch your mouth or nose. Even if a sick person enters or leaves a closed environment, it can put the people in that environment at risk of transmitting the virus.
Can flu be treated?
Supportive treatments can be given to children with flu. It is recommended that the child listen, drink plenty of fluids, consume chicken broth, soup, squeezed fresh fruit juice, kefir, and give some medications to relieve fever and muscle pain. In young children, cleaning the nose with physiological saline and aspirating the secretions relieves children. The first symptoms begin in some patients, especially those in the risk group. Giving some medications within 24 - 48 hours after vaccination makes the symptoms less severe and lasts shorter.
The purpose of people and groups who want to get the flu vaccine is; The aim of making the flu milder is to prevent severe complications such as bronchitis, asthma and pneumonia. Just as the repeat period for the tetanus vaccine is five years, that is, memory cells are reminded of the tetanus vaccine every 5 years, a reminder must be made every year for the flu. Since our memory cells do not remember the flu virus after a year and the virus can change its structure, the vaccine should be repeated every year in risk groups.
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