Facts you should know about the flu

According to HealthlineInfluenza is a respiratory illness that can cause symptoms including fever, cough, chills, body aches, and fatigue. Flu season occurs every year, the virus can spread quickly in schools and workplaces.

Some people with the flu recover without complications in about 1-2 weeks. But the disease can be dangerous for young children, who are 65 or older. Some flu-related complications are life-threatening. Here are facts about the flu that you should know.

Influenza is contagious before symptoms appear

The flu is very contagious because the virus can be passed on before you get sick. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you can infect someone with the virus a day before symptoms begin. Therefore, it is important that you avoid close contact with others to avoid infecting them.

Flu symptoms can start suddenly

The onset of flu symptoms can happen quickly. You may feel well the day before, unable to do anything the next day or two due to the symptoms of the illness.

Symptoms occur as early as one day after exposure. In other cases, some people do not develop symptoms, which can manifest four days after exposure to the virus.

Vaccinated for 2 weeks, the flu vaccine works

Getting a seasonal flu vaccine is one of the best ways to protect against the flu virus. The flu shot is effective because it helps your body develop antibodies to protect itself against the virus. However, it takes about 2 weeks for these antibodies to develop.

If you are exposed to the virus within 2 weeks of being vaccinated, you can still get sick. The CDC recommends that everyone get a flu shot by the end of October (flu season runs from October of the previous year to May of the following year).

A new flu vaccine is needed every year

The influenza viruses that are mainly circulating this season will be different from those of the following year. This is because the virus changes every year. Therefore, you will need a new vaccine every year to protect yourself.

The flu vaccine does not cause the flu

A misconception is that the flu vaccine causes the flu. Some people experience mild flu-like symptoms after getting the vaccine. Symptoms may include low-grade fever and body aches. But this is not the flu. These symptoms usually only last a day or two.

You may also experience other milder reactions after getting the flu shot. Manifestations include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site.

The flu can cause dangerous complications

The flu vaccine is especially important if you are at risk for flu-related complications. Complications are more likely to occur in certain groups, such as: people over 65 years of age; young children, especially those under 2 years old; pregnant women and women 2 weeks postpartum; people with weakened immune systems; people with chronic conditions; obese people. However, anyone can develop serious complications.

Influenza viruses can also cause secondary infections. Some infections are mild, such as ear infections or sinus infections. Serious complications can include: bacterial pneumonia and sepsis. Influenza viruses can also worsen chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma, and diabetes, and lead to heart attacks and strokes.

It is still possible to get the flu after being vaccinated

You can get the flu after getting the vaccine. This can happen if you were infected with the virus before the vaccine took effect, or the flu vaccine did not provide enough protection against the virus. In addition, you can get sick if you come into contact with a different strain of the virus than the vaccinated one. On average, the flu vaccine reduces the risk of illness by 40-60%.

Le Nguyen