Flu season has started with the fall, which means you should be getting vaccinated soon to counter the effect of influenza virus. You can get flu shots at the urgent care centers near you as this is the time of year when urgent care centers mostly bank on. You can check with them and schedule an appointment to get a flu shot. If you have taken a flu shot last year, it won’t mean that it will protect you this year also. So, don’t take a chance and get yourself vaccinated soon.

What are the signs of the flu?

Flu is generally confused with cold as both of them have so much in common. Flu is more dangerous than cold and can lead to severe complications if not treated well. Unlike cold, flu often appears suddenly.

Common Flu symptoms

- Sudden high fever - Chills - Sore throat - Cough - Fatigue - Nausea & vomiting

What causes Flu?

Flu is contagious and you can get flu by touching an infected person. Influenza viruses spread by the droplets produced when the person coughs, sneezes, shakes hands or even talks.

Who is at the higher risk?

Flu can impact people of every age group but there are some high risk categories who are likely to get complications from the flu. Also, there are certain diseases that place people at higher risk.

- Children - Senior citizens - Pregnant women - People with weak immune system - People working in nursing homes - People receiving long-term aspirin therapy

How to prevent & treat flu?

Prevention is always better than cure. Flu shots are the best way to prevent yourself and your loved ones from flu. If you have the flu, you should not take antibiotics, as flu is not an infection and caused due to viruses.

- Stay at home and take rest - Reduce contact with people till you recover - Don’t smoke - Increase liquid consumption - Take antiviral flu medications - Take pain relief medicines to reduce headache and body pain

When should you see the doctor?

You should be visiting your doctor once in a year to get a flu shot so that flu season passes you by every year. If you happen to fall under high risk categories, and suspects the flu symptoms, or have some other complications, call your doctor immediately for immediate care.

Haven’t got your flu shot yet?