How to Protect & Treat Yourself During Flu Season

[Astronuc]

We are in the height of flu season and one site indicated that their flu index is about max. In addition there are various influenzas, there are cold viruses about.

Simple things to prevent the flu and cold viruses

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.

Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm

If one does contract the flu,

Antiviral Medications
Your doctor may recommend use of an antiviral medication to help treat the flu. Four antiviral drugs (amantadine, rimantadine, zanamavir, and oseltamivir) are approved for treatment of the flu. During the 2005-2006 influenza season, CDC recommends against the use of amantadine or rimantadine for the treatment or prophylaxis of influenza in the United States. (For details, see the January 14, 2006 CDC Health Alert Notice [HAN].) These are prescription medications, and a doctor should be consulted before the drugs are used. Antiviral treatment lasts for 5 days and must be started within 2 days of illness. Therefore, if you get flu-like symptoms, seek medical care early.

Other Ways to Respond to the Flu
If you get the flu, get plenty of rest, drink a lot of liquids, and avoid using alcohol and tobacco. Also, you can take medications such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol®) to relieve the fever and muscle aches associated with the flu. Never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, particularly fever.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms.htm

 

[ranger]

I always end up getting sick. There is always a few people in the train (right next to me) that cough and sneeze like crazy.

At times I feel like beating the crap out of them

 

[jhe1984]

Maybe a dumb question, but is there a 'season' for the bird flu?

Is there some date or month after which, if nothing happens, we're all allowed to collectively breathe a sigh of relief (until next year)?

 

[Astronuc]

October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, but getting vaccinated in December or even later can still be beneficial. Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm

It can happen anytime, but it is primarily the mid-fall to mid-spring in the Northern Hemisphere when the human and animal population is indoors, dry conditions facilitate transmission, and people are more stressed.

 

[rocketboy]

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

That would explain why I got sick and secondly, why I am not better...damn libido always taking control!

 

[Moonbear]

Wow, it's currently the peak of flu season? I hadn't even noticed it this year. I haven't noticed anyone out sick, other than me, but that was more that I was just exhausted from working too long of hours and too many days a week, so at the first hint of a sniffle last week, I took a sick day, and after a day of resting and napping, I was fine again. Usually I notice all the parents taking time off because it's the kids who are spreading the germs around. I guess it's a mild year, unless for some reason, we're more isolated from it here.