Flu season is here in the Baltimore region and it can be dangerous, for both adults and children. More commonly known as the flu, influenza is a highly contagious viral infection that affects your respiratory system. It can cause fever, severe body aches, cough, headache, and extreme fatigue.
The peak of the flu season typically starts as early as October and can last through May. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates the 2018-2019 flu season—the longest in a decade—caused between 37.4 million and 42.9 million illnesses in the US.
So, what do you need to know to protect your family from the flu?
The best treatment is prevention
Often confused with other viral illnesses like the common cold and stomach “flu,” there are many misconceptions about influenza, but there is a way to help protect yourself – the influenza vaccine.
The vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from getting the flu or lessening the severity if you do get sick. It takes two weeks for the flu shot to take full effect to protect against the virus, which is why it’s important to get vaccinated now before flu season starts to get bad.
Everyone over the age of six months needs to get a flu vaccine to prevent the flu spreading in schools and in the community.
Flu vaccines
There are many different strains of the flu. The flu vaccine contains three or four strains of the inactivated flu virus that are most likely to be common during the upcoming flu season.
Keep in mind: The flu vaccine cannot give you the flu. It does not prevent you from getting other respiratory viruses such as a head cold, but it does reduce your chances of getting the flu. In addition, if you do get sick with influenza, the vaccine can prevent more severe outcomes like pneumonia and death.
Avoid spreading the flu if you are sick
If you are sick with a flu-like illness, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities.
It always helps to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands often, and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to avoid the spread of germs.
Dr. Shannarose Guma is an Internal Medicine provider with Saint Agnes Medical Group. Get the care you need by calling (410) 369-2000 or scheduling online at healthcare.ascension.org.
