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iStockPhoto Influenza is a virus that causes "the flu" and commonly appears in winter as either the influenza A or influenza B strand. Symptoms associated with the flu such as
headaches, aches and pains, fever, cough, and runny nose usually last only a few days, yet more severe cases can continue for over a week.
Some complications of the flu can include bacterial pneumonia, more serious ear and sinus infections, dehydration, and complication of chronic medical conditions. Typically, the flu is spread from person to person through personal contact, coughing, and sneezing.
According to the
CDC, the time adults are most apt to spread the flu is one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after having become sick. The best way to
prevent getting the flu is to get
vaccinated. The flu shot is approved for people older than six months, including both healthy adults and those with chronic medical conditions. According to authorities October and November are the best time of year to get vaccinated against the seasonal flu.
For the great majority, the flu is not very serious, and the disease may last only a few days. But for certain immunocompromised populations, such as the elderly and the very young, complications from the flu may prove extremely severe or even deadly. For this reason getting a flu shot is all the more important.
See Also
- Infections
- Cigarettes & Tobacco
- Nitrogen Dioxide Exposure: Overview