Flu Myths – familydoctor.org

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What are the most typical flu myths?

Fable #1: The flu is similar factor as a chilly and it’s innocent. 

It’s common to confuse the flu with a chilly. Each have comparable signs and sometimes handled in comparable methods. Nevertheless, colds are delicate and last more. The flu often develops instantly and lasts 2 to three days. The flu is also contagious and might be harmful.

Signs of the flu embody:

• Fever of 102°F or larger.
• Chills and sweats.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Muscle aches and complications.
• Chest ache.
• Cough.
• Stuffy nostril.
• Lack of urge for food.

Fable #2: You possibly can’t die from the flu. 

Individuals who have extreme circumstances of the flu or are excessive danger can die from the flu. Excessive-risk folks embody:

• Infants or kids as much as 4 years outdated.
• Anybody 65 years of age or older.
• Ladies who’re pregnant, making an attempt to get pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• Anybody who has a low or weakened immune system.
• Anybody who has a power well being situation.
• Anybody who lives in in a long-term care heart, resembling a nursing dwelling.

These individuals are at better danger of getting well being issues that result in demise. It’s much more essential that they obtain an annual flu vaccine. It prevents extreme circumstances or issues associated to flu. It additionally lowers their probability of hospitalization.

In case you aren’t excessive danger, you continue to ought to get a flu vaccine. It protects everybody round you. That is very true if you happen to work in well being care or take care of high-risk folks.

Fable #3: You received’t get the flu if you happen to get the flu vaccine.

The flu vaccine helps to stop the flu. Yearly, its function is to guard you from the principle varieties of influenza. Nevertheless, you continue to can get the flu. You may have been contaminated with the flu earlier than you bought the vaccine. You additionally might get one other sort of flu that the vaccine doesn’t cowl. Most definitely, you’ll have a milder case than if you happen to hadn’t gotten the flu shot.

There are different issues you are able to do to decrease your danger of getting the flu. These embody:

• Washing your fingers typically.
• Protecting your mouth once you sneeze and cough.
• Utilizing family cleansing spray to disinfect surfaces and objects.
• Utilizing hand sanitizer.
• Washing laundry of sick folks separate from different objects.
• Conserving your kids, particularly newborns, away from anybody who’s sick.

Fable #4: You received’t get the flu if you happen to take vitamin C. 

Nutritional vitamins can’t forestall the flu.

Fable #5: The flu vaccine provides you with the flu. 

You can not get the flu from a flu shot. This type of vaccine is made up of lifeless viruses that may’t infect you. The nasal spray flu vaccine is made up of dwell however weakened viruses. They received’t provide the flu, both.

Although you may’t get the flu from the vaccine, you may have negative effects. The world of the shot may very well be pink, sore, or swollen. You additionally might have muscle aches, complications, or a low fever for a brief time period. These results happen when your physique responds to combat the brand new virus. You can also have flu-like signs from different well being points, resembling a foul chilly.

Fable #6: You shouldn’t get the flu vaccine if you happen to’re pregnant or breastfeeding. 

You will need to get the flu shot if you’re pregnant, making an attempt to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. People who find themselves pregnant usually tend to must be hospitalized if they’ve the flu, so it’s further essential to get the vaccine. The flu shot is protected for you and your child.

In case you don’t get the flu shot and develop the flu, you possibly can give it to your child. Your physician would possibly prescribe antiviral medication to scale back signs. Additionally they would possibly recommend one other type of feeding till you’re higher.

Fable #7: You shouldn’t get the flu vaccine when you’ve got an egg allergy. 

The quantity of egg allergen within the flu vaccine may be very small. It’s protected for folks with egg allergic reactions, even youngsters, to get the flu shot. Critical allergic reactions are uncommon. If you’re in danger, medical doctors suggest getting the shot at your physician’s workplace as an alternative of a drugstore. This permits your physician to watch any potential reactions. Or, you may get one of many varieties of flu vaccine that don’t have any egg allergen in any respect. You possibly can ask your physician what sort of vaccine they suggest for you.

Fable #8: You don’t must get the flu vaccine if you happen to’re wholesome. 

It’s good to dwell a wholesome life-style, however it will probably’t forestall the flu. It’s an an infection that spreads simply. Everybody over 6 months of age ought to get the flu vaccine, apart from uncommon circumstances.

Fable #9: You shouldn’t get the flu shot if you happen to’re sick or have already got had the flu. 

It’s okay to get the flu vaccine when you’ve gotten a gentle illness. Nevertheless, your physician might recommend ready till you’re higher. It is also okay to get the flu shot when you’ve got most cancers.

You continue to ought to get the flu shot if you happen to’ve already had the flu. The flu vaccine protects you in opposition to a number of varieties of the virus.

Fable #10: You don’t must get the flu vaccine yearly. 

The flu is attributable to the influenza virus, which may change from yr to yr. Due to this, the flu vaccine is up to date to guard in opposition to the principle varieties of flu. It is best to get the flu vaccine yearly at the start of the flu season. Flu season happens within the colder months of yr, often a while from October to Could.

Fable #11: Everybody ought to get the flu vaccine the identical manner.  

As a result of younger kids and older adults can have extra bother combating off the flu, there are completely different vaccines for various ages. Youngsters getting their first flu vaccine might have two doses, 4 weeks aside. Particular variations of the flu vaccine are made for adults aged 65 and over. They will additionally use the identical vaccine as different adults. When you have questions on which vaccine to make use of, ask your physician.

Fable #12: There’s one greatest time to get the flu vaccine, and if I don’t get it then, it’s not price doing. 

Ideally, folks ought to be vaccinated earlier than the flu begins spreading. The issue is that we don’t know forward of time when that might be. In lots of locations, flu vaccine is obtainable beginning in July or August.  Some kids getting vaccinated for the primary time want two doses 4 weeks aside, so for them beginning in July or August could be a good suggestion. People who find themselves pregnant ought to obtain the flu vaccine within the final three months of being pregnant to guard them and their kids. As a result of safety in opposition to the flu doesn’t final as lengthy in older folks, folks aged 65 or older, ought to obtain vaccination in September or October.

It’s a good suggestion for everybody to attempt to get the flu vaccine by the top of October. However if you happen to haven’t gotten the vaccine by then, go forward and get it later.  Keep in mind, flu season is usually worst in February and may final right through Could.

Fable #13: The flu vaccine will make me extra prone to COVID-19. 

There is no such thing as a proof that getting a flu vaccine will increase your danger of getting sick from a coronavirus.