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"What is flu?  Influenza is a highly contagious virus infection affecting the respiratory system.  What are the symptoms?  Symptoms begin after an incubation period of one to four days and include:  a high temperature up to 39\u00B0C (103\u00B0F) headache  loss of appetite  muscular aches and pains  weakness  exhaustion.   Symptoms often continue for about a week unless there are complications, in which case new symptoms may commence in the second week. How is it spread? Flu viruses can be transmitted to your hands when covering the nose and mouth when sneezing. Droplets expelled from the mouth and nose can circulate in the atmosphere and reach the respiratory passages of other people.  Transmission may also occur through skin contact, particularly through shaking hands because the viruses are even transmitted to the hands when covering the nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing.  Frequent washing of the hands is an important preventive measure as the virus can live for a short period on the skin. What viruses are responsible?  There are three main types of influenza virus, called A, B and C, although it is usually the type A virus that causes the worst epidemics.  Type C influenza is mild to the extent that it is indistinguishable from a common cold. Type A influenza is usually more debilitating than type B.  How serious is it?  Nationally, some 13 million people are at increased risk of complications from flu, such as bronchitis and pneumonia.  Peaks of winter mortality are closely linked to the pattern of influenza activity and result in an estimated average of 12,000 deaths each year.  Who is most at risk?  The people most at risk are:   the elderly  those with chronic respiratory disease such as asthma and chronic bronchitis  those with chronic heart, kidney, liver or neurological disease people with diabetes mellitus  those with an underactive immune system (immunosuppression) due to disease or treatment  people in long-stay residential and nursing homes pregnant women.   What are the common complications?  Secondary infection with bacterial organisms, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus, can often cause middle ear infections and pneumonia.  In vulnerable people, death from haemorrhage (bleeding) within the lungs, or septicaemia (blood poisoning) may occasionally occur.  Can you avoid it?  Living the life of a hermit would protect you, although being out of social contact for any length of time would reduce immunity to very low levels.  In practice, keeping clear of people who are coughing and sneezing, and washing hands thoroughly can help, although immunisation offers the best chance.  Immunisation  Immunisation against influenza with the flu vaccine is effective and safe.  The World Health Organization recommends the vaccine strains by predicting those viruses most likely to cause outbreaks in any given year.  UK studies show the vaccine reduces complications, cuts hospital admissions by up to 60 per cent and mortality by about 40 per cent, compared with matched controls.  This year vaccination is recommended and will be offered free of charge to:  anyone over 65 years of age adults and children aged over six months with a chronic heart condition  adults and children aged over six months with chronic respiratory conditions, such as asthma or COPD  adults and children aged over six months with chronic kidney or liver diseases  adults and children aged over six months with diabetes  adults and children aged over six months with chronic neurological diseases  adults and children aged over six months with an underactive immune system (for example due to conditions such as HIV, or treatments that affect the immune system such as chemotherapy) and those who live with them  pregnant women residents of nursing or residential homes  carers and healthcare workers who have direct contact with patients  carers of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill  anyone who may otherwise be at increased risk.   In July 2012 the Department of Health recommended that children aged 2 to 17 years who are at particular risk of flu should also be included in the annual flu vaccination programme.  This is to help prevent these children getting what can be an unpleasant illness lasting several days, as well as to help reduce the spread of flu to vulnerable friends and relatives, such as grandparents, younger siblings, pregnant women and people with chronic health problems.  Flu nasal spray vaccination is also recommended from the autumn/winter of 2014/15 for children aged two, three and four years old as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme.  It is expected that over time, all children aged between 2 and 16 will be offered vaccination against flu each year with the nasal spray.  Not only is this method needle-free, it appears to work better than the injected flu vaccine with fewer side effects.  Children under two years of age aren&amp;#039;t included in the programme because the nasal spray vaccine was shown to cause wheezing in this younger age group.  Babies are also likely to be protected indirectly by protecting older children.  Children aged between six months and two years who have any of the long-term health conditions listed above will continue to be offered the annual injectable flu vaccine. Are there any adverse reactions?  Contrary to popular belief, the flu vaccine cannot give you the flu, although it can protect you from it. Adverse reactions are rare and in nearly all cases, mild. The new nasal spray vaccine for children has very few side-effects. The most common is a runny nose for a short time.  It has already been used widely in the US for more than 10 years and no safety concerns have so far been raised with it. What about jabs at work?  Immunisation is highly effective in preventing influenza in working adults. It reduces staff absenteeism and can reduce transmission of flu to vulnerable people.  Responsibility for occupational flu immunisation rests with the employer who can provide it through the occupational health service funded by themselves for their staff.  Vaccines for staff, however, should not be obtained at the expense of vaccines for the at-risk groups. Treatment  For typical symptoms the influenza sufferer should rest in bed in a warm, well-ventilated room.  Painkillers, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin, can relieve aches and pains and reduce fever. Aspirin should not be given to children under 16 years of age, unless on the advice of a doctor. Plenty of fluids prevent dehydration and steam inhalations can have a soothing effect on the lungs.  There are plenty of cold and flu remedies available over-the-counter that can be helpful for relieving symptoms such as a blocked nose, sore throat or cough.  Many of these contain a painkiller in combination with a decongestant or cough medicine.  You should get advice from a pharmacist on which are most appropriate for relieving your symptoms.  It is important to avoid using more than one that contains paracetamol, because this can easily result in exceeding the maximum recommended dose of paracetamol. Anyone in the at-risk categories should let their doctor know as soon as symptoms develop, and anyone else who develops complications should do likewise.   Antibiotics will be required if secondary bacterial infection develops. The patient can get out of bed once the fever has abated and build their strength gradually.  When should you call the doctor?  Young, fit, healthy people who are not in the at-risk groups can normally self-treat influenza without calling the doctor. However, the doctor should be notified if:   complications arise  or a high fever remains for more than 48 hours despite treatment  or the patient is in an at-risk group.   Other people also read: Coughing: how can coughing be treated? Pneumonia: what are the signs?  Bronchitis: when should the doctor be consulted? Getting the most out of a GP appointment: be prepared.  Based on a text by Dr Hilary Jones, GP  Last updated 02.02.2015 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/conditions/aches-and-pains/a10481/flu-and-flu-jabs/>