I Took Pills for the Flu Got Better and Now Im Sick Again With the Same Symptoms
Each yr, millions of people suffer from seasonal influenza, which is often called the flu. Influenza is a respiratory affliction caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs.
Flu tin be a mild affliction for some people. For older people, particularly those who have other health bug, the flu can be very serious and fifty-fifty life-threatening. Getting a flu vaccine every year tin can help prevent the flu. The vaccine is prophylactic, effective, and available for little to no price to yous.
How serious is the flu?
Nearly people who get the flu feel better after a few days to two weeks. Withal, the influenza can be serious, and some people volition develop other health bug, called complications, because of the flu. Complications tin can exist mild, such as a sinus or ear infection, or more serious, like pneumonia.
Anyone can get sick from the flu, only some people are more likely to have complications. You are more at adventure for flu and its complications if you:
- Are age 65 or older
- Take certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease
- Have heart disease or have had a stroke
- Live in a nursing home or other long-term care facility
Pregnant women and children younger than five years one-time are as well more likely to become very sick from the influenza. Learn more most people at increased take a chance for flu and its complications.
Why is the flu more dangerous for older adults?
The flu is more dangerous for older adults for a few reasons. Ane reason is that the allowed system — which helps your torso fight infections — weakens every bit you historic period. For instance, considering your body is busy fighting off the flu, you might selection up a second infection such equally pneumonia. A second reason is that older adults are besides more likely to accept other health atmospheric condition, like diabetes, that increase their chance for complications from the flu.
The good news is the flu vaccination reduces your risk of getting the influenza and of getting seriously sick if y'all do get sick with the flu. Flu vaccination is specially helpful for people with chronic health conditions. For example, it has been linked to lower rates of middle problems (cardiac events) among people with center disease and fewer hospitalizations among people who have chronic lung illness or diabetes. Learn more nearly the benefits of flu vaccination.
How does the flu spread?
The flu is contagious, which means information technology spreads from person to person. It mostly spreads through aerosol in the air when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk. Information technology tin can spread from up to six feet abroad. Although it isn't equally mutual, the flu tin can besides spread from surfaces, for case, if you affect something the virus is on and then touch on your nose, rima oris, or optics.
It'due south possible to spread the flu before you feel sick and when you accept symptoms. Typically, people with the flu tin spread it a day before, and up to a week later on feeling sick. Young children and people with weakened immune systems may exist able to spread the flu for even longer. If you or someone you know is sick with the influenza, take steps to assist forbid spreading the affliction.
Is it the influenza, a cold, or COVID-19?
The common cold, flu, and COVID-19 can all cause similar symptoms. If you have symptoms, talk with your health care provider. Your provider tin can assistance determine the cause of your affliction and help you lot take steps to feel improve.
A common cold is often milder than the flu. The flu and COVID-19 have similar symptoms, just COVID-19 spreads more easily and symptoms tend to exist more severe. It's also more than common to have a modify in your sense of odour or gustation with COVID-xix.
People with the flu tin have fever, chills, dry coughing, full general aches and pains, and a headache. They feel very tired. Sore pharynx, sneezing, stuffy nose, or breadbasket problems are less common. What some people call "stomach flu" is not influenza. Learn more most the differences between the flu and a cold and flu and COVID-19.
Mutual symptoms of a common cold, the flu, and COVID-19
The chart below shows common symptoms. Non anybody will have these symptoms. Your symptoms may be more or less severe, or you may only take a few. If yous feel ill, stay home and phone call your doctor
| Common Symptoms | Cold | Flu | COVID-19 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fever and/or chills | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Headache | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Muscle hurting or body aches | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Feeling tired or weak | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Sore throat | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Runny or stuffy nose | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sneezing | ✔ | ||
| Cough | ✔ | ||
| Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing | ✔ | ||
| Vomiting and diarrhea | ✔ | ||
| Change in or loss of taste or aroma | ✔ |
How tin can you forestall the flu?
The most effective way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine every yr. Anybody half dozen months and older should get a flu vaccine. Getting your flu vaccine reduces your risk of getting the flu. It also reduces your chances of existence hospitalized or dying if you do get sick with the flu.
In addition to getting your flu vaccine, you tin help stop the spread of flu by:
- Washing your hands
- Roofing your mouth when you cough or sneeze
- Staying home when you are sick
- Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
Who should you get a influenza vaccine and which ane should y'all choose?
Flu typically spreads in the autumn and wintertime. It usually starts to spread in October and peaks betwixt Dec and February. That's why this time is called the influenza flavour.
It takes at least two weeks for your flu vaccine to start working, then try to become vaccinated by the stop of October. Nevertheless, getting vaccinated after October tin all the same help protect you from the flu. Because older adults may lose immunity from a flu vaccine more than quickly, try to avoid getting vaccinated too early (before September).
Several flu vaccines are available. There are also two types of loftier-dose vaccinations specifically for people 65 years and older that create a stronger allowed response after vaccination. Talk with your health care provider or pharmacist well-nigh which vaccine is all-time for you.
Where can you get a flu vaccine?
You can get your flu vaccine at your doctor's office or from your local health section. Many grocery and drug stores likewise offering flu vaccines. Visit Vaccines.gov to find a location near you.
Why do you need a flu vaccine every year?
Yous need a flu vaccine every year for two reasons. Outset, influenza viruses modify and the influenza vaccine is updated each year to target the flu viruses that are anticipated to spread that year. Second, the protection you lot get from a influenza vaccine lessens with time, especially in older people. Getting your influenza vaccine every fall gives you the best protection from that twelvemonth'due south flu viruses.
What are the side effects of influenza vaccines?
The flu vaccine is condom and cannot give you the flu. Most people have no trouble with a flu vaccine.
The most common side effects are soreness, redness, or swelling where you were vaccinated. Some people besides become a headache, fever, nausea, or musculus aches. These side effects may start shortly after getting the vaccine and tin final upwards to two days. They typically do not get in the fashion of daily activities.
Fifty-fifty people with mild egg allergies tin safely go most flu vaccines. Egg-free flu vaccines are too available. Yous should not get vaccinated if you have had a severe allergic reaction to the flu vaccine in the past. Talk with your wellness care provider most your options for flu vaccines and side effects.
How much does getting a flu vaccine cost?
Most people can go a flu vaccine for little to no out-of-pocket price. Medicare and most private health insurance plans will cover the cost of your influenza vaccine. However, some insurance plans require that you receive your vaccine at a specific location. Cheque with your insurance company. If yous do non take health insurance, contact your local or state health department.
What can you do if y'all go the influenza?
If you go the flu, there are steps yous can take to feel better. Act fast! First, talk with your health care provider. The influenza and COVID-19 take similar symptoms, then you may need to go tested for an accurate diagnosis. This will also help determine which medications might make you feel better.
There are prescription drugs, chosen antivirals, that are used to treat people with the flu. If you take them within 48 hours subsequently the flu begins, these drugs can brand you feel better more quickly. Antivirals tin can too help reduce your risk of complications from flu. Antibiotics do not help you recover from the flu. Still, they are sometimes prescribed to help yous recover from a secondary infection if information technology is caused by bacteria. Bacteria are a unlike type of germ than viruses.
If you lot are sick, rest and drink plenty of fluids like juice and water, but not alcohol. Medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can bring downwardly your fever and might help with the aches and pains. It is important not to fume if y'all are sick with the influenza. It is a respiratory illness that can infect your lungs as well as your nasal passages. These same areas are also affected by smoking. Take it easy as much as you can until y'all are well.
Monitor your symptoms and talk with your doctor if your symptoms worsen or become severe. For example, if you:
- Accept a fever that goes away then comes back. That may be a sign of another infection.
- Outset having breathing or heart problems or your other wellness bug worsen.
- Feel ongoing pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen .
- Continue to feel sick and you are non getting better.
- Have a cough that brings up thick mucus.
For more data near the influenza
Centers for Illness Command and Prevention (CDC)
800-232-4636
888-232-6348 (TTY)
cdcinfo@cdc.gov
www.cdc.gov
This content is provided by the NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA). NIA scientists and other experts review this content to ensure information technology is accurate and upwards to date.
Content reviewed: Dec 01, 2021
Source: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/flu-and-older-adults
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