Why you might have flu symptoms and not COVID-19: Though both are similar, Influenza has a few key differences to watch out for. Learn more about flu symptoms and its effect on your health here at Newsymom!
This is Public Health is brought to you in partnership with the Tuscarawas County Health Department.
For over two years, the constant illness talk has been heavily focused on COVID-19 and its variants. However, right now is the prime season for the flu to spread. Instead of allowing Influenza to invade your life, let’s learn more about it so you can prevent getting sick!
What is the Flu?
Influenza (known as the flu) is a contagious, respiratory sickness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes your lungs! It can be anywhere on the spectrum between mild and severe, and can sometimes result in death.
How Do I Know If I Have the Flu?
Unlike a common cold, flu symptoms will hit you more suddenly. You could experience fever or feeling feverish, chills, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, muscle/body aches, headaches, fatigue (tiredness), very similar to COVID-19. (For more on this, read: Similarities and Differences between Flu and COVID-19.)
How Does The Flu Spread?
Most often, the flu spreads via the tiny droplets when people sneeze, talk, or cough. When those droplets land in the mouths or noses of those nearby, it infects them. You could also get the flu from touching infected objects such as doorknobs and then touching your own mouth, nose, or eyes.
Complications Caused By Influenza
Complications of the flu can include:
- bacterial pneumonia
- ear infections
- sinus infections
- worsening of chronic medical conditions (such as CHF, asthma, or diabetes)
The most at-risk for complications are: anyone with certain chronic medical conditions (asthma, diabetes, and heart disease), pregnant women, children younger than 5 years old and seniors older than 65.
Avoid Getting The Flu With These Prevention Tips
- Get the flu vaccine each year. The ideal time to get the vaccine is October, before peak flu season causes spreading. However, later is better than never! Call the Tuscarawas County Health Department at (330) 343-5555 x. 100 to get your flu vaccine scheduled.
- Avoid being near sick people. And don’t be around others when you’re sick as well.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or into your elbow, rather than your hands.
- Wash your hands with soap and water often. When you can’t get to a sink, an alcohol-based sanitizer will get the job done.
- Don’t touch your mouth, nose, eyes, or face (as best you can).
- Clean and disinfect surfaces that could be contaminated, often. Some hotspot touchpoints are: light switches, door knobs, cell phones, tablets, keys, and handles.
The Tuscarawas County Health Department will help keep you and your family as healthy as can be! For more information, call (330) 343-5555 x. 100 or visit them on Facebook (@tchdnow) or at www.tchdnow.org.
Melissa Klatt
Reporting