Posted: 1/24/2018
With cooler weather comes more time spent indoors, sharing germs with family, friends and strangers alike. The more time spent indoors also means an increased risk of exposure to serious viruses such as the flu.
North Texas is in the middle of this year’s flu season so it’s important to take steps to keep yourself and your family from getting sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all people 6 months or older get vaccinated for the flu.
Flu season typically lasts from October to March with most people getting sick with the flu between December and February, although some people can get the flu as late as May.
Signs and symptoms of flu
People who have the flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptoms that usually start suddenly, not gradually:
- Fever or chills*
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Feeling very tired (fatigue)
- Some people may throw up or have diarrhea, though this is more common in young children than in adults
*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.
How do people get sick with the flu?
The flu virus spreads through tiny droplets made when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby and get them sick. Sometimes, people may get the flu by touching something such as a table or a light switch that has the flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or even their eyes.
How long can someone who has the flu give it to other people?
Someone who has the flu can get other people sick before they know they are sick as well as while they are sick. People who have the flu are more likely to get other people sick in the first three to four days after the start of symptoms.
In some cases, some otherwise healthy adults may be able to get other people sick beginning one day before they show symptoms and up to five to seven days after they become sick. Young children and people with a weakened immune system might be able to get others sick with the flu after seven days.
Who is more likely to get sick with the flu?
It’s important to know that anyone is at risk for the flu, even healthy people. Serious problems related to the flu can happen at any age. Some people are more likely to get really sick from the flu. This includes people 65 years old and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant women and young children.
What is the best way to stay healthy?
The CDC says to take the following steps to help slow down the spread of germs that can cause the flu:
For more information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu.