Each twelvemonth, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between three and 11 percentage of Americans get sick from the flu. Some people only feel mild symptoms, but many others develop complications of the influenza, some of which can be deadly. Because influenza is and so widespread and manifests differently in different people, myths nigh the flu abound. Is what you hear true, or is there too much misinformation floating around? Debunk the vii most common myths about influenza.

Myths About the Influenza

  1. "Getting Vaccinated Tin Give Yous the Flu"
    Co-ordinate to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, there is no way the vaccine can make y'all sick. Vaccines just contain a weakened or inactivated form of the flu virus, which cannot infect y'all. The truth is that people often mistake the side effects of the vaccine for the illness itself. Side effects of inoculation may feel like mild symptoms of the influenza, but soreness around the injection site is typically the but symptom people experience. Go along in mind that flu season (which more often than not lasts from Oct to March) coincides with a time of year when germs that cause colds and other respiratory illnesses are in the air. It is possible to get the vaccine and and then get ill with a completely unrelated cold virus within a few days.
  2. "In that location Is No Treatment for the Flu"
    In that location are four FDA-approved antiviral drugs that are highly constructive confronting the flu. Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is available in pill and liquid grade, Relenza (zanamivir) comes in powder form, which is inhaled, Rapivab (peramivir) is administered intravenously, and Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) is bachelor in pill form. While these antiviral medications practise non cure the viral infection, they tin minimize symptoms, reduce the corporeality of time you are sick by one or ii days, and brand you less contagious to others. Furthermore, early treatment tin can prevent complications of the flu, similar pneumonia, which can be especially dangerous for older adults. It'south best to take these drugs inside 48 hours of getting ill, so do not hesitate to make a doctor'due south appointment if you lot or a loved 1 accept symptoms of the influenza.
  3. "Antibiotics Can Fight the Flu"
    Antibiotics only fight bacterial infections. Since influenza is a virus, antibiotics have no result. Furthermore, overuse and misuse of antibiotics can consequence in reduced effectiveness confronting the bacteria they are really intended to kill and even cause "superbugs" that are entirely resistant to these treatments.
  4. "You Tin't Get the Flu More than Once During Flu Season"
    Y'all can certainly contract the influenza more once a yr because there are many dissimilar strains of the influenza virus. At that place are two main types of flu, Blazon A and Blazon B, and there are besides many different subtypes of each. It is possible that y'all could get infected with ane strain and then another during a given flavor, especially if y'all haven't been vaccinated and/or accept a compromised allowed organization.
  5. "If You're Young and Healthy, Y'all Don't Need to Get the Flu Vaccine"
    The CDC recommends that everyone over six months of age get vaccinated each season. Healthy adults are just as susceptible to the virus as other demographics, and vaccination is the best mode to forestall the flu. If you are caring for an aging loved one, simply getting them vaccinated merely provides some protection. Yous and other family members should also become the vaccine to avoid endangering their health and the health of other vulnerable individuals.
  6. "Cold Weather Causes the Flu"
    The flu virus really circulates and infects people year-round. Contrary to pop belief, going outside during winter without bundling up does not directly increase your risk of getting ill. Influenza peaks in autumn and winter for a few different reasons. Scientists speculate that the flu virus thrives in cooler, depression-humidity environments. Of class, during the colder months, people tend to spend more than time cooped upward indoors, making it easier for the virus to spread from person to person. Furthermore, less time spent outside ways that most people experience drops in vitamin D production during winter that can weaken the immune organisation. All these factors contribute to the timing of flu flavor, which is the aforementioned throughout the whole country, fifty-fifty in warmer states like Florida.
  7. "If Yous Haven't Gotten a Influenza Shot by November, It's Too Late"
    Flu season frequently peaks between Dec and February, just the timing can vary. Some years heightened flu activity has lasted until May. No matter how late it is, if you have not been vaccinated nonetheless, go become it washed. You could spare yourself and your family a bang-up deal of misery.

The Facts: How to Prevent Seasonal Influenza

Flu spreads from person to person, oftentimes through droplets in the air, and y'all can pass on the infection even before you brainstorm feeling symptoms. An infected individual is also contagious for several days after the onset of symptoms. Infection can stalk from a contagious person near you cough, sneezing or talking, or fifty-fifty from touching a surface that the virus is on, similar a phone or doorknob, and and then touching your mouth or nose.

To avoid contracting and spreading the virus, use the post-obit tips:

  • Clean your hands regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based paw sanitizer. This is specially important after y'all bear upon a sick person, common surfaces, used tissues or dirty laundry.
  • Individuals with the flu should cover their mouths and noses with a tissue when coughing and sneezing to avert spreading the virus to others.
  • Immediately throw away tissues and other disposable items used by an infected person.
  • Once diagnosed, talk to a healthcare provider nigh taking antiviral medication to forestall the virus from spreading to other family members, coworkers or friends.
  • Keep loftier-traffic surfaces like bedside tables, bathroom surfaces, doorknobs and children's toys make clean by regularly wiping them down with a household disinfectant.
  • Exercise not share eating utensils, dishes or cups with a sick person. These items practice not demand to exist cleaned separately, only they should non be shared without washing thoroughly commencement.
  • Wash linens (such as bed sheets and towels) by using household laundry detergent and tumble dry on a hot setting. Use a handbasket to transport laundry prior to washing to forbid contaminating yourself.
  • Avert touching your eyes, nose and rima oris to minimize the likelihood of contracting the flu and other viral infections.