“Influenza (the flu) is a viral infection that affects mainly the nose, throat, bronchi and, occasionally, lungs. Infection usually lasts for about a week, and is characterized by sudden onset of high fever, aching muscles, headache and severe malaise, non-productive cough, sore throat and rhinitis” (World Health Organization, 2008)
Flu symptoms can be mild or severe and include:
- Fever/Chills
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Extreme tiredness
- Dry cough/Runny nose
- Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
The flu is easily spread through coughing and/or sneezing and can spread rapidly during seasonal epidemics (World Health Orgaznization, 2008). Getting the flu shot is very important. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada the flu shot prevents (annually) 300 flu related deaths in Ontario, 1000 hospitalizations, 30 000 visits to the emergency room and 200 000 visits to the doctors’ offices (2008).
The flu shot is free and is available to anyone in Ontario over the age of 6 months old who has a valid Ontario Health Card.
It is very important for any health care professional to get the flu shot because they are working with the vulnerable which includes the very young, the very old, and the very ill patients who are at a higher risk of catching the flu with major complications such as pneumonia and death.
1 comment:
It's so true. I used to be completely against the flu shot and thought only of the problems instead of the benefits, so I was afraid. Once I learned how helpful it actually is, I finally gave in and got the flu shot. It wasn't scary at all, and didn't make me sick like I was sure it would.It was just a fear I had to get over.
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