Flu (flu) is a highly infectious respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses. It is also called seasonal flu. Anyone can get the flu as it easily spreads from person to person, usually when a person is infected with the flu. If you are down with the symptoms, visit a family medicine clinic.
What Is Flu?
Flu is an influenza-caused respiratory infection. The viruses pass through the air and pass through the nose or mouth of your body. It is also possible to obtain from infected surfaces. In the United States, 5 to 20 % of people get influenza every year. It can cause mild or severe disease and can lead to hospitalization or death in some cases. Influenza symptoms are similar to common cold symptoms but last longer and are worsened.
Influenza Types
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Type A viruses may infect humans, birds, pigs, horses, and other animals. Influenza A viruses, two of which circulate in humans: H1N1 and H3N2, are found in different strains (or sub-types). The two subtypes are included each year in the seasonal influenza vaccine.
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Type B influenza viruses usually occur in people alone. Influenza B viruses may lead to human illness but are usually associated with less severe infections than those associated with influenza A.
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Type C viruses in influenza cause mild human disease. Cases of influenza C occur significantly less often than A and B and are not covered under the seasonal flu vaccine.
Despite the vaccination science and statistics that show that vaccines save lives, the rate of influenza vaccines is usually less than 50%. Here are more important facts –
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Influenza is not caused by the flu shot. It’s a virus that’s not activated. Can you feel fatigued or run down by mounting a response (it’s working) in your immune system? Is it possible that you catch a virus after the flu shot that makes you think it is the flu? Yes, because this time of year, there are a million viruses. You may get the flu if you were already exposed to the virus before the shot.
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It doesn’t mean you’re invincible simply because you’re healthy. Healthy people are also killed by influenza.
Finally, you protect those who are not vaccinated, such as children, with your own vaccination. The more vaccinated people, the less flu spreads throughout the community. Getting a vaccine can literally save someone else’s life. Contact your family medicine doctor in OKC for help.
**Disclaimer: This content should not be considered medical advice and does not imply a doctor-patient relationship.
