Flu A And B Symptoms

How Does Influenza B Differ From Types A And C

Influenza B tends to cause a milder form of the flu than influenza A.

While influenza A can lead to moderate-to-severe flu symptoms across all age groups, and in animals, influenza B only affects humans.

Also, influenza B typically affects children more often than adults. It generally causes stronger symptoms than influenza C.

In many people, the flu goes away on its own without treatment. However, older adults and people with certain underlying health conditions may have a risk of developing serious complications.

Such complications include:

. While they are recovering, a person with the flu should:

• stay at home
• avoid contact with other people
• drink plenty of water

Several over-the-counter medications can help ease the symptoms of influenza. These are available from drug stores.

In severe cases, a doctor may prescribe a course of antiviral drugs. Oseltamivir and zanamivir are drugs that doctors may use to treat type A or type B influenza.

Antiviral drugs can reduce a persons recovery time by around 2 days, but they are only effective if a person takes them within a few days of symptoms starting. Antiviral medicines are available as pills, a liquid, or an inhaled powder.

Anyone with the flu who experiences any of the following symptoms should speak to a doctor as soon as they can:

• people with cancer
• children with neurological conditions, such as brain disorders

Babies younger than 6 months and anyone with an allergy to a vaccine ingredient should not get the flu shot.

Do I Need To Be Worried About Preventing Influenza B Specifically

While the flu is serious, you don’t need to focus on preventing a specific strain of it. You just want to make sure you are using good hygiene and preventive practices overall to avoid contracting any and all infectious diseases circulating right now.”Although influenza A is more rapidly changing and more prevalent, influenza B can cause just as severe, or more severe illness,” says Dr. Shanker-Patel. “So its important to practice these measures to reduce risk of contracting both types of influenza virus.”

Safety measures are especially important during this 2020-2021 flu season, which overlaps with the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the CDC, some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, making it hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. But diagnostic testing can determine if you are sick with a flu or COVID-19.

Stopping The Flu/covid Collision

People are generally the most contagious with the flu 24 hours before they start having symptoms and for several days to one week after symptoms first appear. It is difficult to prevent the spread of the flu, especially among children, as they may not always know they are sick while they are still spreading the disease. By the seventh day of infection there is typically no longer a risk of infecting others.

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What Can You Do If You Get The Flu

If you get the flu, there are steps you can take to feel better. Act fast! First, talk with your health care provider. The flu and COVID-19 have similar symptoms, so you may need to get tested for an accurate diagnosis. This will also help determine which medications might make you feel better.

There are prescription drugs, called antivirals, that are used to treat people with the flu. If you take them within 48 hours after the flu begins, these drugs can make you feel better more quickly. Antivirals can also help reduce your risk of complications from flu. Antibiotics do not help you recover from the flu. Still, they are sometimes prescribed to help you recover from a secondary infection if it is caused by bacteria. Bacteria are a different type of germ than viruses.

If you are sick, rest and drink plenty of fluids like juice and water, but not alcohol. Medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can bring down your fever and might help with the aches and pains. It is important not to smoke if you are sick with the flu. It is a respiratory illness that can infect your lungs as well as your nasal passages. These same areas are also affected by smoking. Take it easy as much as you can until you are well.

Monitor your symptoms and talk with your doctor if your symptoms worsen or become severe. For example, if you:

How Does A Flu Virus Make Me Sick

Flu viruses enter the body through the mucus membranes of your nose, eyes, or mouth. Every time you touch your hand to one of these areas, you are possibly infecting yourself with a virus.

This makes it very important to keep your hands germ-free with frequent and thorough hand washing. Encourage family members to do the same to stay well and prevent flu.

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Don’t Forget Your Flu Shot Protect Yourself And Others This Flu Season

The flu isnt like the common cold, it can hit quickly and last for weeks. For some people, the flu can have serious and devastating outcomes. Its important everyone in the community plays their part in helping stop the spread of flu.

Our message is simple: Don’t forget your flu shot. Protect yourself and others this flu season.

Eligibility And Inclusion Criteria

Studies to be eligible for inclusion in our metaanalysis had to have following predetermined criteria. All casecontrol, crosssectional, cohort studies, case reports and case series peerreviewed studies were included if they reported the number of confirmed cases of patients with demographic data clinical data radiology data laboratory data risk factor data. Also, influenza virus studies from 2000 to 2020 were included.

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In 2011 Quebec Had The Lowest Vaccination Rate In Canada With 27% Of Its Population Having Received The Vaccine In Addition 25% Of Quebecers Said They Had Contracted The Flu The Highest Rate In The Country

In Quebec, more than 300 deaths each year are attributable to the flu virus. It is therefore not a problem to be taken lightly.

Every year in Quebec, new flu vaccines are available because the flu virus changes frequently. These vaccines have the advantage of containing the new strains of the virus circulating in North America for the current year.

There are two types of vaccine on the market, the inactivated and the attenuated vaccine. The inactivated vaccine is given by injection and contains non-living parts of the virus. The attenuated vaccine is given nasally and contains live virus that has been attenuated. The attenuated vaccine is particularly used in children because it is more effective than inactivated vaccines. The protection provided by the vaccines appears about two weeks after administration and covers the entire period during which the virus is present. It is still possible to get the flu despite the protection provided.

How Does The Flu Spread

The flu spreads easily from person to person. When someone with the flu coughs, sneezes or speaks, the virus spreads through the air. Your baby can get infected with the flu if she breathes the virus in or if she touches something that has the flu virus on it and then touches her nose, eyes or mouth.

People with the flu may be able to infect others from 1 day before they get sick up to 5 to 7 days after. People who are very sick with the flu or young children may be able to spread the flu longer, especially if they still have symptoms.

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What Causes The Flu In A Child

The flu is caused by flu viruses. Flu viruses are divided into 3 types:

• Influenza types A and B. These 2 types of viruses cause widespread illness almost every winter. They often lead to more people needing to go to the hospital, and more people dying from the flu. Public health officials focus on stopping the spread of types A and B. One of the reasons the flu remains a problem is because the viruses change often. This means that people are exposed to new types of the viruses each year.

• Influenza type C. This type of virus causes a very mild respiratory illness or no symptoms at all. It does not cause epidemics. It does not have the severe public health impact that influenza types A and B do.

A flu virus is often passed from child to child through sneezing or coughing. The virus can also live for a short time on surfaces. This includes doorknobs, toys, pens or pencils, keyboards, phones and tablets, and countertops. It can also be passed through shared eating utensils and drinking. Your child can get a flu virus by touching something that was touched by an infected with person, and then touching his or her mouth, nose, or eyes.

When To See A Doctor For Influenza A Or B

A majority of people will ride out the flu from home with only mild-to-moderate symptoms. But sometimes its better to visit your healthcare provider. Anyone with one or more of the risk factors for complications listed above should consider seeing a professional to make sure it doesnt evolve into a more severe disease or respiratory infection.

A healthcare provider might also be necessary for individuals with severe or prolonged symptoms or other complications like difficulty breathing, chest pain, sudden dizziness, vomiting, neck stiffness, or loss of consciousness.

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What Is The Treatment For Influenza

Specific treatment for influenza will be determined by your child’s primary care provider based on:

• Your child’s age, overall health, and medical history
• The severity of symptoms
• Your child’s tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• Expectations for the course of the condition
• Your opinion or preference

The goal of treatment for influenza is to help prevent or decrease the severity of symptoms. Treatment may include:

• Medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to relieve aches and fever. Aspirin is NOT recommended in children.
• Bed rest
• Increased fluid intake
• Medication for your child’s cough may be prescribed by your child’s provider after a thorough check-up.
• For anyone in a high-risk group, its important that the flu is identified and treated early, to avoid complications.

What Is Influenza A

Influenza A is a type of virus that causes influenza , a highly contagious respiratory illness. If you get it, you will need to rest at home and avoid infecting others. Vaccination can protect you against influenza A.

Although coronavirus , is a viral illness that has developed into a pandemic, the virus that causes COVID-19 is different from the one that causes influenza.

Both the influenza A and influenza B viruses circulate in the community and change continually, with new strains coming out each winter. This is why yearly vaccination is recommended.

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Is It The Flu Or Is It A Cold

It can be difficult to tell the difference between a flu and a cold. At first glance, they are similar but very different diseases. Cold symptoms are usually mild while flu symptoms are more severe. In addition, colds are common and mainly infect the nose and throat, while the less common flu can also affect the lungs.

Does Your Child Need A Flu Vaccine Every Year

Yes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that everyone 6 months and older get the flu vaccine each year. Its especially important for children younger than 5 to get it because theyre more likely than older kids to have serious health problems caused by the flu. The flu can be dangerous for all children, even healthy children.

The best way to protect your child from the flu is to make sure he gets a flu vaccine each year before flu season . Even though your childs more likely to get the flu during flu season, he can get it any time of year.

There are two ways for your child to get the flu vaccine:

The first time your baby gets the flu vaccine, he gets two doses to give him the best protection from the flu. Your child gets one dose of the vaccine every year after.

If youre not sure which vaccine is best for your child, ask his health care provider. Visit flu.gov to learn more about flu vaccines.

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Which Children Are At Risk For The Flu

A child is more at risk for the flu if he or she:

• Is around people infected with the flu

• Has not had the flu vaccine

• Does not wash his or her hands after touching infected surfaces

Young children and children with certain underlying health conditions are at increased risk for a hospital stay or severe or complicated influenza infection.

The Flu Shot And Covid

An important update regarding timing between receiving the flu and COVID-19 vaccines for all Victorians including those most vulnerable in our community.

The original recommended timing between receipt of the 2 vaccines was a preferred minimum interval of 2 weeks .

Based on the latest medical advice the preferred minimum interval between vaccinations for COVID-19 and the flu is now 7 days.

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People Who Need More Than One Influenza Vaccine A Year

There are some people who are recommended to have a second dose of the influenza vaccine within the space of one year. These people include:

• Children less than 9 years of age receiving their influenza vaccine for the first time require 2 doses 4 weeks apart for an adequate immune response.
• People who have had a haematopoietic stem cell transplant or solid organ transplant and are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time after transplant.
• Pregnant women, who may be vaccinated with the next seasons influenza vaccine if it becomes available in the latter part of their pregnancy, even if they were vaccinated with the previous seasons vaccine prior to or earlier in pregnancy.
• Overseas travellers, who may benefit from a second dose of this seasons influenza vaccine if going to the northern hemisphere winter and receiving the northern hemisphere formulation there is not feasible.

Please check with your GP to find out whether you fall into one of these categories.

How Is Influenza Transmitted

Influenza virus is generally passed from person to person in the air through coughing or sneezing. The flu may also be spread by small virus particles released during breathing. The virus can also live for a short time on contaminated objects like doorknobs, pens or pencils, keyboards, telephone receivers, and eating or drinking utensils. So your child can get the flu virus by touching something that has been handled by someone infected with the virus and then touching his or her own mouth, nose, or eyes.

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How Is The Flu Different From Covid

Both influenza and COVID-19 are respiratory viruses. Because of this, they can cause similar symptoms of cough, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, fever and body aches. This winter, it will be important to call your childs pediatrician to discuss symptoms. They may recommend testing to determine which virus your child has. If your child has COVID-19, they will need supportive care and isolation. If your child has influenza, their time at home will just be until symptoms resolve also, certain children need to receive an antiviral if they have high risk medical conditions. Learn more about symptoms of COVID-19.

What Is Type A Flu Virus

Type A flu or influenza A viruses are capable of infecting animals, although it is more common for people to suffer the ailments associated with this type of flu. Wild birds commonly act as the hosts for this flu virus.

Type A flu virus is constantly changing and is generally responsible for the large flu epidemics. The influenza A2 virus is spread by people who are already infected. The most common flu hot spots are those surfaces that an infected person has touched and rooms where they have been recently, especially areas where they have been sneezing.

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