Ways to outsmart THE FLU VIRUS

With the rainy season coinciding with the start of the new school year, children are especially vulnerable to the flu virus

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The monsoon is the favourite season of the influenza virus, aka the flu, to spread.

Damp, humid weather conditions and fluctuating temperatures= create a breeding ground for influenza viruses. Though it’s treatable, it can lead to hospitalizations, complications, and even fatalities. With the rainy season coinciding with the start of the new school year, children are especially vulnerable to the flu virus.

PW's Kiran Balimane spoke with Dr. Tarun Singh, consultant pediatrician and neonatologist at Kalpavriksh Healthcare, New Delhi and Pediamedics Healthcare, Sonipat, on effective ways to prevent and treat influenza/flu.

Unlike many viruses, influenza is highly adaptive. Each year brings new strains due to antigenic drift. Annual vaccination, respiratory hygiene, and public health measures can significantly reduce this risk," says Dr. Singh.

Symptoms

• Influenza causes sudden high fever, fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat, dry cough, and chills. It is more severe than the common cold.

• It spreads via respiratory droplets, contaminated surfaces, and sometimes even through asymptomatic carriers.