LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FLU VACCINE

We examine what families need to know about the influenza shot and why this virus is not an illness to be sneezed at!

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Respiratory health care has come under the spotlight more than ever since the onset of COVID-19 and its unprecedented effects globally. Across the world, authorities have alerted people about the increased severity of the flu season this year. In fact, the World Health Organisation terms it a year-round disease burden’, because it is so infectious.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Flu is often disregarded as something insignificant, usually confused with the common cold and nothing more than a runny nose or a mild temperature. It can appear to be an unimportant illness because most people recover without medical attention within a week from any fever or other symptoms. However, it can escalate to a life-threatening situation for a small number of people up to 650,000 people pass away from the flu each year globally.

WHO IS AT RISK?

Even healthy people are vulnerable, while those with weakened immune systems may experience severe effects. Recovery can take afew weeks and sometimes in rare cases, problems like pneumonia, inflammation of the heart or brain, or a sinus infection can occur.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

“The first thing to note in the difference between a cold and the flu, are the symptoms. With flu, the symptoms can include fever or feverish chills, a cough, a sore throat, a runny nose, muscle and body aches, headaches and a general feeling of fatigue. With a cold, symptoms are milder and people are more likely to have a stuffy nose, with no fever or aching muscles,” says Dr. Claude Afif, Staff Physician of Infectious Diseases at Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi.

WHEN ARE YOU CONTAGIOUS?