Winter is here, the flu is coming

The Flu – short for In-Flu-Enza virus –is actually a bug. With people sneezing, coughing and a runny nose to severe forms of lung and throat infections resulting in hospitalisation, flu causes it all.

Symptoms seen usually start with low grade fever in the mornings to high temperatures during evening to night hours accompanied with a cold or sometimes even diarrhea, especially in children. Other features may include fatigue, body ache and rashes.

More severe forms of disease are seen with other co-existing diseases like asthma, lung disorders, extremes of age or with much more virulent strains of the influenza virus – like the infamous – Swine Flu.

Protecting ourselves from this virus requires us to start right from personal hygiene, doing things like

• Not touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands.

• Covering coughs and sneezes

• Avoiding close contact with sick people and staying home yourself if you are sick

• Cleaning surfaces with alcohol is an effective sanitiser against influenza viruses, while ammonium compounds can be used with alcohol so that the sanitising effect lasts for longer

• In hospitals, quaternary ammonium compounds and bleach are used to sanitise rooms or equipment that has been occupied by patients with influenza symptoms

• At home, this can be done effectively with diluted chlorine bleach

Treatment

People with should take plenty of rest, drink liquids, avoid alcohol and tobacco and, if necessary, take medications, such as paracatemol to relieve the fever and muscle aches. Antibiotics have no effect on the infection; unless prescribed for secondary infections, such as bacterial pneumonia.

Antiviral medication may be effective, if given early, but some strains of influenza can show resistance to the standard antiviral drugs but maybe tried in severe cases like oseltamivir. Stay safe! (The author is consultant physician at Apollo Hyderguda in Hyderabad.)

By Dr Shaeq Mirza