Influenza (flu) - Better Health Channel

Influenza (flu) is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract that can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications (including ... 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SummaryReadthefullfactsheetInfluenza(flu)isaviraldiseasethatcauseswidespreadillnesseveryyear.Immunisationandpractisingpreventionmeasuresforpeoplewhoareatriskofcomplicationsfromthefluarethebestwayswecanreducethenumberofinfluenzainfectionsanddeaths.Fluimmunisationisrecommendedforeveryonefrom6monthsofagewhowanttoprotectthemselvesfromthefluanditscomplications.Peoplewhoworkorlivewithpeoplewhoareatriskofseriouscomplicationsshouldalsobeimmunisedtoavoidspreadingtheflu.Thefluvaccinecannotgiveyouadoseofinfluenzabecauseitdoesnotcontainanylivevirus.YoucanreceiveyourfluvaccineandyourCOVID-19vaccineonthesameday,oneaftertheotherifconvenient.Thereisnotimeintervalrequiredbetweenthesevaccines.OnthispageFreeflushotsforallVictoriansWhatisinfluenza(flu)?Symptomsofinfluenza(flu)Diagnosinginfluenza(flu)Differencebetweeninfluenza(flu)andCOVID-19Whattoexpectwithinfluenza(flu)Whataboutinfluenza(flu)complications?HowcanIavoidgettinginfluenza(flu)?IthinkIhaveinfluenza(flu)–shouldIseeadoctor?WhentoseekmedicalattentionHowcanIavoidgivinginfluenza(flu)tootherpeople?WhatmedicationsshouldItakeforinfluenza(flu)?Tipsforbuyingover-the-countermedicationsLookingafteryourselfwhenyouhaveinfluenza(flu)Usefultipstoaidrecoveryfrominfluenza(flu)WheretogethelpFreeflushotsforallVictorians2022isabadfluseasonasVictoriansreturntonormalactivities.Tohelpyoustaywellthiswinter,theVictorianGovernmentisprovidingfreefluvaccinationsforeveryoneaged6monthsandoverthroughoutthemonthofJune.Youcanbookyourfreefluvaccinationfrom1Juneto30JunewithyourGPorpharmacist.Reimbursementisnotavailabletopeoplewhohavepreviouslyhadtheirfluvaccination.AskyourGPorpharmacistiftheyareinvolvedinthefreefluvaccinationprogrambeforemakingyourappointment.IfyoudonothaveaMedicarecard,youcanattendyournearestparticipatingpharmacytoreceiveyourfreefluvaccination.COVID-19vaccines:ForinformationaboutCOVID-19vaccinespleasegototheVictorianGovernment'sCoronavirus(COVID-19)website.Whatisinfluenza(flu)?Influenza(flu)isahighlycontagiousviralinfectionoftherespiratorytractthatcancausesevereillnessandlife-threateningcomplications(includingpneumonia).Itaffectspeopleofallages.Thefluisspreadbycontactwithfluidsfromcoughsandsneezesthatcontainthevirus.ThefluisaseasonalinfectionthatusuallyoccursfromApriltoSeptember.Fluseasonsvaryinseverityandspreadfromyeartoyear.Inayearofhighinfluenzaactivity,itisestimatedthattheflucancontributetomorethan3,300deathsinAustralia.Evenhealthypeoplecansometimesdiefromtheflu.ForvulnerableVictorians,likeyoungchildren,theelderly,pregnantwomenandpeoplewithaweakenedimmunesystemorchronicmedicalcondition,theflucanhaveseriousanddevastatingoutcomes.SincetheCOVID-19pandemicbegan,therehavebeenlowratesofthefluinAustraliaduetoclosedinternationalbordersandsocialdistancingmeasures.However,withbordersopening,aresurgenceoftheflumayoccurin2022.Vaccinationiskeytoprotectingyourselfandthosearoundyoufromtheflu.FormoreinformationvisitStaywellthiswinter.Symptomsofinfluenza(flu)Themostcommonsymptomsofthefluare:suddenappearanceofahighfever(38°Cormore)adrycoughbodyaches(especiallyinthehead,lowerbackandlegs)feelingextremelyweakandtired(andnotwantingtogetoutofbed).Othersymptomscanbe:chillsachingbehindtheeyeslossofappetitesorethroatrunnyorstuffynose.Havingthefluisevenmorelikelyifyouhavebeenincontactwithsomeonewhoalreadyhasit.Diagnosinginfluenza(flu)Influenzaandotherkindsofvirusescanonlybeconfirmedbyadoctorafteranoseorthroatswabhasreturnedpositiveresults.Differencebetweeninfluenza(flu)andCOVID-19ThesymptomsofCOVID-19andtheflucanbesimilar.Ifyouareunwellwithflu-likesymptoms,contacttheCOVID-19hotlineon1800675398(24hours,7daysaweek)oryourGPtocheckifyourequireCOVID-19testing.Thesymptomstowatchoutforare:lossorchange insenseofsmellortastefeverchillsorsweatscoughsorethroatshortnessofbreathrunnynose.Somepeoplemayalsoexperienceheadache,musclesoreness,stuffynose,nausea,vomitinganddiarrhoea.Whattoexpectwithinfluenza(flu)Symptomsoftheflucanhitveryquicklyandmaylastseveralweeks.Aboutoftheflutypicallyfollowsthispattern:Days1–3:Suddenappearanceoffever,headache,musclepainandweakness,drycough,sorethroatandsometimesastuffynose.Day4:Feverandmuscleachesdecrease.Hoarse,dryorsorethroat,coughandpossiblemildchestdiscomfortbecomemorenoticeable.Youmayfeeltiredorflat.Day8:Symptomsdecrease.Coughandtirednessmaylastonetotwoweeksormore.Whataboutinfluenza(flu)complications?Insomecasesoftheflu,severeillness,andcomplications(suchaspneumoniaandbronchitis)candevelop.Thiscanresultinhospitalisationandevendeath.Peopleathigherriskofseverecomplicationsassociatedwiththefluinclude:pregnantwomenpeopleagedover65AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplechildrenunder5yearspeoplewithchronicmedicalconditions.Theflucanalsomakesomeexistingmedicalconditionsworse.HowcanIavoidgettinginfluenza(flu)?Gettinganinfluenza(flu)vaccineeveryyearisrecommendedforeveryoneaged6monthsorolder.PeopleintheabovegroupsareeligibleforfreefluvaccinationeachyearundertheNationalImmunisationProgram.Whilenot100%effective,thefluvaccineprovidesahighlevelofprotectionandcanreducesymptomsinthosestillgettingsick.InVictoria,fluvaccinationisfreeforpeoplewithahigherriskofseverecomplicationsassociatedwiththeflu:childrenaged6monthstolessthan5yearsAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplefrom6monthsandoverpregnantwomen–atanystageofpregnancypeople65yearsandoverpeopleaged6monthsandolderwithmedicalconditionsputtingthematincreasedriskofsevereinfluenzaanditscomplications: cardiacdiseasechronicrespiratoryconditionschronicneurologicalconditionsimmunocompromisingconditionsdiabetesandothermetabolicdisordersrenaldiseasehaematologicaldisorderschildrenaged6monthsto10yearsonlongtermaspirintherapy.Anyoneintheseat-riskgroupswithflu-likesymptomsshouldseetheirdoctorassoonaspossible.COVID-19vaccinescanbeco-administered(thatis,givenonthesameday,oneaftertheother)withafluvaccine.Thereisnorequirementforatimeintervalbetweenthesevaccines.IthinkIhaveinfluenza(flu)–shouldIseeadoctor?Mostpeoplewhoaregenerallyhealthywon’tneedtoseetheirdoctorfortheflu.AssymptomsofthefluaresimilartoCOVID-19,talktoyourdoctorabouttestingforCOVID-19infection.Ifyouhavetheflu,trytorest,maintainagoodfluidintake,andmanageyoursymptoms.Thiswillhelpyourecoverandpreventdehydration.Yourimmunesystemwillfighttheinfectionandsymptomswillusuallyclearupontheirown.IfyoudoneedtoseeaGPforyoursymptoms,makesureyoucallaheadfirstsotheycanmakesurethere’snooneinanat-riskgrouparoundwhenyouhaveyourappointment.WhentoseekmedicalattentionSeeyourdoctorifyouhaveanyconcerns.Seekimmediatemedicalattentionifyouexperienceanyofthefollowingsymptoms:difficultybreathingchestpainsuddendizzinessconfusionseverevomitingfeverwitharash.HowcanIavoidgivinginfluenza(flu)tootherpeople?Itisimportantweallplayourpartinhelpingfightthefluandtoprotectourhealthsystem. Asidefromgettingyourflushot,followthese3simplestepstostopthespreadoftheflu: Step1-CoughorsneezeintoyourelbowIfyoufeelacoughorsneezeiscomingon,makesuretocoughorsneezeintoyourelbow.It’sapartofyourbodylesslikelytotouchothersurfacesandwillhelpstopthespreadofnastygerms.Step2-WashyourhandsthoroughlyandregularlyOurhandsareoneofthetopspreadersofviruses.Thefluvirusiscarriedinalmostinvisibledropletsfromsaliva,sneezes,coughs,andrunnynoses. Fluvirusescanliveonsurfacessuchasliftbuttonsorhandrailsforupto48hoursandarespreadwhenpeopletouchaninfectedsurface. Washyourhandsthoroughlyandoftenwithsoapandwaterforatleast20seconds–especiallyifyouhavebeeninapublicplace,orafterblowingyournose,coughing,sneezingorusingthetoilet.Ifsoapandwaterarenotreadilyavailable,useahandsanitisercontainingatleast60%alcohol. Step3-RestandrecoverathomeIfyouaresick,restathomeanddrinkplentyoffluids.Avoidgoingout,eventothesupermarket,whereyouriskspreadingthevirustoothers.Wearamaskifnecessary. Ifyoustarttoexperiencemoreserioussymptoms,seekmedicalattention. ThesymptomsofCOVID-19andtheflucanbesimilar. Ifyouareunwellwithflu-likesymptoms,contacttheCOVID-19hotlineon1800675398(24hours,7daysaweek)oryourGPtocheckifyourequireCOVID-19testing.WhatmedicationsshouldItakeforinfluenza(flu)?Thefluisaviralinfectionsoantibioticswon’thelpandshouldnotbetaken.Antiviralmedications,ifstartedinthefirst2daysaftersymptomsstart,canshortenthelengthofyourillness.Theseneedtobeprescribedbyyourdoctor.Decongestantsandsimplepainrelieverscanhelpyoufeelbetterwhileyourbody'simmunesystemfightsofftheinfection.Tipsforbuyingover-the-countermedicationsFollowthesetipsforbuyingover-the-countermedicationfortheflu:Buyaremedythattreatsonlyonesymptom–thiswayyouarenottakinganysubstancesyoudonotneed,orthatmaytriggeranadversereaction.Readthemedicationlabelandcheck: whethertheactiveingredienttreatsyoursymptomspossiblesideeffectspossibleinteractionswithanymedications,(includingprescriptionandover-the-counter,medicines(suchasvitaminsandmineralsupplementsandherbalmedicines)whetherthemedicationissafeforyoutotakeifyouhaveanyhealthconditionsIfyouareunsureifamedicationissuitableforyoutotake,orifyouhaveanyotherquestions,talktoyourdoctororpharmacist.Theycansuggestamedicationthatisappropriateandsafeforyoutotake.Lookingafteryourselfwhenyouhaveinfluenza(flu)Thebestthingsyoucandotolookafteryourselfwhenyouhavethefluare:Rest–youwillprobablyfeelveryweakandtireduntilyourtemperaturereturnstonormal(about3days).Restprovidescomfortandallowsyourbodytouseitsenergytofighttheinfection.Stayathome–stayawayfromwork,schoolandanyplaceswhereyoumayhavecontactwithothers,especiallywhileyouarecontagious.Theperiodduringwhichadultsarecontagiousisusuallyaround3–5daysfromwhenthefirstsymptomsappear,andupto7daysinyoungerchildren.Drinkplentyoffluids–extrafluidsareneededtoreplacethoselostbecauseofthefever(throughsweating).Ifyoururineisdark,youneedtodrinkmore.Trytodrinkaglassoffluids,suchaswater,everyhourwhileyouareawake.Usefultipstoaidrecoveryfrominfluenza(flu)Otherusefulflurecoverytipsinclude:Takesimplepain-relievingmedication(suchasparacetamoloribuprofen),asdirectedonthepacket,toeasemusclepainandbringdownyourfever(unlessyourdoctorsaysotherwise).Donotgiveanymedicationsthatcontainaspirintochildrenorteenagers(under18years)withtheflu.ThecombinationofthefluandaspirininthisagegrouphasbeenknowntocauseReye’ssyndrome–averyseriousconditionaffectingthenervoussystemandliver.Antibioticsarenoteffectiveagainsttheflubecauseinfluenzaisavirus,andantibioticsfightbacteria.However,yourdoctormayprescribethemifyoudevelopabacterialinfectionontopoftheflu.Garglewithaglassofwarmwatertoeaseasorethroat.Suckingonsugar-freelolliesorlozengesalsohelps.Ahotwaterbottleorheatingpadmayhelprelievemusclepain.Awarmbathmayalsobesoothing.Usesalinenosedropsorspraytohelpsootheorclearastuffynose.Thesedecongestantshelpshrinkswollenbloodvesselsinthenose.Talktoyoudoctororpharmacistaboutwhichmedicationwillbethebestforyou.Donotsmoke–thiswillirritateyourdamagedairways.Trywarm,moistairinhalation.Boilakettleandemptythehotwaterintoabowl.Placethebowlonasteadysurface,suchasatable.Putatoweloveryourheadandinhalethewarmairinthebowlforupto20minutes.Thereisnoneedtoaddanythingtothewater.Askforhelpifyoulivealoneorcareforothers.Youmayneedsupportuntilyoufeelbetter.Remember,ifyoubuymedicineatthepharmacytotreatyoursymptoms(over-the-countermedications),checkwiththepharmacisttoseewhichoneisrightforyou.Letthemknowifyouhaveachronicillnessoraretakinganyothermedication.WheretogethelpInanemergency,alwayscalltriplezero(000)YourGP(doctor)NURSE-ON-CALLTel.1300606024–forexperthealthinformationandadvice(24hours,7days)YourpharmacistTheAustralianImmunisationHandbook,DepartmentofHealth,AustralianGovernmentImmunisationscheduleandvaccineeligibilitycriteria,DepartmentofHealth,VictorianGovernmentNationalImmunisationProgramSchedule,DepartmentofHealth,AustralianGovernmentVaccinesideeffects,DepartmentofHealth,VictorianGovernmentPre-immunisationchecklist–whattotellyourdoctorornursebeforeimmunisation,DepartmentofHealth,VictorianGovernmentVaccinationsintheworkplace, DepartmentofHealth,VictorianGovernmentFlu(influenza), DepartmentofHealth,AustralianGovernment2022influenzavaccines–Clinicaladviceforvaccinationproviders,DepartmentofHealth,AustralianGovernment. Thispagehasbeenproducedinconsultationwithandapproved by: DepartmentofHealth-PublicHealth-CommunicableDiseasePreventionandControl Thispagehasbeenproducedinconsultationwithandapproved by: DepartmentofHealth-PublicHealth-CommunicableDiseasePreventionandControlGivefeedbackaboutthispageWasthispagehelpful?YesNoViewallinfectionsMoreinformationRelatedinformationAirpollution Around75percentofMelbourne'sairpollutioniscausedbyvehicleemissions. Anthrax Anthraxisararebutpotentiallyfatalbacterialdiseasethatoccasionallyinfectshumans. Antibacterialcleaningproducts TheWesternobsessionwithcleanlinessmaybepartlyresponsiblefortheincreaseinallergicasthmaandconditionssuchasrhinitis. Antibioticresistantbacteria Carefulprescribingofantibioticswillminimisetheemergenceofantibioticresistantstrainsofbacteria. Asbestosandyourhealth Whenasbestosfibresbecomeairborne,peopleworkingwithasbestosmayinhaleparticleswhichremainintheirlungs. FromotherwebsitesCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionInfectiousDiseases-DepartmentofHealth,VictorianGovernmentHealthTranslations Thispagehasbeenproducedinconsultationwithandapproved by: DepartmentofHealth-PublicHealth-CommunicableDiseasePreventionandControlContentdisclaimerContentonthiswebsiteisprovidedforinformationpurposesonly.Informationaboutatherapy,service,productortreatmentdoesnotinanywayendorseorsupportsuchtherapy,service,productortreatmentandisnotintendedtoreplaceadvicefromyourdoctororotherregisteredhealthprofessional.Theinformationandmaterialscontainedonthiswebsitearenotintendedtoconstituteacomprehensiveguideconcerningallaspectsofthetherapy,productortreatmentdescribedonthewebsite.Allusersareurgedtoalwaysseekadvicefromaregisteredhealthcareprofessionalfordiagnosisandanswerstotheirmedicalquestionsandtoascertainwhethertheparticulartherapy,service,productortreatmentdescribedonthewebsiteissuitableintheircircumstances.TheStateofVictoriaandtheDepartmentofHealth shallnotbearanyliabilityforreliancebyanyuseronthematerialscontainedonthiswebsite. Reviewedon:23-05-2022