Flu (Influenza) - National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

Influenza (flu) is a contagious viral infection that can cause mild to severe symptoms and life-threatening complications, including death, even in healthy ... Skiptomaincontent HomeInfectiousDiseasesFlu(Influenza) Flu(Influenza) Influenza(flu)isacontagiousviralinfectionthatcancausemildtoseveresymptomsandlife-threateningcomplications,includingdeath,eveninhealthychildrenandadults. Influenzavirusesspreadmainlyfromoneindividualtoanotherthroughcoughingorsneezing.Lessoften,theycanalsospreadthroughtouchingacontaminatedsurfaceandthentouchingthemouth,eyes,ornose.Individualscanpassfluontoothersevenbeforetheirownsymptomsstartandforaweekormoreaftersymptomsbegin. Burden Whilethenumbersvary,intheUS,millionsofindividualsgetsick,hundredsofthousandsarehospitalized,andtensofthousandsdiefromfluandrelatedcomplicationseachyear.Flualsoaffectsemployersandbusinessesandcostsanestimated$11.2billionindirectandindirectcostsintheUSannually.Duringthe2019-2020fluseason,fluvaccinationpreventedapproximately7.5millionfluillnesses,105,000hospitalizations,and6,300deaths. Symptoms Fluisnotjustacommoncold.Itusuallycomesonsuddenly,andpeoplewithflumayhavesomeorallofthefollowingsymptoms(thinkF.A.C.T.S.): Fever Aches(muscle,body,andheadaches) Chills Tiredness(fatigue) Suddenonset Cough,runnyorstuffynose,and/orsorethroat Vomitinganddiarrhea(morecommoninchildrenthanadults) Prevention Thebestwaytopreventfluistoreceiveaninfluenzavaccinationeveryyear.TheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC)recommendsthateveryoneage6monthsandoldergetvaccinatedannually.FluvaccinationisespeciallyimportantthisyeartohelpprotectindividualsandpreventadditionalstrainonanalreadyoverburdenedUShealthcaresystem.Thebesttimetogetvaccinatedisintheearlyfall,beforeinfluenzavirusesbeginspreadinginyourcommunity.However,vaccinationthroughoutthefluseasonisstillbeneficial. Fluvaccinesareupdatedannuallytoprotectagainsttheinfluenzavirusesresearchindicatesaremostlikelytocirculateduringtheupcomingseason.Fluvaccinescanvaryinhowwelltheywork,butevenincaseswhenfluvaccinationdoesnotpreventinfectioncompletely,itcanreducetheseverityanddurationofdiseaseandpreventseriouscomplications.Formorethan50years,hundredsofmillionsofindividualsintheUShavesafelyreceivedseasonalfluvaccines. ViewACIPRecommendationsforthePreventionandControlofSeasonalInfluenzaduringthe2021-2022InfluenzaSeason Treatment Annualfluvaccinationisthebestwaytopreventflu.Antiviraldrugsarenotasubstituteforannualfluvaccination;however,prescriptionantiviralmedicationsserveasanadditionallineofdefense.CDCrecommendsthatallindividualswhoarehospitalized,severelyill,orathighriskfordevelopingseriousflu-relatedcomplicationsshouldbetreatedwithantiviraldrugsimmediatelyiffluissuspected. Treatmentoffluwithantiviraldrugscanreduceinfluenzasymptoms,shortenthedurationofillnessbyonetotwodays,andpreventseriouscomplications,likepneumonia.Antiviralsworkbestwhentakenwithin48hoursofgettingsick,butmaystillbebeneficialwhengivenlaterinthecourseofillness. Healthcareprofessionalsmaytreatpatientsbasedontheirclinicaljudgmentandknowledgeabouttheleveloflocalfluactivity.Foradditionalinformation,seeCDCInfluenzaAntiviralMedications:SummaryforClinicians.   ReviewedJanuary2022 Source:CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention   YouCan#GetVaccinatedagainstFlu&COVID-19attheSameTime FluCanBeSeriousforAdultswithChronicHealthConditions FluMythsandFacts JoinNFIDLeadingByExampleInitiative UnderstandingInfluenza(Flu) Help#TravelingFluBugSpreadAwareness,NotDisease AdditionalResources Byleveragingsurveyresearch,theNationalFoundationforInfectiousDiseases(NFID)isworkingtodeveloptargetedcommunicationstohelpraiseawarenessoftheimportanceofpreventionandtreatment,andtoincreasevaccinationratesamongUSBlackadults The NationalFoundationforInfectiousDiseases(NFID)commissioned two national surveys(conducted online from October28-November8,2021)tobetter understandknowledge,attitudes, andpracticestowardfluandpneumococcaldiseasevaccinationaswellascommunicationbetweenhealthcareprofessionals(HCPs)and adult patientswithchronichealthconditions.   ThebestwaytohelpprotectagainstfluandCOVID-19istogetvaccinated Answerstocommonmythsaboutinfluenzaandfluvaccines Influenza(flu)isnotjustacommoncold.Anyonecangetsickwithflu,butcertainpeopleareathighriskofdevelopingseriousflu-relatedcomplications. Certainantiviraldrugscanhelpreducesymptomsofinfluenza(flu),shortenthedurationofillness,andpreventcomplications Takethesethreestepstohelpprotectyourselfandothersfrominfluenza(flu) Tohelpprepareforfluseason,downloadtheNFIDFluPreparednessGuidetolearnmoreaboutbestpracticesfortreatingandpreventingthespreadofflu,aswellastipsonassemblingaflupreparednesskitandemergencycontactlist Sharethesememesonsocialmediatoremindfriendsandfamilyto#GetVaccinatedandstayhealthythisholidayseason! 23-secondvideopublicserviceannouncementontheburdenofinfluenza(flu)inadultsage65yearsandolderandtheimportanceofgettingvaccinated FluresourcesfromAtoZfromtheNationalFoundationforInfectiousDiseases(NFID)andpartners Sharablefactsheetoutliningthebenefitsofinfluenzaimmunizationforhealthcareprofessionals 1(current) 2 Next FluResourcesfor... Adolescents Adults AdultswithChronicHealthConditions Children HealthcareProfessionals OlderAdults Pregnancy MoreonFlu BlogPosts Publications RealStories,RealPeople FluIsNotAGame NationalSurvey:BlackAdultPerspectivesonCOVID-19andFluVaccines MythBustersQuiz:FluFactsandFiction