Eulalee Thompson

If you're like me, then you are loading up on vitamin Cs and walking around with little antibacterial wipes; just my attempt to control my environment and ward off that nasty little flu (influenza) bug. It seems that every where I go people are always sniffling, blowing their noses, sneezing and coughing all over me. Whatever happened to handkerchiefs and tissues?

There's more flu and flu complications to come as we are actually in the peak of the flu season. Our Health Ministry doesn't put out regular flu advisories but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) churns them out. The CDC says that the flu season in the United States runs between November and March when environmental temperature falls; and the same applies to us here.

You may consider the flu as a simple illness that goes away in a few days with some bed rest and orange juice but some people are not so lucky. I have already heard of a few cases of the 'simple flu' becoming more complicated as bronchitis and pneumonia. The possible complications are probably the reasons for the hype in the U.S. about taking 'the flu shot', the vaccine to ward off the illness; we don't seem to make too much fuss about it here in Jamaica.

The flu viruses infect the nose, throat and lungs and the CDC says that the flu is very contagious; an infected person can spread the virus one day before he or she begins to experience flu symptoms and continue spreading it even several days after the start-up of symptoms.

Flu vs the cold

The CDC indicates that the flu and cold are both respiratory illnesses but caused by different types of viruses. You know when you have the flu if you are experiencing these symptoms:

Fever

Chills

Dry cough

Muscle aches

Extreme fatigue.

You may also have sore throat, nasal congestion and headaches. The cold is less severe, though it makes you just as miserable; you may experience only slight fatigue, not much body pains, a productive cough and stuffy nose.

Warding off the flu

My vitamin Cs, I understand, will help to build up my immune system, the body's defence against disease but I have also picked up some other tips from public health specialists to ward off the flu bug:

Wash your hands frequently

The flu virus is spread by direct contact, so, if someone sneezes into his or her hands then touches a surface (such as the computer keyboard, telephone), he or she will transfer the virus which can live for hours (sometimes weeks) on the surface, just waiting for the next person to touch the surface and then transfer the virus to his or her nose. (This is where my antibacterial wipes come in handy.)

Don't cough and sneeze in your hands

This has to be the next tip because the virus lives on in your bare hands. Use a tissue and throw it away immediately.

Don't touch your face

Since the virus is so contagious, if you touch surfaces don't touch your eyes, nose or mouth - these are easy entry points for the virus.

Drink your fluids

Fluids, especially water, flush your system and rehydrate, so drink up your water in this flu season.

eulalee.thompson@ gleanerjm.com