How to keep flu viruses at bay
EVERYONE IS susceptible to flu viruses no matter how tough one’s immune system might be.
While these viruses affect everyone in different ways, some may have symptoms that may last just a week or as long as almost a month. A full-blown flu will surely result in missed work, neglected familial obligations and quite a few hundreds of pesos spent on medicines and hospital bill.
And while flu cases peak during the rainy months of June to September here in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) is reminding the public that the viruses that cause this highly infectious disease is always active year round.
“It is our job to stay healthy and not succumb to this sickness especially in this time of unpredictable weather. Learn how to keep flu viruses at bay, all year,” advised Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, DOH program manager for Emerging and Reemerging Diseases.
Warning
The DoH also warned for the possible outbreak of other wet-season diseases during what is supposed to be the country’s summer season: dengue fever, diarrhea, leptospirosis and other pulmonary diseases.
While observance of proper health practices is equally important, the doctor said everyone should make an effort to be immunized against flu every year explaining that only through vaccination could the public be safe from its deadly complications (the seasonal flu shot already contains one that protects against the H1N1 pandemic strain).
While anyone is at risk for contracting the virus, the most at risk are those individuals 50 years of age and older; residents of long-term care facilities and nursing homes; very young children, and those of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease and diabetes.
Flu is often characterized as having an abrupt high fever (39 to 40 degrees Centigrade), headache, severe cough, extreme fatigue, aches and pains.
“For the high risk group, they could further develop life-threatening complications such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), and worsening of chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the lungs) in many people,” the doctor enumerated.
Not exempt
But even healthy people are not exempt as they could also get very ill or die from flu complications, even those with no underlying diseases.
“We can’t really predict who’s going to do badly when they get flu, and even if you’re healthy, you could have a very bad outcome,” Lee Suy noted. She stressed why it is important to get vaccinated (know more about flu through www.bakuna.ph).
Lee Suy also suggested the following steps to ensure we would be safe from flu:
1. Wash hands often. People don’t often realize how many things they touch throughout the day, whether it be door knobs or hand railings or items at the house that others sick with flu have touched. Washing one’s hands is one effective way to keep viruses away.
2. Cover your mouth or nose. If you already exhibit symptoms of flu, make an effort to cover your nose or mouth when sneezing or coughing. This good hygiene practice will come a long way in helping stop the spread of the virus to more people.
3. Keep your nose clean. Flu viruses cause infections by lodging into nasal passages. Washing your nose with a nasal saline solution once or twice a week may eliminate any germs or bacteria that may try and accumulate.
4. Be aware of laundry. If someone in your household is sick, wash his/her clothes and sheets separately and often. Keep your face far from the dirty laundry and wash your hands immediately after loading them into a washing machine or wash basin.
5. Keep the germs contained to one location. If someone in your household is infected, keep him or her contained to one room and if possible, one bathroom as much as possible. This will decrease the chances of the virus from spreading to the rest of the family.
