Flu Levels Are High or Very High Across Much of the U.S.
Currently, the flu passes through the United States, which makes many Americans unhappy with sneezing, sunken, coughing, pain in the body and fever.
“It is traditionally expected that influenza will grow after children return to school after holidays in January, which can explain the current surge in cases,” says Asif Nor, doctor of medical sciences, specialist in pediatric infectious diseases in Nyu Langone Health in New York.
The flu is really worse this year?
“The activity of the influenza, which we now seem to be on what we had during the flu season before the Covid-19 pandemic, which seemed to erased the memory of people about what the flu seasons are similar to,” says Amesh Adalzha, doctor of medical sciences. Infectious disease, a doctor and senior scientist at the Healthcare Health Center in Baltimore.
Lower vaccination indicators can be a factor
Dr. Adalzha says that a lower vaccination level may be a factor that helps to increase respiratory infections and serious diseases.
“From the moment of Covid-19, since the vaccination of the vaccine slipped with the Covid-19, since the indecision of the vaccine, which was spilled from Covid to other vaccines, including the flu,” says Adalzha, which is also a representative of the Society of Infectious Diseases of America.
What is the difference between the flu A and the flu B?
How effective is the flu vaccine this year?
While the vaccine for this season will prevent a severe infection, this was not the best coincidence for circulating strains, says Saahir Khan, MD, PhD, an infectious disease specialist with Medicine USC in Los -Andheles.
“The typical range of the flu vaccine is from 40 to 60 percent,” says Dr. Khan. “This year, a shot at the flu is located on the lower part of this range – therefore, probably closer to 40 percent.”
Know the symptoms of influenza and treat them at an early stage
- More muscles, especially in the back, arms and legs
- Fever of 100.4 degrees 5 or higher
- Cooling and sweat
- Headache
- Cough
- Liquid or stuffy nose
- Sore throat
- Fatigue and weakness
The khan adds that he heard more patients anecdotally this season, reporting the symptoms of the stomach as part of their flu.
However, the problem with many respiratory diseases is that they have similar symptoms, so they are difficult to distinguish. “A cold, as a rule, is soft with only a liquid nose, but everything related to fever and cough can be Covid, RSV or influenza,” says Dr. Ostsky.
Most of the people who receive the flu will recover with a lot of rest and moisture, within a few days up to less than two weeks. Some over -the -counter drugs, such as Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen, can temporarily alleviate the symptoms.
Recipe antiviral drugs can actually fight the virus and block it from replication and infection of more cells. These drugs can reduce the duration and severity of the disease if treatment begins when the symptoms are just beginning. Four available recipe for influenza:
- Oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu)
- Zanamivir (Relenza)
- Popivab (Popivab)
- Balksavir Marboxil (Xofluza)
“You can discuss these options with your doctor, but these medicines are probably a priority for people who are more vulnerable,” Khan says.
Avoiding influenza and preventing distribution
Although in some regions of the United States there are higher flu indicators than others, no region is safe from illness. Adalja notes that a number of factors can explain the amount of influenza activity in a state, including the level of social activity, the volume of movements in the geographical area, the density of the region and colder weather, which can force people a cluster in the room.
To prevent the spread of influenza and protect itself, Nur advises to observe the main precautions. “Masks and wash of the hands are the two most effective methods of preventing and spreading infection,” he says, in addition to staying at home when they get sick and remove people with symptoms.
“Despite the fact that people left the use of masks, masks protect people from illness, especially in crowded places, and they prevent the spread of infection to other people.”