Seasonal Flu

Seasonal Flu

What is Seasonal Influenza (Flu)?

Flu is a highly contagious disease caused by the influenza virus, which is generally more common during the year between late autumn, winter and early spring. It affects and sickens a certain number of people every year, depending on the characteristics of the society. For this reason, this disease, which occurs in an expected number of people every year between late autumn, winter and early spring, is referred to as seasonal flu.

What is Swine Flu?

Various animals have their own flu viruses, and flu disease can also occur in animals. Generally, influenza viruses in animals are not expected to infect humans. However, in some years, flu viruses in animals can change their structure and infect humans and make them sick. Swine flu virus In this way, it was transmitted to people in Mexico in 2009, and then spread from person to person, affecting many more people than expected, spreading all over the world and causing an epidemic. This epidemic, which occurred in 2009, was referred to as the swine flu epidemic. The same factor, like other seasonal flu factors, affected and sickened the expected number of people in subsequent years. For this reason, the swine flu virus occurred in later years. It is now among the seasonal flu viruses.

What are the symptoms of flu?

Flu symptoms appear within 1-3 days after the virus enters the body.

One or more of the following symptoms may be observed;

• Fever (38°C and above measured from the armpit)
• Tremor
• Dry cough
• Sore throat
• Runny and congested nose
• Headache
• Muscle and joint pain
• Severe weakness
• Diarrhea, rarely vomiting

Fever (38°C and above) rises and chills appear, accompanied by headache and abdominal pain. A dry cough is observed. Apart from these, joint and throat pains, loss of appetite, runny nose, sneezing and dizziness may also be seen in flu disease.

This condition may be accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea in children; additional symptoms to be aware of in young children are restlessness, loss of appetite and sleepiness.

Symptoms may reach a level that affects the patient's daily work. Weakness may persist even after the flu is over. It may continue for a week.

Complaints usually last 7 days, get worse in the first 2-3 days and then begin to improve, but the recovery period may take up to 1-2 weeks.

How is Flu Transmitted?

Basically, it is transmitted by healthy individuals inhaling the droplets emitted by sick individuals during coughing, sneezing and speaking. Influenza (flu) virus is spread around as a result of the sick person coughing or sneezing. Millions of droplets containing water are dispersed. It has been shown that these droplets can spread up to 100 - 180 cm (1-2 meters) away from infected individuals.

Although it is rare, it can also be transmitted by touching the surfaces and objects contaminated with these droplets and then rubbing the hands into the mouth, nose or eyes. Shaking hands, kissing, talking more than one meter away are important ways of transmission. Door handle, table, cup, etc. The virus remains alive on surfaces for 2-8 hours.

Sick people start from the 5th to 7th weeks of the disease, starting 1 day before the symptoms appear. It is contagious until days.

Source: T.R. Ministry of Health https://grip.saglik.gov.tr/tr/mevsimsel- flu