Influenza Flu

And how to treat it.

 

 

 

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Flu is to a large extent a "seasonal" illness. Typically it coms in an outbreak or a larger epidemic in the winter. The Flu virus is known for the way it mutates from one strain to another in a short period of time. Each year there will be a different stain of Flu Virus circulates. If the strain is similar to one which has been in circulation before, then those who had the previous infection will get a milder case of Flu if they encounter the mutated strain. If the circulating strain is different from any previous strain, then nobody has any immunity and there will be a rapidly spreading epidemic of a more severe illness. This can trigger a Pandemic, which is an epidemic across the whole world, not just locally.

A typical case of "Real" flu comes on quite suddenly ,in any age group. Suddenly you get a high fever, Ie you feel freezing and feel like death having felt fine 10 minutes before. Whatever you are doing you will have to stop and will have to go home and lie down. If you do not feel this bad it is unlikely that you have the flu. If you can carry on working then there is no way that you have the flu. You do not get " A Touch " of this !!

You will spend a dreadful night, mostly sleepless alternating between high fever when you shiver and shake uncontrollably and have a severe headache, and spells when the fever comes down, usually after having taken something for it when you will sweat profusely, to the point of often having to change nightclothes and bedding. You will develop a sore throat and a dry rasping cough. What is actually happening here is that your trachea or windpipe becomes acutely inflamed, and feels as though it has been sandpapered inside. The front of your chest will really hurt, every breath hurts, coughing is agonising.

To top it all many people have a stomach upset as well.

Unfortunately you will continue in this very uncomfortable state for up to a week, in summary you will have, Fever , dry painful rasping cough, cater becoming productive with greeny, brown mucus. )This does not indicate a chest infection), Sore throat, swollen glands , headache with or without sickness. All of this is normal in children and adults. Please try to avoid consulting a Doctor about these symptoms. We have no treatment to prescribe , other than what can be got over the counter, and frankly , at the time will just do not have the time to see otherwise fit people feeling sorry for themselves with the flu. With children, we know that you feel that you should be doing something for them, but once again that something is just not there.

At Risk groups. The elderly, those with Chronic diseases such as asthma, heart disease or Children with Asthma

Flu is much more serious in these groups  and can sometimes be fatal. The current strain of flu seems to be particularly bad news for young asthmatic children However it should never happen.

Every single person in such a group in or practice, has been written to and invited to have a Flu vaccine which is almost totally effective in preventing the serious consequences of flu even though a few people do still get it.

If for any reason you or your child is in an at risk group and has not been vaccinated then contact the surgery immediately to arrange vaccination before it is too late.

If you were fit and well before getting Fluif you get the flu, and you are in an at risk group, treat it the same as outlined above, however look out for chest complications.  If there is any sign of breathlessness, or of coughing up bloodstained sputum or an altered level of conciousness then you need to see a Doctor.  Do not wait for a Doctor to do a house-call with the present demand on surgery appointments house-calls can often not be done until the end of the day.  However bad you feel try to come to the surgery where you can be seen quickly if needed. Particularly ,if you have serious concerns about a child's breathing or level of conciousness, do not wait for a Doctor to come to you, Take the child to the surgery during the day. Out of hours, if the child appears very ill go directly to the hospital otherwise call the surgery number and you will be given the first possible centre in the out of hours centre at Tarporley.

Please do not sit for hours waiting for a house-call because you do not want to take a child out, that wait could cost a child its life. The Doctors can not physically visit at home every child who might have the flu. To provide a speedy service we are totally dependent on you coming to us.

The treatment is.