What exactly is "flu season"?!
Question: What exactly is "flu season"!?
I always get confused with this!. When they refer to "flu" is it the stomache flu or the cold flu!?
And, is there a time of year when the stomache flu is contagious and going around like colds do!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
And, is there a time of year when the stomache flu is contagious and going around like colds do!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Definitions:
1!. the pukie poopies = viral gastroenteritis - it is NEVER caused by influenza!. In small children almost always due to rotavirus!. In adults almost always due to norovirus (> 90% )!. Adenovirus can also cause it!. We really need to stop calling this "stomach flu" because there really is no such thing!. the proper term is "viral gastroenteritis"!.
2!. a cold = stuffy nose, runny nose, cough, headache, but no fever, no myalgias!. sometimes sore throat!. This is not caused by influenza virus either - it is caused by rhinovirus and several other benign viruses!. There is no vaccination nor treatment for this!.
3!. Influenza = DEADLY!. Fever 104F, completely disabling myalgias, scratchy eyes, runny nose, sore throat that comes on later, dry cough!. Kills 20,000 people a year in the USA!. Vaccine and treatment are available!.
The INFLUENZA season is variable each year -- for the past several years, see the outbreak curves from the CDC (see my ref below)!. Though variable, you can see that influenza activity is rare before week 50 ( that's about mid-December), and rare after week 16 (the end of April)!. So you can consider that "flu season"!.
That's why it's not to late to get a flu shot even in the month of March!. 2 years ago, I had influenza in MAY -- and let me tell you, you do NOT want to go through that!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
1!. the pukie poopies = viral gastroenteritis - it is NEVER caused by influenza!. In small children almost always due to rotavirus!. In adults almost always due to norovirus (> 90% )!. Adenovirus can also cause it!. We really need to stop calling this "stomach flu" because there really is no such thing!. the proper term is "viral gastroenteritis"!.
2!. a cold = stuffy nose, runny nose, cough, headache, but no fever, no myalgias!. sometimes sore throat!. This is not caused by influenza virus either - it is caused by rhinovirus and several other benign viruses!. There is no vaccination nor treatment for this!.
3!. Influenza = DEADLY!. Fever 104F, completely disabling myalgias, scratchy eyes, runny nose, sore throat that comes on later, dry cough!. Kills 20,000 people a year in the USA!. Vaccine and treatment are available!.
The INFLUENZA season is variable each year -- for the past several years, see the outbreak curves from the CDC (see my ref below)!. Though variable, you can see that influenza activity is rare before week 50 ( that's about mid-December), and rare after week 16 (the end of April)!. So you can consider that "flu season"!.
That's why it's not to late to get a flu shot even in the month of March!. 2 years ago, I had influenza in MAY -- and let me tell you, you do NOT want to go through that!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
The flu season is when the influenza germs start spreading rapidly between people and usually begins around Christmas!. This is the germ that they recommend you get a flu shot for!. This is the respiratory type with the fevers, chills, coughing, muscle aches - feeling like you have been run over by a truck!. The stomach flu - gastroenteritis - is around all year round, sometimes passing through families rapidly but with quick recovery and involves vomiting and diarrhea!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Flu season is regularly re-occuring time period characterised by the prevalance of outbreaks of influenza!. The season occurs during the cold half of the year in each hemisphere!. Influenza activity can sometimes be predicted and even tracked geographically!.
While the beginning of major flu activity in each season varies by location, in any specific location these minor epidemics usually take about 3 weeks to peak and another 3 weeks to significantly diminish!. Individual cases of the flu however, usually only last a few days!. In some countries such as Japan and China, infected persons sometimes wear a surgical mask out of respect for others!.
Hope this helps!.Good Luck!!!!Www@Answer-Health@Com
While the beginning of major flu activity in each season varies by location, in any specific location these minor epidemics usually take about 3 weeks to peak and another 3 weeks to significantly diminish!. Individual cases of the flu however, usually only last a few days!. In some countries such as Japan and China, infected persons sometimes wear a surgical mask out of respect for others!.
Hope this helps!.Good Luck!!!!Www@Answer-Health@Com
They are talking about fever, aches, chills that are caused by a certain bacteria!.!.!.but not the stomach bug!. Flu season is from October 1 thru March 31!.Www@Answer-Health@Com