Fall is Flu Season
The end of summer and the beginning of fall bring cooler weather, falling leaves, kids going back to school, holiday festivities and the flu. Flu season is typically from October to April in the Northern Hemisphere. Flu is caused by the influenza virus which infects the respiratory tract, including the nose, throat, trachea and lungs. This highly contagious infection is spread by coughing, sneezing and even talking.
Symptoms of Influenza
Symptoms of influenza include fever, chills, muscle aches, congestion, runny nose, cough and breathing difficulty. Other viral illnesses can cause these same symptoms, but are not as likely to cause severe pneumonia. The population at highest risk for complications from influenza include those over 65 years of age and children younger than four years.
Prevention with the Influenza Vaccine
Like other viral infections, influenza cannot be treated with antibiotics. The best way to prevent influenza is by getting the influenza vaccine, which is recommended for everyone six months of age and older. While the vaccine may not completely prevent influenza infection, it decreases the length and severity of the illness. Because antibodies wane and the influenza virus can change from year to year, it is important to get the current influenza vaccine each year.