Test your Flu IQ

Seasonal flu vaccine information CLICK HERE.

Cause - Influenza (flu) is caused by various strains of influenza virus, either A or B.

Incubation Period - From exposure to the flu virus to development of symptoms is 1-5 days, with average of 2 days.

Contagious Period - A person is considered contagious (able to infect others) from 1 day prior to flu symptoms and up to 5 days after becoming ill. So it is possible to give someone the flu before you become ill, as well as while you are ill with symptoms.

Symptoms - Symptoms often develop suddenly and may include:

• fever over 100 degrees
• headache
• fatigue
• sore throat
• cough
• body aches, and
• nasal congestion and drainage.

Flu is a respiratory disease, not a stomach illness. It is unusual for flu to give stomach symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea, in adults. Fever often lasts 2 or more days. Cough and fatigue sometimes linger for a few weeks. Remember, many illnesses that are not flu can have symptoms similar to flu. See a healthcare provider to get proper diagnosis.

If you have the above symptoms, make an appointment online at healthweb.ncsu.edu or call 919-515-7107.

Complications - Complications may include pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus or ear infection, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as heart problems, asthma, or diabetes. Complications of flu can sometimes lead to death.

Difference between flu and cold - Flu and colds are caused by different viruses. In general, persons with flu are sicker than persons with a cold. Flu sufferers find it difficult to perform usual daily activities because of the extreme fatigue, more severe cough, higher fever, and body aches. Colds are less debilitating and less likely to result in serious complications, such as pneumonia.

How Flu is Spread

1. Person to Person: By respiratory droplets when the infected person coughs or sneezes. This sends droplets through the air that can be deposited in the mouth or nose of people nearby.
2. From Contaminated Objects to Person: When something is touched that has the flu virus on it, and then hands are brought to the mouth, nose, or eyes.

How Long Flu Virus Lives on Surfaces - Flu virus can live for hours on surfaces and tends to survive better on non-porous surfaces, such as wood, plastic, or metal. The virus does not survive as long on porous surfaces, such as paper or fabric.

Diagnosis -Ideally, see a healthcare provider if symptoms are more than mild or if diagnosis is not certain. Student Health offers a "rapid flu test" that takes just minutes to run. The rapid flud test may or may not be positive, even if a person has the flu. Remember that many illnesses that are not the flu can have symptoms similar to flu.

Treatment

• Get extra rest and extra fluids.
• A prescription anti-viral medication is sometimes given by the healthcare provider to lessen the severity or shorten the course of flu, but that medication is only considered effective if it is started within 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms.
• Monitor temperature and treat fever. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen are two medications commonly used to treat fever and body aches.
• Over-the-counter throat lozenges, cough syrups, or cough drops are sometimes used.
• Antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial complications, such as pneumonia or ear infection.
• Prescription cough medication is sometimes given for severe cough.

Prescription anti-viral medication is sometimes given to a contact of someone who has the flu diagnosis to prevent illness in that contact.



Student Health Pharmacy stocks a variety of over-the-counter medications for fever, body aches, sore throat, and cough, as well as the anti-viral medications, antibiotics, and prescription cough products.

How to Keep from Spreading Flu if you are Ill

• Cover mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing and discard tissue.
• Wash your hands after handling respiratory droplets from the nose or mouth.
• Remember that "FRIENDS DON'T COUGH ON FRIENDS."
• Stay away from school or work at least until the fever is over.
• Decontaminate shared items periodically, such as remote controls, refrigerator handles, and doorknobs, and do not share personal items, such as drinks.

How to Keep From Getting Flu