Flu arrives suddenly. It’s time for prevention now! (2)

Flu is a viral disease occurring around the world. In the moderate temperature zone it spreads usually during the cooler months, in the Czech Republic the epidemic climaxes in the period from January to March. The disease is transmitted by droplets and therefore spreads in the air, in particular when a sick person coughs or sneezes, but also by simply touching or being in ordinary close contact with a sick person.

Just flu?!

During the flu epidemic in the first quarter of the year, flu is the dominant respiratory disease. Around a million people get infected in the Czech Republic every year. It is usually quite mild and this is why it is often underestimated and overlooked and why sufficient attention to prevention is not paid. In the case of many patients, however, there are more serious problems and approximately 1,500 people a year die in connection with flu. Mostly, however, they are not deaths directly due to flu, but as a consequence of a fatal worsening of a chronic disease. There is a risk the disease will be more severe in the case of people with other chronic diseases (heart, kidney and lung disease, diabetes, etc.) or weakened immunity, persons over 65, pregnant women and the smallest children.

A patient infected with flu is dangerous to the people around him for approximately a week. The incubation period before the onset of the first symptoms is 1–3 days. A patient is infectious for the people around him for another 3–5 days. The flu itself lasts for 1 to 2 weeks.

You can recognize flu by fever, muscle aches and a dry, irritating cough.

Flu symptoms have a sudden onset. They are fever, chills, headaches, muscle and joint aches, weariness and, later, a dry cough. At the current time identifying flu is complicated by the coronavirus infection, which has the same or very similar symptoms. In the event of such problems, therefore please always contact your general practitioner or the regional public health station.

Over-the-Counter Drugs Can Help Suppress Flu Symptoms

The basis of treatment for ordinary flu is rest, plenty of liquids and supplementation of vitamins through fruit, vegetables and food supplements. Using suitable drugs can materially alleviate the individual symptoms of flu. The most frequently used are paracetamol and ibuprofen, which dampen pain and reduce fever, as well as medicines that suppress coughing or, on the contrary, boost expectoration in the case of chest congestion.

“Paracetamol is a good helper when treating flu, because it suppresses both main symptoms – fever and pain. In addition, it is a very effective and safe drug available also without a doctor’s prescription. It is, however, important to use it in the recommended doses (and intervals) and not exceed them! In the same way, it is appropriate to consult a doctor or pharmacist about the appropriateness of treatment using paracetamol in the event you also have kidney or liver disease or when using other drugs, with the aim of preventing a paracetamol overdose. It is similar with other medicines, including Ibuprofen, whose use should be avoided, for example, by patients with stomach ulcers and those that use drugs to thin their blood,” said Mgr. Ondřej Šimandl, a pharmacist and specialist consultant at the  EUC Pharmacy in Prague.

Vaccinations, Vitamins and Correct Hygiene Habits Can Help Prevent It

The best option is, naturally, to completely avoid flu. The most effective protection is vaccination, which markedly reduces the risk of illness and its seriousness after contracting it. The protective effect of a vaccine occurs 2–3 weeks later, so vaccination before the start of a flu epidemic is recommended.

In addition to vaccinations, there are a number of measures that can help you avoid flu. The risk of infection is reduced by a healthy life style (active movement, sufficient consumption of liquids, quality food and vitamins and thorough rest) and correct hygiene habits, such as, for example, frequent hand washing, using single-use tissues, regular disinfection of daily use items and regular ventilation of rooms. During an epidemic, it is a good idea to limit movement in places with high concentrations of people, or in such situations practice safe distancing and use protective equipment, such as masks. By doing this we protect ourselves and the people around us.

Are digital thermometers reliable?

In connection with various illnesses, not only flu, we often measure bodily temperature. In the last few years thermometers have markedly changed. Many people still love old mercury thermometers, which, due to a European Union regulation, have stopped being sold due to safety concerns. The alternatives are glass thermometers containing a mix of gallium, indium and other metals. Measuring is performed the same as when using a mercury thermometer, but otherwise they are shaken. It is therefore ideal to buy a mercury-free thermometer with a handle and shake the thermometer immediately after taking your temperature.

Digital thermometers enjoy greater popularity. They are often criticized for their unreliability. They are available in various alternatives, such as with a bendy tip or in the form of a dummy. Contactless thermometers are popular – they scan for infrared radiation, which can be used to measure temperature on the forehead or in the ear. All digital thermometers show the result within a few seconds, but how much can you rely on them?

“Digital thermometers are mostly just as reliable as glass ones, the problem is much more frequently in their incorrect use. For example, when measuring temperature on the forehead using a contact thermometer the skin has to be dry and clean, and the thermometer cannot touch the hair. We also cannot forget the deduction of tenths of a degree depending in the place of measurement – in bodily cavities the temperature is higher. All this information is always stated in the instructions.” explained Mgr. Ondřej Šimandl, a pharmacist and specialist consultant from the EUC Pharmacy in Prague. “In particular in the case of contactless thermometers it makes no sense to save money – this could be at the expense of the reliability. In my experience, however, it is possible to rely on a guarantee of quality from leading producers,” added Mgr. Šimandl.

If you have available a classic glass thermometer, you can check the correctness of digital measurements by occasionally re-measuring. Sometimes the cause of incorrect functioning of a digital thermometer is only a “weak” battery.