Flu season has hit early in Ohio and nationally. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Ohio is one of 45 other states now designated as “Widespread” flu activity, which is further emphasized by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Early January is typically an earlier time for flu cases to be spiking, but not unusual.
Last Friday, ODH stated that 387 hospitalizations in the state of Ohio were influenza related from December 22 through December 28. Unfortunately, Ohio had its first pediatric death of this flu season which occurred on New Year’s Eve who was a 16 year old high school student from Berea.
In the news of this death, I’ve been receiving a lot of questions from my patients about influenza. No, it’s never too late to get your flu shot. Who is at high risk to get the flu? These risk groups include adults 65 years and older, children younger than 2 years old, pregnant women, and those with chronic medical problems like diabetes, asthma, COPD, and others. Check with your Family Physician to see if you are in one of these high risk groups.
What are the signs and symptoms of influenza? Unlike a cold, flu symptoms come on suddenly. I should know because I have gotten the flu myself on more than one occasion in the past. Flu symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, and headache. Most adults may be able to infect others beginning from one day before symptoms and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick.
How to prevent influenza and the spread of the flu? In addition to getting your flu shot, there are some everyday preventative actions that can help prevent the spread of germs, like frequent handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes and staying away from people who are sick. Of course, seek medical attention if you think you have any kind of flu symptoms.