Flu Season is Here

Flu season is here and on track to be one of the worst we've seen in years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated about 15 million people have experienced flu illnesses this year and 140,000 of those have resulted in hospitalizations. Most at risk are infants and young children, people who are 65 years or older, pregnant women, and any individuals with weakened immune systems. The CDC states that we have already seen 8,200 deaths this year due to complications from the flu, with 54 of them being pediatric deaths.

Illinois is seeing widespread cases of the flu. It is encouraged that anyone who is able to receive the flu vaccine gets it as early as possible. It can take up to two weeks for protection to develop and infants as young as 6 months can receive it. There are many ways that we can help prevent this from spreading and steps to take to protect ourselves:

• Cover your cough and sneezes
• Good hand washing
• Avoid close contact – especially with individuals who have been sick
• Stay home if feeling unwell
• Disinfect surfaces at home and work regularly
• Get plenty of sleep
• Stay well hydrated and eat healthy

As a nurse who works with the infant population, we see so many young children getting hospitalized this time of year due to respiratory distress. Their immune systems are much more immature than adults. When being around this at risk population, please make sure to wash your hands, don't kiss babies on their face or hands, and stay away from them if you have not been feeling well. Parents of young babies are encouraged to avoid crowded places if possible to reduce the exposure to the flu.

Some of the signs of symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Headache
• Runny nose
• Vomiting/Diarrhea

In mild cases, if you are experiencing signs and symptoms of the flu, you should stay home, rest, and keep hydrated. If you are considered high risk, such as young kids, greater than 65 years old, pregnant, or have other health illnesses please seek medical attention from your health care provider who will further instruct you on what to do. If wanting any further information regarding the flu or to see more information on this year’s statistics, please visit cdc.gov/flu for the current updates.

Submitted by: Megan Mesick