People age 65 and older should seek medical advice quickly if they develop flu symptoms this season to see whether they might need medical evaluation and possible treatment with antiviral
medications. People 65 and older are prioritized to get antiviral drugs if they become sick with the flu according to CDCCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the leading national public health institute of the United States. The CDC is a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Full Answer
Should seniors get the flu shot?
They may also prevent severe health problems that can result from having the flu. Seniors who receive a high-dose flu shot are more likely to develop side effects the week after receiving the vaccine. These could include pain, headache, muscle ache, tiredness, and redness or swelling at the injection site.
When should I seek medical care for the flu?
However, if you are at high risk for complications, you should contact your physician or seek medical care as soon as you notice symptoms. Your healthcare provider will determine whether you should be tested and treated for the flu. In children, emergency warning signs that require urgent medical care include:
What should people 65 and older do to prevent the flu?
In addition to getting a flu shot, people 65 years and older should take the same everyday preventive actions CDC recommends for everyone, including avoiding people who are sick, covering coughs, and washing hands often.
Can antiviral drugs help seniors with the flu?
Antiviral drugs can make your flu milder and help make you feel better faster. They may also prevent severe health problems that can result from having the flu. Seniors who receive a high-dose flu shot are more likely to develop side effects the week after receiving the vaccine.
When should the elderly go to the hospital for the flu?
Don't ignore severe symptoms that develop while battling the flu. See a doctor immediately if you have shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, vomiting, or mental confusion.
When should you start treating the flu?
Studies show that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatments when they are started within 2 days of getting sick. However, starting them later can still be helpful, especially if the sick person has a higher-risk health condition or is very sick from flu (for example, hospitalized patients).
How long does the flu last in the elderly?
As part of the aging process, the immune system can weaken over time. This makes it harder to fight off a flu virus. Symptoms of a flu typically last for around five to seven days. For some older adults, particularly those with high risk factors, the flu may last one to two weeks.
What are 3 symptoms of the flu?
People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:fever* or feeling feverish/chills.cough.sore throat.runny or stuffy nose.muscle or body aches.headaches.fatigue (tiredness)some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
What are the first warning signs of the flu?
Early signs of the flu include:fatigue.sudden fever (usually above 100°F [38°C])scratchy or sore throat.cough.chills.muscle or body aches.runny nose.
How do I know if I have the flu or Covid?
You cannot tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 just by looking at the symptoms alone because they have some of the same symptoms. That's why testing is needed to tell what the illness is and to confirm a diagnosis.
How do you know if your flu has turned into pneumonia?
Common Pneumonia Symptoms High fever, up to 105 F. Coughing up greenish, yellow, or bloody mucus. Chills that make you shake. Feeling like you can't catch your breath, especially when you move around a lot.
What helps the elderly with the flu?
Other ways to treat flu symptoms in older adults include:Get lots of rest.Drink plenty of liquids.Ask the doctor or pharmacist before you take a new over-the-counter cold or flu medicine. He can make sure it won't interfere with prescription drugs or complicate your other medical conditions.
Why does flu get worse at night?
At night, there is less cortisol in your blood. As a result, your white blood cells readily detect and fight infections in your body at this time, provoking the symptoms of the infection to surface, such as fever, congestion, chills, or sweating. Therefore, you feel sicker during the night.
What are the stages of the flu virus?
A bout of the flu typically follows this pattern: Days 1–3: Sudden appearance of fever, headache, muscle pain and weakness, dry cough, sore throat and sometimes a stuffy nose. Day 4: Fever and muscle aches decrease. Hoarse, dry or sore throat, cough and possible mild chest discomfort become more noticeable.
What are mild Covid symptoms?
The National Institutes of Health guidelines for treatment categorize mild COVID as" [i]ndividuals who have any of the various signs and symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, malaise, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of taste and smell) but who do not have shortness of breath, ...
What will the doctor do for the flu?
Usually, you'll need nothing more than rest and plenty of fluids to treat the flu. But if you have a severe infection or are at higher risk of complications, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral drug to treat the flu.
High-risk groups
Some people are at higher risk of such complications, as Dr Samar Mahmood, a GP in Barnsley highlights. "A person's particular vulnerability factor relates to how well their immune system functions," he explains.
Flu complications
People with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) may find that a bout of the flu triggers an exacerbation of their condition, making their usual symptoms worse.
COVID-19 and flu
This year, it's more important than ever that you have the flu vaccination if you're susceptible to complications, because of the added danger of COVID-19.
Should I seek advice?
The chances are that if you catch flu, the virus will be self-limiting and you'll be able to treat your symptoms at home.
Prevention and cure
The best way of keeping yourself and others safe from flu and its potential complications is to have the annual flu vaccination if you're eligible. This year, even more people can get a free flu jab. And those who aren't eligible for a free vaccine can pay for a vaccination from their pharmacy, which normally costs less than £15.
What is the flu for seniors?
Influenza is a respiratory illness that can onset mildly or severely and can result in hospitalization or death. The seasonal flu for seniors is caused by the influenza virus, which can infect humans and almost every other mammal and bird on the planet.
Why do seniors need flu shots?
Seniors need a higher dose of the flu vaccine because of their weakened immune systems. The shot also features higher levels of antigens—antibodies that activate an immune response—to help your body combat the flu should it enter your system.
What is the most common type of influenza?
This version of influenza can infect humans and animals (like pigs), and it is often found in wild birds as well, which carry the disease across continents. Influenza A has caused many of the flu pandemics in the 20th and 21st centuries.
How long does it take for the flu to show up?
Symptoms may take up to four days to show after entering your system. Typically, you are contagious for another five to seven days after showing symptoms. The flu has the potential of causing an epidemic, which is an outbreak of a virus in one section or community of the world.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
No matter the type of influenza virus you contract, the symptoms are pretty similar—though they vary in severity. Symptoms of the flu include: 5. Constant cough. 5. Runny nose. 5. Fever (for seniors, a body temperature above 101 degrees Fahrenheit), though this may not always occur.
Which strand of the flu only survives in humans?
Influenza B. Along with influenza A, influenza B, which lies behind about 20 percent of flu infections, causes almost all cases of the flu every year. This strand only survives in humans (and seals), so it is passed along among us homo sapiens.
How long does it take for bronchitis to go away?
Its main symptom is a cough driven by lung irritation and mucus. Like influenza, some form of bronchitis can work through the system in two to three weeks, but there are some forms (chronic bronchitis) that keep coming back, even when the flu has long passed through your system.
How many deaths from the flu occur in seniors?
It’s estimated that between 70 and 85% of seasonal flu-related deaths occur in seniors. Similarly, between 50 and 70% of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations occur in this age group. Luckily, with advancements in medicine, seniors now have access to a high-dose vaccine that can help protect them from the flu each season.
How soon after symptoms of the flu can you start taking antiviral drugs?
When considering treatment for the flu, it’s helpful to keep these considerations in mind: Treating the flu should begin as soon as possible because antiviral drugs work best when started early or within 48 hours after symptoms start.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
When you're sick with the flu, you may experience one or a combination of symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people may also experience vomiting and diarrhea. People infected with the flu may have respiratory symptoms without a fever.
What should I do if I get sick?
Most people with the flu have mild illness and don’t need medical care or antiviral drugs. In most cases, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people, except to get medical care.
Are there medicines to treat the flu?
Yes. Your doctor may prescribe an antiviral, a drug that can help you feel better faster and may prevent serious complications. Antivirals work better the sooner they are started. Learn more at the CDC.
High-Risk Groups
Flu Complications
- People with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may find that a bout of the flu triggers an exacerbation of their condition, making their usual symptoms worse. For anyone, but particularly people with respiratory illnesses, the most common complication from flu is a bacterial chest infection, which can develop on top of the flu virus itself. In some cases, a secon…
Covid-19 and Flu
- This year, it's more important than ever that you have the flu vaccination if you're susceptible to complications, because of the added danger of COVID-19. The viruses present with similar symptoms, making it difficult in some cases to distinguish between them. A new, continuous cough, a high temperature, and a change to your sense of taste or smell indicate COVID-19. If yo…
Should I Seek Advice?
- The chances are that if you catch flu, the virus will be self-limiting and you'll be able to treat your symptomsat home. However, it's crucial that you get medical advice if you're clinically vulnerable and you think you have flu. Essentially, you are classed as clinically vulnerable if you are normallyentitled to the free NHS flu jab. Carers and those in regular close contact with people o…
Prevention and Cure
- The best way of keeping yourself and others safe from flu and its potential complications is to have the annual flu vaccination if you're eligible. This year,even more people can get a free flu jab. And those who aren't eligible for a free vaccine can pay for a vaccination from their pharmacy, which normally costs less than £15. It's also a good id...