Any type of influenza (also known as “the flu”) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a flu virus. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The flu is different from a cold. The flu usually comes on suddenly and may include these symptoms:
*Fever (usually high)
*Headache
*Extreme tiredness with muscle aches
*Dry cough
*Sore throat
*Runny or stuffy nose
*Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults.
The Swine flu or H1N1 is a strain of influenza which seems to be more virulent than any other strain of flu that has been seen during this flu season. The flu vaccine that was distributed this year does not cover the H1N1 virus.
What Can I DO to Stay Healthy?
There are simple, everyday actions you can take to stay healthy. Although a flu is different from the common cold, the actions we must take are no different from the actions we take to prevent contamination by the common cold virus. To be specific:
*Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue handy, sneeze or cough into the crook of your elbow. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. It is best to not reuse tissues.
*Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Droplets can leave the virus on door knobs, keyboards, and any other surface that is covered by the sneeze or cough. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Because influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the flu, the most important action to take to stay healthy is to try to avoid close contact with sick people. You may want to avoid going into large crowds for a while, until the increase in cases of H1N1 flu start to decline. They are reportedly declining in Mexico, and it is hoped that the trend will spread to other countries experiencing this flu.
If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit your contact with other people to keep from infecting them. If you must leave your home, wear a disposable mask to protect others from other members of your family as much as possible. Open the windows to provide good ventilation without causing a draft. Dispose of tissues in a trash container that avoids contact between the moist tissues and other family members. Wash your hands often, and if a family member enters the room, be sure they wash their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner before they touch their eyes, mouth or nose, or any object outside of the room.
As a professional or licensed vocation nurse you can educate patients and family alike. The person who is infected with flu is able to infect someone else for seven (7) days after the onset of symptoms. In fact, one day before it starts, you are able to give the flu virus to another person. So when you are plan your sick leave from work or school you need avoid infecting one another by being conscious of the incubation period also not just when the symptoms take effect, plan on at least (7) days from the onset of symptoms. LVNs in the Bay Area are very educated and diverse since so many cultures and hospitals as well as Bay Area Nursing schools are including these types of training and simple awareness in the ongoing Nursing Programs.
For more information regarding LVN/RN, please visit Americancollegeofnursing.com