Not to be sniffed at

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Flu is a highly infectious illness that spreads rapidly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are carrying the virus. Experts are predicting that this year will see one of the worst winter flu outbreaks in recent memory. If you’re at risk of complications from flu, make sure you have your annual flu jab.

Flu symptoms can hit quite suddenly and severely. They usually include fever, chills, headaches and aching muscles. You can often get a cough and sore throat. Because flu is caused by a virus and not bacteria, antibiotics won’t treat it.

Anyone can get flu, but it can be more serious for certain people, such as:

•             Those aged 65 or over

•             Those with a serious medical condition

If you are in one of these groups, you’re more vulnerable to the effects of seasonal flu (even if you’re fit and healthy) and could develop a more serious illness, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, which could result in hospitalisation.

Flu can also make existing medical conditions worse. The best time of the year to get a flu vaccination is in the autumn.

It’s free and it’s effective against the latest flu virus strains. If you think you may need a flu vaccination, check with your GP, practice nurse or your local pharmacist.  If a nurse visits you regularly, ask about getting your flu vaccination. Most GP surgeries arrange vaccination sessions in the autumn.