Health-worx doctor, Sunthuri Bangaar said that many people wait until they have flu instead of being vaccinated which reduces the chance of getting flu.
“Influenza is characterised by a high fever, muscle or joint pain, runny and stuffy nose and a headache. Often some respiratory features, such as a cough or a sore throat will be experienced,” said Bangaar.
The doctor explained different flu strains have their own features, as some viruses affect the throat more than the chest, while others may affect the chest.
“Most of the time flu vaccines work. Statistically you have less chance of getting flu if you have been vaccinated against that particular strain, than if you wait the flu out and hope it will flush out of your system,” Bangaar said.
She explained that the vaccine exposes a person to pieces of the virus so that the body makes antibodies against the viral particles, creating ammunition against that flu strain.
“A flu vaccine does not guarantee that you will not get flu, [but] it allows your body to kill the virus quickly so that you get less sick.”
How to avoid flu:
- Get a flu vaccine
- Avoid people with flu. Encourage sick people to go home until they get better. That way you will have less exposure to the bug while at school or work
- Wash your hands after using the bathroom or shaking hands with people
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating fruit and a balanced diet, and taking lots of vitamin C. Rest well and cut down on smoking. Smokers are more prone to flu and secondary infections like pneumonia
- If you get flu, get medication from a doctor and stay at home until you are better.
