FLU

INFLUENZA MEANS FLU

What Is the Flu?

Influenza is also called the flu. It is a kind of infection and it causes fever, chills, cough, body aches, headaches, and sometimes earaches or sinus problems. The flu is caused by the influenza virus. A virus is a microorganism which means it's so small that you can't see it without a strong microscope.
For most people, the flu is a drag, but it goes away in a week or two. But for some people, the flu can make them very sick. Those groups include:
babies and kids younger than age 5
people older than 50
adults and kids who have health problems, such as diabetes and asthma
Anyone who's at risk of getting really sick needs to get a flu shot, or vaccine. People such as doctors and nurses also need the shot because they take care of sick people, and it's good for anyone who is around older people and younger kids to get the vaccine.
And now, experts say that all kids between the ages of 6 months and 18 years should get the flu shot. This is especially important for kids who have:
heart or lung disorders, including asthma
chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, certain kinds of anemia, or

immune system problems, including HIV/AIDS
Flu vaccines are usually given in the fall, before flu season starts. Flu season means the months of the year when a lot of people have the flu and it's easy to catch it. It starts in middle of November and usually ends in March.

HOW TO STOP FLU

Lots of people get the flu, but what do you do? These are some tips to get out from FLU:

1.Drink lots of liquids, like water, chicken broth, and other fluids.

2. Get plenty of sleep. If you can't sleep anymore, keep resting. Listen to music, watch a movie, or read a book or magazine.

3.If you're feeling achy, ask your parent for some medicine. But avoid aspirin because it can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.

4.Wear layers. You might be cold one minute and hot the next, so if you wear plenty of layers you can pull your favorite sweatshirt on and off.

5.Wash your hands! You don't want to spread the germs that cause the flu. Also, don't share cups and eating utensils, like forks and spoons, with anyone.

Most of the time you will get better in about a week, but it's important to let your parents know if you have trouble breathing, your muscles really hurt, you feel confused, or if you start feeling worse at any time. These could be signs that you need to see your doctor again.