“I’m down with the flu”
How many times have you heard that from someone? I know I’ve used it a few dozen times to describe an illness. In my mind, “flu” had always been a term used interchangeably with the common cold, stomach infection, viral fever, or any other seasonal illness. But the truth is far from it.
Despite the fact that sites with medical information on symptoms and side effects are amongst my most visited sites after becoming a mother, the influenza viral has gone entirely under my radar. Colds, mild fever, and being under the weather are assumed to be regular winter month phenomena. We all have our home remedies and “nuskas” that are applied and life goes on.
But, influenza can be serious (even fatal) and definitely shouldn’t be ignored.
A few months ago, I got to attend a very informative session on #MomVsFlu where a few of the top mommy bloggers of Mumbai got to interact with two renowned doctors – Dr. Mukesh Gupta, a leading OBGYN in Mumbai, and Dr. Uday Pai, a paediatrician with nearly three decades of medical experience. They talked about some key myths-vs-facts about flu, its symptoms, cure & prevention. We also got the chance to hear first-hand what Genelia Deshmukh, Bollywood’s darling mother of two beautiful boys, had to say. She strongly believes in the cause of fighting the influenza virus and creating a safe environment for our little ones.
Here’s a summary of the things that I learnt at the session:
Not just a runny nose: Influenza or the flu is a respiratory infection, but it is not the same as the common cold. It is a viral infectious disease that can present itself with a host of symptoms. Fever, cough, body ache, overall tiredness, breathlessness and difficulty in breathing are the main signs that signal the onset of the flu.
Isolate & Hydrate: It is highly contagious, and in fact when someone sneezes as far as six feet away, you can still get infected. As soon as early symptoms present, remember the keywords – isolate & hydrate. Taking paracetamol for the body ache and fever, drinking fluids, and resting (while avoiding contact with others) tends to work for milder symptoms of the flu.
Worriers to Warriors: when you’re done convincing yourself that you (or your child) suffer from the most severe infection known to mankind, take a step back. Rather than worrying about what it may be, speak to a medical professional and know what to look out for. I could really relate to what Genelia said, “No mother should be a Worrier; every mother is a Warrior.”
You can check out www.mothersagainstinfluenza.in to get correct information. The best way to ensure proper medical treatment for your child (and yourself) is to keep a strict tab on symptoms. Have a thermometer at home, and keep a check the temperature of the patient. Monitor symptoms closely, and contact your doctor if that cough/fever/soreness is not going away after 24-48 hours.
Prevention is better than cure: My little one had six bouts of illness in as many months, as soon as he joined his daycare. Unfortunately, my conversation with the doctor never got around to prevention, it was always focused on curing the illness. Don’t make the same mistake as me. Talk to your paediatrician about taking flu shots, and what else can be done to prevent the spread of infections. If you’re planning to have a child, speak to your gynaecologist and take your own shots on time so you can protect your to-be-born. If you have missed taking shots at the pre-conception stage, then it is safe to take them while you’re pregnant – flu shots are safe to take at any stage of pregnancy.
Protective shield: there are 34 different strains of the virus that can cause influenza, and they mutate every year. And that is precisely why the World Health Organisation recommends yearly vaccines. According to Dr Pai, April to June is the best period to take influenza vaccination for children and the whole family for complete prevention against flu. Rather than worrying about the infections your child can catch from school, get flu shots for everyone in the house on time, and fight the virus head-on.
High risk: Fortunately, not all cases of the flu require serious medical intervention. But certain categories are at higher risk of complications. Pregnant women, children below 5 years, senior citizens, and ailing patients need to be extra cautious. Up to date flu vaccines are a must for them. But, one must also remember that the flu spreads by touching, coughing, sneezing etc. Dr Mukesh Agarwal highlighted am important concept of Samuhik Vaccination, i.e. create a cocoon of safety around the ones who need protection. He advises that the entire family – parents, grandparents, and even nannies – who spend so much time around the kids should get vaccinated so that they don’t pass on the infection.
As my favourite childhood tv show used to announce, knowing is half the battle. And increasing awareness about influenza is the first step in helping to fight the battle against it. I hope you’ll arm yourself with all the knowledge to join me on the winning side of #MomVsFlu.
Disclaimer: I attended a discussion on influenza awareness facilitated by Abbott India Limited. Any opinion expressed in this blog is my personal opinion and not the opinion of Abbott India Limited. Abbott India Limited does not assume any liability for the content of the blog. The blog post is not meant to be a replacement for a doctor consultation, nor is it a medical recommendation or prescription of treatment for babies having Influenza.
Any reader of this blog or their family members suffering from Influenza should specifically consult their doctor for the same and follow the suggested course of treatment.
