As winter is coming, various types of flu viruses are more active, making it a high onset period for flu, so the doctors from Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) gave a lecture on the prevention of flu, bringing about science tips to students.

Flu is short for influenza, an acute respiratory infection caused by the flu virus.

The Spread of Flu

1. Due to its high infectivity and fast transmission speed, the virus is prone to mutation, causing seasonal epidemics every year, making winter a high onset period of flu in China.

2. The virus is prone to causing clustering epidemic in places such as schools, childcare institutions, elderly care institutions and labor-intensive enterprises.

3. Flu patients and asymptomatic virus carriers are the main sources of flu infection. The viruses in human respiratory secretions generally continue to detox for three to six days, and flu patients are infectious from the end of the incubation period to the acute phase.

4. Flu is mainly transmitted via droplets such as sneezing and coughing. It can also be transmitted via direct or indirect contact with mucous membranes such as the mouth, nose and eyes. Contact with objects contaminated with the virus can also cause infection.

5. People are prone to flu.

Courses and Symptoms of Flu

1. The incubation period is normally one to seven days, two to four days most of the time.

2. The main clinical manifestations of flu are acute onset, fever (some up to 39-40℃), accompanied by constitutional symptoms such as intolerance of cold, chill, headache, muscle and joint pain, weakness, loss of appetite, as well as local symptoms such as sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, retrosternal discomfort, facial flushing and mild conjunctival congestion. Some symptoms are characterized by vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea, especially common in children infected with influenza B.

3. The symptoms of flu cases are generally mild, and the course of asymptomatic patients is self-limited. Body temperature and constitutional symptoms usually turn around after three to four days of illness, but recovery from cough and strength often takes one to two weeks.

4. Some patients may develop serious illnesses such as sychronous pneumonia, sometimes even causing death, especially among infants, the elderly, people with low immunity or underlying diseases, obese people, and pregnant women.

According to surveillance data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Chengdu has gradually entered a high onset period of flu. We hereby make the following suggestions:

5. Get vaccinated for the flu. Vaccination is the most economical, effective and specific means to prevent flu and to obtain effective protection. In addition, people in schools and childcare institutions are also encouraged to get vaccinated as they are in densely populated places and one infection case can cause wide spread of the flu.

In addition to vaccination, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and good personal hygiene habits are also important means to prevent flu.

6. Enhance physical fitness and immunity. Maintain a healthy lifestyle; keep the balance between work and rest; ensure sufficient sleep and optimistic attitude; avoid overexertion; do more physical exercise, and wear for the weather.

7. Develop a good habit of personal hygiene. No spitting; sneeze or cough with a handkerchief or tissue to cover the mouth and nose to avoid droplet contamination; wash hands promptly and regularly after contacts with respiratory secretions (such as sneezing) to avoid contacts of dirty hands with mouth, eyes and nose; keep ventilation in places of residence and work.

8. Minimize activities in crowded places. During the epidemic season, reduce your stay in crowded places of poor air circulation; in public places such as shopping malls, hospitals, and waiting rooms, try to stay in places with good air circulation, and do not stay in crowded places with tainted air for a long time; when taking transportation, try not to talk with or contact people with upper respiratory symptoms such as coughing; if you have a fever and other symptoms, wear a mask to avoid infecting others.

9. Be aware of personal protection when seeing a doctor. When seeking medical treatment for fever and respiratory symptoms such as coughing and sore throat, wear a mask, go to a legitimate medical institution, and inform the doctor of your contacts with cases of similar symptoms. Serious illness is likely to be caused in infected infants, senior people and patients with chronic disease. If infected, these people should seek medical treatment in time.

10. Home quarantine. People with fever and symptoms such as coughing and sore throat or who are confirmed to be flu or flu-like cases should rest at home and not go to work or school to avoid infecting others.

Preventive Health Care, University Hospital, SWJTU