In April, the Department of Health has already confirmed 19 flu cases among the 40,000 flu-like illnesses. Reports have shown that this count is higher compared with last year’s results.
Noting these rising numbers, former Pediatrics and Disease Society in the Philippines president Dr. May Montellano said during a talk that flu chooses no season and could occur any time of the year, especially in tropical countries like the Philippines.
The prevailing assumption that one’s body can get over the common symptoms of flu leads to people taking this contagious illness for granted.
Ranging from mild to severe, flu is caused by the influenza virus that infects a person’s upper respiratory tract. Runny nose, cough, fever, and malaise comprise the symptoms of mild flu, while severe flu symptoms include nausea, high fever, and upper and lower respiratory tract infections.
The main difference between flu and common cold is that the former is usually accompanied by a high fever, followed by fatigue. These symptoms can persist for weeks.
However, it’s still possible to have flu without symptoms and the only way to know for sure is to conduct special tests through a doctor.
Often taken lightly, undetected and untreated flu can cause severe complications that can lead to bacterial infections, pneumonia, hospitalization, and even death. As a highly contagious disease, the impact of flu on patients and his surrounding environment can be very detrimental.
Flu can be unpredictable that recurring experiences are not enough basis to diagnose this deadly disease. As flu strains vary yearly, the World Health Organization advises the public to get flu vaccines annually and prevent the virus from spreading.
The organization of health experts earlier issued a few recommendations on stopping flu, with vaccination at the top of the list. Doctors and medical professionals believe that immunization is the best first defense against vaccine-preventable diseases.