In children, emergency warning signs
that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child
  does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then
  return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs
that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

You don’t have to listen to the news for very long before you start to hear something about the flu – Avian Flu, Canine Flu, Swine Flu, Bird Flu. The flu, a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, seems tough and constant, but there are ways to prevent it, or at least manage it if it hits you.

The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination every year, most likely in the form of a ‘flu shot’. The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine containing the killed virus that is administered with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.

The nasal-spray flu vaccine — a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu is approved for use in healthy people two to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each vaccine contains three influenza viruses-one A (H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus and one B virus. The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists' estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year.

About two weeks after a vaccination, antibodies within the body that provide protection against the influenza virus infection develop in the body.

Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September or as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season, into December, January and beyond. This is because the timing and duration of influenza seasons vary. While influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later.

While flu vaccinations are recommended for anyone 6-months-old or older, people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications should make vaccinations a priority, including people with chronic medical conditions, those who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities and healthcare workers.

The flu is usually spread in respiratory droplets when people who are infected cough or sneeze. People occasionally may become infected by touching something with influenza virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. Healthy adults may be able to infect others one day before getting symptoms and up to five days after getting sick.

Flu symptoms come on quickly and often include a high fever, headaches, fatigue, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, diarrhea and vomiting. More serious symptoms from the flu are more common in certain groups of people including people 65 and older, pregnant women, people with certain chronic medical conditions and young children.

When suffering from flu symptoms make sure to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and stay home if possible to prevent spread of the illness. Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of liquids and avoid using alcohol and tobacco. There are over-the-counter medications to relieve the symptoms of the flu, but never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms.

In addition to a flu vaccination, there are ways to prevent the flu through healthy and hygienic habits like avoiding close contact with people who are sick, washing hands often and not touching your eyes, nose or mouth with bare hands. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle with plenty of sleep, physical activity, stress management, plenty of fluids and nutritious food consumption, you can help increase a strong immune system.