I do not feel sick because I'm an athlete … Uggs Dams breaks myths about the flu

In order to avoid influenza, you must first be protected from misunderstandings about this contagious virus infection, which in people everyday in the cold months deprives people of not only their ability to work but also life. Ugbu Distib, Chief Infectious Disease Specialist at the Ministry of Health, explains the most common myths about influenza.

Myth No 1 "In order not to be infected with flu, strong immunity is sufficient"

"Most people are prone to influenza viruses, no matter how strong or weak the general immunity is." It is important that you have specific immunity to the specific influenza virus after the flu has been removed or after vaccination.If a person meets a new a type of influenza virus, there is a high risk of developing a disease. Chronic, when a completely new influenza virus, still called a pandemic, seems to affect many more people, "says Dumtis.

"If one thinks – I will not get sick with the flu, because I get vitamins and athletes, then I have to know – it does not work." Deaths or non-immature diseases are more affected by specific immunity and human genetic features, and the risk of illness is increased by anxiety, fatigue, indigestion, unbalanced diet, overheating and cooling. In turn, the severity of influenza is determined by a number of factors, including also the body's response.

"There are cases where the body is" very active "because of its strong immunity to respond to influenza viruses and inflammatory processes produce more severe flu symptoms, which means that the disease is more severe. cases, thanks to strong immunity, the patient cures successfully, "explains Dumtis.

Myth No 2 "The influenza vaccine can be harmful to health"

Such a statement has no evidence and can not be scientifically documented; on the contrary, studies have proved to be a reliable and effective vaccine. Vaccination can cause transient reactions – fever, swelling and pain at the site of the suture lasting up to two days.

It should also be noted that the vaccine can not cause flu because of the absence of live viruses.

Therefore, it can convincingly be said that the vaccine is the safest way to prevent the spread of influenza. "It yields both a comparison of the vaccine price and the cost of treatment and taking into account other personal financial losses associated with the illness, such as the use of a sick leave page." Every year, people die in Latvia who were able to protect the vaccine " , says Dumpis.

Myth No 3 "Pregnancy vaccine is particularly risky"

Absolutely the opposite! Pregnant women are at high risk and vaccination is highly recommended and the state compensates for the cost of buying a flu vaccine by 50% for pregnant women.

"Influenza is particularly dangerous for pregnant women because of the high temperature that affects the fetus, negatively affecting the development of the fetus and jeopardizing the benefits of pregnancy. It has been shown that pregnant women can be vaccinated at any time of pregnancy and this does not adversely affect the newborn.

Instead, the baby receives the necessary proteins from the vaccinated mother. Doctors who have been treated with a flu-infected rejuvenation department would never want to see such cases again in their practice. It is terrible if a pregnant woman needs a caesarean section due to flu because of a resuscitation! "Dumps the impact of influenza.

Myth no 4 "There is no point in being vaccinated because it is not known who the flu will be this year"

Influenza viruses are very variable, so every year, when preparing for the new flu season, it looks at which viral variations were most common in the past season in different regions of the world and what changes have occurred in the structure of these viruses. Depending on this, the World Health Organization makes recommendations for vaccine composition for the next season for the northern and southern hemispheres, respectively.

Sometimes a person who has been vaccinated against influenza can still be infected with influenza, especially if he or she is an elderly person or person with impaired immunity.

However, vaccinated influenza viruses are easier, faster to recover and have less risk of complications.

Although influenza vaccine may not be protected from illness in all cases, it reduces the need for hospitalization in a patient with complications and deaths related to influenza, and this is the most effective precautionary measure.

Myth no 5 "Influenza can be infected only once a year"

People are more likely to get infected than the most common influenza virus or to dominate the period and area under consideration. After detection of the flu, a person becomes immune to the relevant influenza virus. Since the flu season lasts from November to May and during the season spread a number of different influenza viruses, there may be a recurrence of influenza, especially for unvaccinated human, as the vaccinated person is immunized in at least three or four of the most common influenza viruses.

As a rule, the influenza epidemic begins in the second half of January when children return to schools in places where they "exchange viruses" after the vacation and the infection spreads rapidly to other populations.

Myth No 6 "A person becomes contagious after first showing flu symptoms"

No – a person infected with influenza spreads the virus one day before he begins to feel the signs of the disease – fever, bone loss, dry cough, neck pain, weakness and loss of appetite. It should be remembered that the infection is also distributed to seemingly healthy people or people with pleasant symptoms because they continue to attend educational institutions, workplaces and other public spaces.

The virus spreads in the form of small droplets, polluted zinc, coughing and even talking, or by contacting – shaking or touching household objects. The infection can be very easy, for example by touching the door handle and then rubbing your nose or mouth with your impure hands. When it reaches the airways, the virus dissolves quickly and after a few days or even a few hours, a person suddenly feels sick. In order to reduce the spread of infection, it is often necessary to wash hands, clean rooms and, to the extent possible, avoid visiting public places, especially during the influenza epidemic.

The material was prepared by the Ministry of Health and the Center for Disease Prevention and Control in the public awareness campaign "Do not let the flu catch you!". The aim of the campaign is to encourage vaccination of influenza and to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination, especially in those populations at high risk of influenza-related complications.