Flu high season started How to protect yourself from the infection

Fever, Headache and Co: Now protect from the flu

Fever, throat, head and body aches: The flu has high season in autumn and in winter. In the cold season, influenza viruses can spread easily. But there are ways and means to protect yourself from infection. Not only - but also - by vaccination.

Flu is now high season

Especially in the fall and winter months, many people are sick - a harmless cold think many. But beware: in the cold season, the flu has high season. Since the symptoms are partly similar, the difference between cold and flu is not clear to all. Dr. Johannes Schenkel, Medical Director of Independent Patient Counseling Germany (UPD), explains in a communication how to differentiate diseases and how to protect themselves.

The flu has high season in the cold season. Health experts explain how to distinguish influenza from a common cold and how to protect against infection. (Image: Monkey Business / fotolia.com)

Difference between the flu and cold

"Flu (influenza) is a serious infection caused by influenza viruses. In the initial stage, it may give the appearance of a cold, because the symptoms are similar, "Dr. Johannes thighs.

Whether a flu or a flu infection is present, it can be seen, among other things, how quickly the symptoms set, because a real flu occurs suddenly. In addition, the symptoms are usually more intense.

In addition, a flu differs from a cold by a longer disease course. While flu usually lasts up to 14 days, a cold usually clears after a week.

Symptoms of flu include a high fever of over 38.5 degrees, which often lasts up to a week, sore throat, cough, severe headaches, muscle and limb pain, chills, and massive fatigue.

Complicating complications such as pneumonia can occur.

In contrast, a cold initially causes a slight scratching in the throat. The condition worsens slowly and the person suffering from cough, a runny nose, possibly a slight fever and head and body aches.

Increased risk of infection in the cold season

"In the cold months, the risk of infection is particularly high, as the flu viruses are easily spread by various routes," explains the medical director of the UPD.

For example, a transmission by a droplet infection is possible. In the process, the viruses are distributed by coughing, sneezing or speaking in the air and / or on surfaces and taken up by fellow human beings via the mucous membranes.

Flu viruses attached to objects are picked up by touch and carried on. Due to the so-called smear infection, the infection is still possible even if the transmitter has left the room long ago.

Even through direct contact when shaking hands or kissing the viruses get on quickly. Since people spend more time in closed rooms, especially in winter, this facilitates the spread even more.

Protection against influenza viruses

The course of a flu season can not be predicted. Last year, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), it was relatively strong with around 114,200 confirmed cases.

In order to protect yourself from an infection, it is generally useful to strengthen the immune system, keep away from patients and regularly wash their hands.

In addition, one should not cough and sneeze in the hand, but in the crook of the arm or a handkerchief.

Diseased people should avoid contact with other people in order not to be infected.

Significantly reduce the risk of infection

In addition to such measures, there is another way to protect yourself from infection:

"In principle, a flu vaccine makes sense, because the vaccine can significantly reduce the risk of infection - and more than half," says Schenkel from the UPD.

For this, the vaccine has to be adjusted every year. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the exact composition annually. The vaccine for the 2017/2018 season is already available.

"The characteristics of influenza viruses are constantly changing. The annual adaptation of the vaccine reacts to the change - thus the protection should be optimized. The vaccine should therefore be refreshed every year, "said the doctor.

Since the properties of influenza viruses are constantly changing, the flu protection is never 100 percent guaranteed.

For certain groups vaccination is recommended

In recent years, the flu epidemic usually started in January and lasted three to four months. If you want to be vaccinated, you should ideally go to his doctor in October or November, because it takes up to 14 days to protect against infection.

The permanent vaccination committee (STIKO) recommends the protection of certain risk groups. These include older people from the age of 60 years.

But: "Unfortunately, especially among seniors, the vaccination rates are particularly low at around 35 percent," says Prof. Dr. med. Lothar H. Wieler, President of the RKI, in a joint press release from the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA), the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) and the RKI.

The risk groups also include persons with increased health risks from an existing illness, for example chronic respiratory diseases, metabolic diseases, liver or kidney diseases or cardiovascular diseases.

Pregnant women, people with immunodeficiency, HIV infection and people who are at high risk of infection due to exposure to many people should also consider vaccination.

Patients suffering from an acute infection or febrile illness should not be vaccinated until they have recovered.

Whether a flu vaccine makes sense, but ultimately everyone must decide for themselves.

If you get caught in spite of protective measures, care should be taken with self-treatment for flu and colds, in particular, to drink a lot and to observe bed rest for a few days. (Ad)