Some of your friend have been absent from school because of the flu and you really tried to stay healthy, but unfortunately this morning when you woke up you felt like a train went over your head. Your body aches, your nose is blocked and it feels like you cannot hear.
You do not want to miss classes, but you are struggling to get yourself out of bed.
In order for you to get better as soon as possible, there are a few steps that you need to follow, but first lets get some background on what flu is.
Flu or 'influenza' is caused by different types of viruses and the type of virus will determine the type of flu you have. One would think that doctors would have discovered a cure by now for a common cold, but since the virus changes almost every year it is difficult to find one specific thing that works. We just have medication that makes us feel better and will clear up the infection.
You can read more here https://www.health24.com/Medical/Flu/News/Why-theres-no-cure-for-the-common-cold-20150915
The flu virus spreads very easily and especially among kids that are spending a lot of time in a classroom and also to older people who does not have a healthy immune system.
The virus spreads when somebody sneezes or coughs or if you are in direct contact with the mucus or spit of the infected person and can also spread by 'hand to hand' contact or using toys and pencils or cutlery that the infected person used.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D0eIsuZC3w
If you are unfortunate enough to get the flu, you need to look after yourself, because if the flu gets worse and you do not do something about it, it can get worse like cause ear infection or pneumonia.
Read more about flu here https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/children-and-flu-influenza#1
When you have the flu, it is better to stay at home for a few days. Not only will you be able to build up your strength and soon feel better, but you will also not spread the virus to others. Maybe you hate missing school, but if you are really sick and not feeling well, your concentration is going to be off and you will actually just waste your own time and in the process just make yourself feel worse.
Once you have used a tissue to blow your nose or sneezed in it, throw it away. Do not use it over and over. That way you are just spreading the virus back to yourself. Also do not cough or sneeze without your hand in front of your mouth or using a tissue - you do not want to spread the virus all over the house or to others.
Since you will use your hands a lot to hold the tissues if you cough or sneeze or have to blow your nose, make sure you wash your hands often to get rid of the germs on your hands. This is very important, especially before you work with food.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUnHhEIJyW4
Make sure you get enough rest, and also take in enough fluids. You also have to make sure that you have the right medicine to drink. Go to your doctor or pharmacist and tell them exactly what your symptoms are so that they can give you the correct medicine. It is not a good idea to drink somebody else's pills.
Once you feel better, do not start doing a lot of exercise straight away. Your body first needs to build up his strength and especially if you had a lung infection, it will take a while before you can breathe in deep enough to keep up with exercising.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkVz-we1PTA
Try and avoid people for a while who are old or has other illnesses. Their immune system is vulnerable and they can easily get the virus. You do not want to be the cause of that.
You can read more about the function of the immune system here http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/immune.html
Not all of us can afford to go to the doctor or pharmacy and then you will have to use the things you have in your house. Watch the video for some home remedies to help you when you have a flu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQVbJNERILg
The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. ... In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose
These ideas will most probably help if you have a cold, but many times if you have a flu, you will have to visit the doctor for some stronger medication.
If you just get over the counter medication and it does not work and you start feeling worse, you will have to go and see your doctor.
Try and stay warm and if it is winter time, bundle up and stay indoors. If you tend to go out in the cold and then back in to a warm house, can also make you feel worse. This does not cause a flu, but the cold will lower your immune system and then you will be more susceptible for the virus to attack you.
The best you can do is get rest and get well before you face the world again.
It is also a good idea to go for a flu vaccination every year before the winter starts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06S8VUXcLsU
Originally posted here: https://hive.blog/hive-122108/@alishi/tips-to-take-care-of-yourself-when-you-have-the-flu
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