WHAT TO CONSIDER ABOUT FLU ( INFLUENZA)

Flu or influenza

Antibiotics are useless against viral illnesses like flu or influenza. The best way to get rid of the flu or any other infectious illness is to attack head-on by strengthening the immune system. The thymus and the adrenal glands are the power seat of the immune system. When the body is sick or is already sick, it is under stress, and stress taxes the immune system. Researchers have linked vulnerability to colds and flu linked to psychological stress. Children who have the flu frequently should be checked for thyroid malfunctions.

If you are allergic to eggs or chicken, you should definitely avoid flu shots, as the vaccine id produced from chicken embryos. The term"stomach flu" is commonly used to refer another condition, gastroenteritis. This is not influenza, but an acute inflammation of the lining of the stomach. Gastroenteritis is characterized by diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, that vary in severity, and may be accompanied by fever, chills, head and body aches, chest pain and cough and extreme fatigue. It may be caused by a number of different factors, including food poisoning, viral infection, alcohol intoxication, sensitivity to drugs and certain allergies. This type of illness just runs its course in one or two days. Sleep and rest as much as possible.

To shorten the length of the flu, go on liquid diet emphasizing herbal teas and hot broth for one or two days. Take hot chicken or turkey soup. In treating sore throat, avoid using aspirin, chewing um and aspirin gargles. Aspirin applied directly to mucous membrane does not reduce pain and can act as an irritant. Do not give aspirin to a child who has the flu. the combination of aspirin and a viral illness has been linked to the development of rye's syndrome, potentially dangerous complications. Fever is one of the body's major defense mechanisms against the flu. If you have a fever, do not suppress it unless it is over 103"F. If you are over 65, see your doctor. Influenza can cause serious complications for people in this age group.