About the Flu > Seasonal Flu
Seasonal flu
When most people refer to the flu, they are talking about the seasonal flu. Typically, this flu is caused by viruses that already circulate among people. We say it is predictable because the outbreaks usually occur in the winter months. [3]
What is the flu?
How does the flu spread?
Who is at risk?
How can I help prevent the flu?
What if I already have the flu?
The word “flu” is short for influenza, the virus that causes flu symptoms. The flu targets the lungs and can spread easily. Anyone can get the flu. For some people, flu and its complications can be very serious, even fatal. [3]
Sometimes the flu is mistaken for a cold, because some of the symptoms are the same. Runny nose, sore throat and a cough are common to both. But the flu is usually worse, resulting in body aches, headache, and fever. Also, flu symptoms can last longer than those of a cold, sometimes for weeks.
The most common way to catch the flu is directly from another person. Whenever we cough or sneeze, we send out droplets from the nose and mouth, which travel through the air. If those flu-infected droplets are inhaled by another person, that person can catch the flu.
Another way to catch the flu is when you touch something that an infected person has sneezed or coughed on and then touch your nose.
The flu virus can be in our systems before symptoms appear. For this reason, a person can spread the infection to others without appearing sick. Once infected, a person can remain contagious for about a week.
Anyone can get the flu. And the best way to help prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each year. [3] Learn more about flu vaccination.
- Get a flu vaccination each year.
- Stay back. Try not to get too close to others during flu season—especially people who are coughing or sneezing. If you’re coughing or sneezing, cover your nose and mouth to protect other people. (See "How does the flu spread?")
- Stay clean. Keep your hands away from your face as much as possible. If you get the virus on your hands, you can infect yourself by touching your nose. To help keep your hands germ-free, wash them more than usual throughout the day. (See "How does the flu spread?")
- Stay home. If you’re sick, stay home so you don’t spread the flu to others.
If you think you have symptoms of the flu and they have appeared within the last day or two, you should immediately talk to your healthcare provider to see if RELENZA might be right for you. Learn more about RELENZA.
Important Safety Information
Some patients have had bronchospasm (wheezing) or serious breathing problems when they used RELENZA. Many but not all of these patients had previous asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. RELENZA has not been shown to shorten the duration of influenza in people with these diseases. Because of the risk of side effects and because it has not been shown to help them, RELENZA is not recommended for people with chronic respiratory disease such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
If you develop worsening respiratory symptoms such as wheezing or shortness of breath, stop using RELENZA and contact your healthcare provider right away.
If you have chronic respiratory disease such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and your healthcare provider has prescribed RELENZA, you should have a fast-acting, inhaled bronchodilator available for your use. If you are scheduled to use an inhaled bronchodilator at the same time as RELENZA, use the inhaled bronchodilator before using RELENZA.
Other kinds of infections can appear like influenza or occur along with influenza, and need different kinds of treatment. Contact your healthcare provider if you feel worse or develop new symptoms during or after treatment, or if your influenza symptoms do not start to get better.
In studies, the most common side effects with RELENZA have been headaches; diarrhea; nausea; vomiting; nasal irritation; bronchitis; cough; sinusitis; ear, nose, and throat infections; and dizziness. Other side effects that have been reported, but were not as common, include rashes and allergic reactions, some of which were severe.
This list of side effects is not complete. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can discuss with you a more complete list of possible side effects with RELENZA. Talk to your healthcare provider promptly about any side effects you have.
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