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Influenza ("Flu") Frequently Asked Questions

When is the flu season in the United States? In the United States, the peak of flu season can occur anytime from late December through March. The overall health impact of a flu season (i.e., infections, hospitalizations, and deaths) varies from year to year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors circulating flu viruses and their related disease activity and provides influenza reports each week from October through May.

What is influenza (flu)? Influenza, commonly called "the flu", is caused by the influenza virus, which infects the respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs). Unlike many other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, the flu causes severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people.

 What are the symptoms of the flu?  Influenza is a respiratory illness. Symptoms of flu include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches. Children can have additional gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but these symptoms are uncommon in adults. Although the term "stomach flu" is sometimes used to describe vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea, these illnesses are caused by certain other viruses, bacteria, or possibly parasites and are rarely related to influenza.

How does the flu spread? The main way that influenza viruses are spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. This is called "droplet spread." This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled (generally up to three feet) through the air and deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Though this is much less frequent, the viruses can also be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or an object and then touches his or her own mouth or nose (or someone else's mouth or nose) before washing his or her hands.

What are steps to take to prevent  the flu? The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each fall. In the absence of vaccine, however, there are other ways to protect against the flu. Antiviral medications can also be used to prevent the flu. The employment of good health habits will help in flu prevention:

  • Avoid close contact.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing.
  • Clean your hands.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

How should the flu be treated? In some cases, the doctor may choose to use certain antiviral drugs to treat the flu. (Influenza is caused by a virus, so antibiotics like penicillin do not work to cure it.) Measures you can take at home include:

  • Rest
  • Drink plenty of liquids
  • Avoid using alcohol and tobacco
  • Take medication to relieve the symptoms of the flu, but never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms—and particularly fever—without first speaking to your doctor.

What is the HISD policy regarding illness in children?  Children are excluded from school when their temperature is 100.4° or above. Children should remain at home until fever-free for 24 hours.  School nurses should report cases of the flu to the Health and Medical Services Department at 713-349-7423.

Where is there more information on influenza? The Texas Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Both of these sites provide information in Spanish.