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Influenza
Infection Control Team
PIF 1254 V3
What is flu?
Influenza or 'flu' is a respiratory illness due to infection by the
influenza virus. There are two main types of flu: influenza A and
influenza B. Influenza A usually causes a more severe illness
than influenza B. The flu virus is unstable and new strains are
constantly emerging.
Flu occurs most often in winter and usually peaks between
December and March. A possible explanation for the high
influenza virus activity at this time is that people congregate
indoors during winter and this enables the virus to spread from
person to person.
What are the symptoms of flu?
The most common symptoms of flu are a sudden onset of fever,
shivering, headache, muscle ache and dry cough.
Most people confuse flu with a heavy cold, but flu is usually a
more severe illness. The common cold, is caused by other
respiratory viruses.
The incubation period (the time between infection and the
appearance of symptoms) is about two to three days.
Adults are usually considered infectious once symptoms appear
and for three to five days afterwards. This period is longer in
children.
For most people a flu infection is an unpleasant experience, but
for some it can lead to more serious illnesses. The most common
complications of flu are bronchitis and pneumonia.
How is flu spread?
The flu virus is highly contagious and can be passed easily from
person-to-person when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Infection can also occur when someone touches a contaminated
surface and puts their fingers in their mouth, nose or near their
eyes.The flu virus can live on a hard surface for up to 24 hours
and a soft surface for around 20 minutes.
You can minimise the likelihood of catching flu by using
good hygiene practices such as:
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Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when
sneezing or coughing
Dispose of used tissues in waste bins
Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, especially after you
have coughed, sneezed or used a tissue.
Public Health England advises all eligible people to have the flu
jab each year to protect themselves, particularly if they are at
high risk of infection.
Vaccination offers the best protection.
You are eligible if you are:
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Aged 65 or older
Live in a long-stay residential home
Are carers of people who are elderly or infirm
Have a history of chronic illness including heart conditions,
kidney disease, chronic asthma or diabetes that requires
medication
Have lowered immunity to infection due to HIV, steroid
medication or cancer treatment.
You should contact your family doctor if you are eligible and
have not yet had a vaccination.
How is flu diagnosed?
Usually, a doctor will diagnose flu based on symptoms of fever,
chills, headache, cough and body aches.
How is flu treated?
If you have flu or flu-like symptoms when you are at home you
should rest, drink plenty of fluids and take pain killers
(paracetamol for all ages, aspirin can be taken by adults).
You can usually treat the infection at home until you are well
enough to return to normal activities.
Medical advice should be sought if symptoms become severe or
last more than a week. Those with chronic or long-standing
illness may need medical attention earlier.
If you are a patient at this hospital and have flu-like symptoms
you will be tested for the flu virus. This is so doctors can ensure
you receive the best care and treatment for your illness, quickly
and effectively.
This may mean moving you to a single room or to a special ward
for people with the flu virus. This will help to contain the virus and
prevent it spreading to other patients and staff.
If any patients in our hospitals are found to have the flu virus,
additional cleaning duties will be carried out to ensure patient
safety and to limit the chance of further infection.
Visiting
Visitors are advised not to come into hospital if they feel unwell
or have any flu-like symptoms. This is to help prevent the spread
of the flu virus or any other illness to patients and other people.
Once a patient has been diagnosed as having flu the clinical
team may take the decision to close the ward to visitors. This is
to reduce the likelihood of any further infections.
Visitors are advised to follow the advice given to them by the
ward staff or the infection control team.
What precautions can hospital visitors take?
Visitors are advised to take extra care, washing their hands and
using hand gels. This helps combat infections and illnesses but is
particularly important at this time of year as the flu virus is more
widespread.
Further Information
Public Health England
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/publi
c-health-england
Public information access office:
Public Health England
Wellington House
133-155 Waterloo Road
London
SE1 8UG
[email protected]
Main switchboard 020 7654 8000
Health advice for members of the public
Tel: 0845 4647 (NHS Direct)
Author: Infection Control Team with information
from Public Health England
Review Date: September 2015
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