You Don’t Know as Much About the Flu as You Think You Do.

How can parents, teachers, and daycare providers prepare to avoid the next viral bug from plaguing the lives of families and the public education system?

What you don’t know about influenza or any other contagious viral disease can create a flurry of confusing memes of disinformation/ misinformation that can be devastating for you or your family members. 

No Non-cents Nanna will give you some tips, new terminology, and resources to read before the next cough-cough runs amuck with our new normal.

In 2020 a pandemic was declared is recent evidence of that, I am sure you already know. And in case you did not know –Tick Tock is NOT a credible news source.

This post was written in 2020. No non-cents Nanna updated this on March 4, 2023, with more rumors of wars and pestilence predicted on the horizon. It is in your family’s best interest and mine to have a safety net of forewarned basic knowledge prior to a repeat of 2020.

Are you ready to get the gears turning in your brain? We’ve got some critical thinking skills to exercise as we more closely examine the facts.

Please read the disclaimer below.

No one wants what you have!

Tip #1

If you feel sick, don’t go to work. Keep ailing kids home from school, too. Yes, I know, you have to go to work.

Let’s think about how we can plan ahead for sick days with some facts in mind.

An adult can infect other people one day before symptoms show up and up to 5 days after they start. You could spread flu to others before you know you’re sick. If you go back to work or school within 5 days after your symptoms started, chances you’re still contagious. https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/spreading-flu-do-you-know-the-rules#1

Personal Message:

Since I was a kid I figured out that people would say they had ‘the flu” when they did not have Influenza. It is a given that people who play hooky from school or work as just plain lying when they say they “had the flu.”

Although, I have one foot in the natural remedy door from decades of experience and the other foot in established medicine I get so irritated with my “natural remedy friends” who make claims that they “beat the flu in 24 hours with an herb”.

I am not going to say “an herb cures x. y. z. or it does not. I also will not try to blame “Big Pharma” or “greedy medical doctors who don’t want you to know.”

I say Balonga Sandwiches and all I have to know is their symptoms…they might NEVER ever have influenza. You may feel better with our undiagnosed home – remedy.

Choosing to start with a Home-Remedy is cool in my book – so don’t jump to conclusions and gt me wrong. 

I have a number of the tried and true first line of home remedies in my bag of Nanna tricks for comfort that I use as I am deciding what the next prudent step will be.

I also know First Aid. See below for resources where you can get Fiown will little or no support other than a Tinture of Time.e rst Aid and CPR training.

 

1. Clickbait
2. Practicing medicine without a license.

I see medical claims all over the internet by well-meaning people who don’t know what they are talking about. Especially the ones who “have never been sick in 30 years and they have never been to the doctors.

• Be well-advised: Some big government agent will catch up to you if you really start to stand out making medical claims. 

 

For example, norovirus resolves in a day or two.

So, who knows?

Disclaimer: No Non-cents Nanna has a degree in nursing with years of RN experience teaching young parents how to care for their children.

I am not your medical provider. I do diagnose, treat or prescribe anything. The purpose of No Non-cents Nanna posts is to educate on basics that may hopefully give you a push in the right direction on your journey of health and wellness.

There are too many old wives’ tales out there practicing medicine that is not accurate. I hope you are encouraged to use your own critical thinking skills to find solutions appropriate to your needs.

 

Is it the flu or something else?

The links are not shared to give a medical diagnosis. I hope to raise awareness that many sicknesses have a similar set of symptoms. Some resolve on their own with minimal support and a Tincture of Time.

 

 

Tip #2 Consult your own primary care doctor.

• Social media and this blog post are not to be construed as medical advice.
• Yes, I understand that you need to save money on medical bills.
• Having an established relationship with a Primary Care Provider with your basic medical history on file will in the long run save you medical expenses.

 

FOOD SAFETY

Food Poisoning or Flu? How to Tell the Difference. The two can trigger similar symptoms, but knowing the difference will help keep you healthy.

Click the link to read: 11 Symptoms of the Flu

 

LINKS to RELIABLE FACTS

. My post is not to give medical advice just to point out some common sense until you can ask your own doctor.

Tip #3

Write a list of signs and symptoms before you call the doctor.

Sometimes people eat something they should not have and get a belly ache, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms alone are too often self-diagnosed as “the flu” when it is not. It could be something you ate.

So let us get the facts.

Ecoli and Salmonella

Severe gastrointestinal symptoms may need the advice and treatment of a medical professional as well. That is why it is an excellent idea to see a primary care doctor or regular check up whether you get sick or not.

GI symptoms can leave anyone dehydrated and weak from electrolyte imbalance.

For those people who have not been around long enough to have experienced influenza during a PANDEMIC the real flu can be life threatening… Flu is not “nothing to sneeze at”.. Just because you never had the flu or were mildly sick does not mean you or your family won’t get deathly ill this winter.

On the bright side, you may not get sick at all.

What are the symptoms of flu?
The most common symptoms of flu are fever, cough, and sore throat. Symptoms can also include body
aches, headache, chills, runny nose and feeling very tired. Some people, especially young children, also
have diarrhea and vomiting. Symptoms last from a few days to up to a week or more.

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/cdc/factsheets/flu.pdf

1 in 1,000 cases of the FLU is FATAL

• annual death toll attributable to influenza and its complications averages 20,000 in the United States.
• 1918-1919 Spanish flu pandemic, the death 2040 million worldwide.Approximately 500,000 deaths in US
• Pandemics also occurred in 1957 and 1968 with the Asian flu and Hong Kong flu, respectively.
• The Asian flu was responsible for 70,000 deaths in the United States, while the Hong Kong flu

killed 34,000.

• There are three types of influenza viruses, identified as A, B, and C.
• United States, 90% of all deaths from influenza occur among persons older than 65

https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/The+flu

The problem is that people can be contagions up to 24 hours before they get sick. Of course if you don’t go to work you don’t get paid…., but not only do you need to time to recover you may still be contagious for more days than you will guess.

…and on top of it all most people do not wash there hands when they should. I’m not saying that you have to be a germaphobe. Remember to wash your hands after using the toilet and before you eat at the very least.

Victims of FLU may feel fine then abruptly get hit hard with upper respiratory symptoms; junky cough; chills, weakness, tired; high fever and body aches. If that is not harsh enough some folks may be secondary infections. The very young, the older and people with sedentary life style or disabilities often do not have the reserves to fight it off as well as others who can care for themselves.

• Dehydration
• Pneumonia
• Shock
• Sepsis
• Organ Failure

Did you know that places of business; grocery store; drug stores; schools, day cares and even medical facilities can shut down during an epidemic.

Flu is respiratory

Far worse than the common cold….

… high fever, intense chills,chest pains associated with breathing… productive cough with thick yellowish green sputum. …. medical treatment is necessary…. sinus or ear infections… Heart and lung problems, and other chronic disease can be aggravated.

Please read the full article: Not intended as medical diagnosis nor traments. Seek treatment from a medical professional face to face. https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/The+flu

Diagnosis

Most often doctors will rely on symptoms they have been trained to diagnose. If you think you have the flu and you are other wise healthy often times you don’t need to panic and drag your butt in the doc’s to breathe all over the other patients and staff. ( Influenza is transmitted by heavy respiratory droplets in the air.)

You DO want to seek immediate medical attention for more severe symptoms; see below.

There are some tests including test to rule out other secondary issues like STREP Throat. Since 1999 there has been the Rapid Strep Test., but that is not fool proof to say for sure you don’t have Strep.. A blood test takes a few days to culture to see what it grows. yes, it is possible to start getting over one illness only to get another communicable disease on top of it. So be sure to have your pantry over stocked with Gatorade. ( Not endorsing any brand name.)

If you are getting sick when you go to the grocery store…you will get everyone else in check out line including the cashier sick.. or may some sick person pushing the grocery cart got them sick and the cashier got you sick…a vicious cycle!.. and what if the ER staff was in the same check out line as you.. what if doctors and nurses drop like flies from the flu.Who will be the care-givers?

Getting Serious with the FLU

Know the signs and symptoms of DEHYDRATION

• Lethargic: excessive drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Muscle weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache

Dehydration is getting more serious when:

• Sunken eyes
• Reduced perspiration
• Dry, shriveled skin
• Increased heart rate
• Fever
• Unless your take your blood pressure you may not be aware when your blood pressure gets too low.

Try very hard to drink enough fluids to stay hydrated. But when drinking fails you or your child or grandpa they may need IV fluids. ( Read a bit further below about the shortage of IV fluids)

Fluid Replacement via IV

Intravenous fluids replace the fluid lost through sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, and frequent urination.

These fluids often contain potassium, glucose, and sodium, which are electrolytes your body needs to function normally.

….drinking sports drinks or sipping clear broths or plain water.…

AVOID caffeinated beverages promote fluid excretion that lead for more dehydration.

Read the source quoted here for tips on staying hydrated in hopes of avoiding the need for an IV

https://myphysiciansnow.com/urgent-care-services/iv-fluids/

 

What Are the Most Common Complications?

•  viral or bacterial pneumonia,
•  dehydration,
•  ear infections
•  sinus infections, especially in children.

The flu can worsen long-term medical conditions, like congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

Click and read the source of the full artilce to be better informed: https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-complications#1

 

Why People Don’t Get Vaccinated and ways to persuade them to do so.

http://www.massmed.org/patient-care/health-topics/colds-and-flu/why-people-don-t-get-vaccinated-(pdf)/

What about the Rumor of IV Bag Shortage?

it is not a rumor…

You may remember Puerto Rico got hit hard by a Hurricane Maria a few months ago. If you think their problem doesn’t affect you. THINK AGAIN… Trump should be eating his disrespectful words and lack of empathy for Puerto Rico, in my opinion.

 This is true. Hospitals in both Puerto Rico and the mainland United States have reportedshortagesof intravenous fluids and bags since Maria tore through the island — where several medical manufacturing plants are located — in September 2017.

Among the manufacturers affected was Baxter International, the largest IV bag supplier in the United States; the company says on its website that it ships more than a million units of IV solutions a day. The FDA responded by saying that Baxter and other companies to get priority access to the island territory’s electrical grid.

https://www.snopes.com/did-maria-cause-an-iv-bag-shortage/

Hurricane Maria nearly made flu season worse

Shortage of IV bags forces central Ohio hospitals to get creative

Hospitals, Paramedics Work Around Nationwide IV Bag Shortage

IV Solution Shortage Information – health.nd.gov

“It’s unprecedented to have this kind of large-scale, nationwide drug shortage of such a basic item in U.S. health care,” said Chief Pharmacist John Armitstead at Lee Health in Fort Myers, Fla. “So it’s quite dramatic.”

IV saline fluids in their ubiquitous plastic bags and tubes are a convenient way to deliver medication to a patient through an intravenous needle, allowing gravity to do the work and freeing nurses for other tasks. They are also used to hydrate patients.

This is a partial quote. Please read the entire article from its source.: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2018/01/14/iv-bag-shortage-puerto-rico/1032369001/

 

How is Influenza Spread?

Now I tell you…The flu bug spreads a day before people even know they are going to be sick with the flu…then it hits ’em hard.

Tip: stock up your pantry on sick day necessities before you get sick. toilet paper; chicken broth; Gatorade;etc.

People with flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. Most experts think that flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth or nose.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm

 

Try to NOT Share the Flu

• Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough
• Wash your hands often under running water
• Stay home when sick
• Do NOT touch your face.
• Avoid touching surfaces like counter tops…the influenza bug can live up to 2 hours on the teachers desk or the bank tellers counter… oh yeah…nothing is off-limits to an invisible flu bug.

Ewww! I have to wash my hands, now…how about you? Feeling gross?

How Not to Spread the Flu

Follow These Rules So You Don’t Spread the Flu

I hope this overload of flu information is helpful for your bag of trick during the cold and flu season. This is not intended to replace medical advice from your doctor.

 

More than 5 Things to Do NOT to Your Sick Kids

Views: 547

Trending now: