Once it spreads completely after being caught, the antiviral medication and the initial response are completely different; it's like night and day. You mentioned that it can be transmitted between people. So, if a pet catches the flu, I, as the owner, could also get infected, right? We often only worry about humans, but if there’s a dog in the house, it probably affects everyone. First of all, it happens very quickly. Suddenly, you feel sick; the incubation period is about a day or two. Just yesterday, everything was fine, but today you wake up with a fever, a sore throat, and your whole body aches. Also, young children can suddenly develop a sore throat, making it hard for them to eat and causing them to drool, and they can suddenly have a fever. So, when there’s a sudden fever, especially when the weather is cold, the cold can exacerbate the situation, and viruses tend to thrive in such conditions.

It's fast. During such cold weather, the flu is quite prevalent these days. The term influenza itself comes from influence, indicating that it affects many people. This means that when one person gets infected, it's not just them suffering; it can spread widely among many people. That's why we refer to it as influenza. The most frightening complication is pneumonia, which is the most common, but there can be other serious issues as well. The reason we need to diagnose the flu quickly is that there are treatments available now. For other illnesses, you often need to be quite ill before you can get a diagnosis, but for type A influenza, there are antiviral medications. The speed at which these medications are administered can help prevent the virus from spreading after diagnosis.

The speed at which you take antiviral medication can determine how quickly you recover, reduce complications, and lessen your suffering. There is a significant difference between taking antiviral medication after the virus has spread widely and responding early. How does this work? I suspect a diagnosis. If someone in our group has contracted it, or if my parents have all caught it, then the priority is to get diagnosed quickly. Nowadays, you can get a PCR test by swabbing your nose or throat, and the results come out immediately. Since COVID-19 is still not over, it is possible to contract both COVID-19 and influenza at the same time. Recently, the government has implemented a system that allows for free testing for both COVID-19 and influenza simultaneously, so I think it would be very beneficial to take advantage of that.

In any case, the most important thing is to quickly diagnose and take medication. Could you briefly talk about any additional precautions or preventive measures? When there is a high fever, using aspirin can lead to unexpected complications, such as sudden liver issues or seizures. This is one of the reasons why we restrict the use of certain medications for influenza. First and foremost, prevention is crucial. Getting vaccinated is essential; of course, vaccination does not guarantee 100% protection, but it is very important. Secondly, personal hygiene is vital. Always wash your hands, especially when there are many people around. If a patient shows symptoms early on, it is very important to isolate them quickly. Therefore, the most important thing is that if a previously healthy child suddenly presents with systemic symptoms, we should be suspicious.

It is also important to identify if anyone else has similar symptoms. If a child suddenly becomes ill without any apparent reason, feel free to leave your questions in the comments.

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