Also see Influenza, and Grippe.Encyclopedia Entry for Flu :Flu- Influenza - Influenza viruses A, B, and C (Orthomyxovirus)Encyclopedia Entry for Flu :Flu. The flu is caused by an influenza virus. Most people get the flu when they breathe in tiny airborne droplets from the coughs or sneezes of someone who has the flu. You can also catch the flu if you touch something with the virus on it, and then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes. People often confuse colds and flu. They are different, but you might have some of the same symptoms. Most people get a cold several times a year. On the contrary, people get the flu only once every few years. Sometimes, you can get a virus that makes you throw up or have diarrhea. Some people call this the ' stomach flu.' This is a misleading name because this virus is not the actual flu. The flu mostly affects your nose, throat, and lungs.Flu symptoms will often start quickly. You can start to feel sick about 1 to 7 days after you come in contact with the virus. Most of the time symptoms appear within 2 to 3 days. The flu spreads easily. It can affect a large group of people in a very short amount of time. For example, students and co-workers get sick within 2 or 3 weeks of the flu's arrival in a school or workplace. The first symptom is a fever between 102 F (39 C) and 106 F (41 C). An adult often has a lower fever than a child. Other common symptoms include: Body aches Chills Dizziness Flushed face Headache Lack of energy Nausea and vomiting The fever, aches, and pains begin to go away on days 2 through 4. But new symptoms occur, including: Dry cough Increased symptoms that affect breathing Runny nose (clear and watery) Sneezing Sore throat Most symptoms go away in 4 to 7 days. The cough and tired feeling may last for weeks. Sometimes, the fever comes back. Some people may not feel like eating. The flu can make asthma, breathing problems, and other long-term (chronic) illnesses and conditions worse.Most people do not need to see a health care provider when they have flu symptoms. This is because most people are not at risk for a severe case of the flu. If you are very sick with the flu, you may want to see your provider. People who are at high risk for flu complications may also want to see a provider if they get the flu. When many people in an area have flu, a provider can make a diagnosis after hearing about your symptoms. No further testing is needed. There is a test to detect the flu. It is done by swabbing the nose or throat. Most of the time, test results are available very fast. The test can help your provider prescribe the best treatment.HOME CARE Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) help lower fever. Providers sometimes suggest you to use both types of medicine. DO NOT use aspirin. A fever does not need to come all the way down to normal. Most people feel better when the temperature drops by 1 degree. Over-the-counter cold medicines may make some of your symptoms better. Cough drops or throat sprays will help with your sore throat. You will need a lot of rest. Drink plenty of liquids. DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol. ANTIVIRAL DRUGS Most people with milder symptoms feel better in 3 to 4 days. They do not need to see a provider or take antiviral medicines. Providers may give antiviral drugs to people who get very sick with the flu. You may need these medicines if you are more likely to have flu complications The health problems below may increase your risk of getting sicker with the flu: Lung disease (including asthma) Heart conditions (except high blood pressure) Kidney, liver, nerve, and muscle conditions Blood disorders (including sickle cell disease) Diabetes A weakened immune system due to diseases (such as AIDS), radiation therapy, or certain medicines, including chemotherapy and corticosteroids Other long-term medical problem These medicines may shorten the time you have symptoms by about 1 day. They work better if you start taking them within 2 days of your first symptoms. Children at risk of a severe case of the flu may also need these medicines.Millions of people in the United States get the flu each year. Most people get better within a week or two, but thousands of people with the flu develop pneumonia or a brain infection. They need to stay in the hospital. About 36,000 people in the United States die each year of problems from the flu. Anyone at any age can have serious complications from the flu. Those at highest risk include: People over the age of 65 Children younger than 2 years old Women who are more than 3 months pregnant Anyone living in a long-term care facility Anyone with chronic heart, lung, or kidney conditions, diabetes, or a weakened immune system.Complications may include: Pneumonia Encephalitis (infection of the brain) Meningitis Seizures.Call your provider if you get the flu and think you are at risk for having complications. Also, call your provider if your flu symptoms are very bad and self-treatment is not working.You can take steps to avoid catching or spreading the flu. The best step is to get a flu vaccine. Nasal spray flu vaccine If you have the flu: Stay in your apartment, dorm room, or home for at least 24 hours after your fever has gone. Wear a mask if you leave your room. Avoid sharing food, utensils, cups, or bottles. Use hand sanitizer often during the day and always after touching your face. Cover your mouth with a tissue when coughing and throw it away after use. Cough into your sleeve if a tissue is not available. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older should receive the influenza vaccine. For the 2018-2019 season, the CDC recommends use of the flu shot (inactivated influenza vaccine or IIV) and the recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV). The nasal spray flu vaccine (live attenuated influenza vaccine, or LAIV) may be given to healthy, non-pregnant people 2 through 49 years of age.Influenza A; Influenza B; Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) - flu; Zanamivir (Relenza) - flu; Vaccine - flu.Colds and the flu - what to ask your doctor - adult Colds and the flu - what to ask your doctor - child Pneumonia in adults - discharge Pneumonia in children - discharge.Normal lung anatomy Normal lung anatomy Influenza Influenza Nasal spray flu vaccine Nasal spray flu vaccine.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Inactivated influenza VIS. www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/flu.html. Updated July 11, 2018. Accessed October 9, 2018. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Live, intranasal influenza VIS. www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/flulive.html. Updated July 11, 2018. Accessed October 9, 2018. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. What you should know about flu antiviral drugs. www.cdc.gov/flu/antivirals/whatyoushould.htm. Updated June 20, 2018. Accessed October 9, 2018. Havers FP, Campbell AJP. Influenza viruses.Encyclopedia Entry for Flu :Fluid imbalance. Your body is constantly losing water through breathing, sweating, and urinating. If you do not take in enough fluids or water, you become dehydrated. Your body may also have a hard time getting rid of fluids. As a result, excess fluid builds up in the body. This is called fluid overload (volume overload). This can lead to edema (excess fluid in the skin and tissues). Many medical problems can cause fluid imbalance: After surgery, the body usually retains large amounts of fluid for several days, causing swelling of the body. In heart failure , fluid collects in the lungs, liver, blood vessels, and body tissues because the heart does a poor job of pumping it to the kidneys. When the kidneys do not work well because of long-term (chronic) kidney disease , the body cannot get rid of unneeded fluids. The body may lose too much fluid due to diarrhea , vomiting, severe blood loss, or high fever. Lack of a hormone called antidiuretic hormone (ADH) can cause the kidneys to get rid of too much fluid. This results in extreme thirst and dehydration. Often, a high or low level of sodium or potassium is present as well. Medicines can also affect fluid balance. The most common are water pills (diuretics) to treat blood pressure.Treatment depends on the specific condition that is causing the fluid imbalance.Call your health care provider if you or your child has signs of dehydration or swelling, in order to prevent more serious complications.Water imbalance; Fluid imbalance - dehydration; Fluid buildup; Fluid overload; Volume overload; Loss of fluids; Edema - fluid imbalance; Hyponatremia - fluid imbalance; Hypernatremia - fluid imbalance; Hypokalemia - fluid imbalance; Hyperkalemia - fluid imbalance.Berl T, Parikh C. Disorders of water metabolism.Encyclopedia Entry for Flu :Fluorescein angiography. You will be given eye drops that make your pupil dilate. You will be asked to place your chin on a chin rest and your forehead against a support bar to keep your head still during the test. The health care provider will take pictures of the inside of your eye. After the first group of pictures is taken, a dye called fluorescein is injected into a vein. Most often it is injected at the inside of your elbow. A camera-like device takes pictures as the dye moves through the blood vessels in the back of your eye.You will need someone to drive you home. Your vision may be blurry for up to 12 hours after the test. You may be told to stop taking medicines that could affect the test results. Tell your provider about any allergies, particularly reactions to iodine. You must sign an informed consent form. You must remove contact lenses before the test. Tell the provider if you may be pregnant.When the needle is inserted, some people feel slight pain. Other others feel only a prick or sting. Afterward, there may be some throbbing. When the dye is injected, you may have mild nausea and a warm feeling in your body. These symptoms go away quickly most of the time. The dye will cause your urine to be darker. It may be orange in color for a day or two after the test.This test is done to see if there is proper blood flow in the blood vessels in the two layers in the back of your eye (the retina and choroid). It can also be used to diagnose problems in the eye or to determine how well certain eye treatments are working.A normal result means the vessels appear a normal size, there are no new abnormal vessels, and there are no blockages or leakages.If blockage or leakage is present, the pictures will map the location for possible treatment. An abnormal value on a fluorescein angiography may be due to: Blood flow (circulatory) problems, such as blockage of the arteries or veins Cancer Diabetic or other retinopathy High blood pressure Inflammation or edema Macular degeneration Microaneurysms -- enlargement of capillaries in the retina Tumors Swelling of the optic disc The test may also be done if you have: Retinal detachment Retinitis pigmentosa.There is a slight chance of infection any time the skin is broken. Rarely, a person is overly sensitive to the dye and may experience: Dizziness or faintness Dry mouth or increased salivation Hives Increased heart rate Metallic taste in mouth Nausea and vomiting Sneezing Serious allergic reactions are rare.The test results are harder to interpret in people with cataracts.Retinal photography; Eye angiography; Retinopathy - fluorescein.Retinal dye injection Retinal dye injection.Maguire JI, Federman JL. Intravenous fluorescein angiography.Encyclopedia Entry for Flu :Fluorescein eye stain. A piece of blotting paper containing the dye is touched to the surface of your eye. You are asked to blink. Blinking spreads the dye and coats the tear film covering the surface of the cornea. The tear film contains water, oil, and mucus to protect and lubricate the eye. The health care provider then shines a blue light at your eye. Any problems on the surface of the cornea will be stained by the dye and appear green under the blue light. The provider can determine the location and likely cause of the cornea problem depending on the size, location, and shape of the staining.You will need to remove your eyeglasses or contact lenses before the test.If your eyes are very dry, the blotting paper may be slightly scratchy. The dye may cause a mild and brief stinging sensation.This test is to: Find scratches or other problems with the surface of the cornea Reveal foreign bodies on the eye surface Determine if there is irritation of the cornea after contacts are prescribed.If the test result is normal, the dye remains in the tear film on the surface of the eye and does not stick to the eye itself.Abnormal results may point to: Abnormal tear production (dry eye) Blocked tear duct Corneal abrasion (a scratch on the surface of the cornea) Foreign bodies, such as eyelashes or dust ( foreign object in eye ) Infection Injury or trauma Severe dry eye associated with arthritis (keratoconjunctivitis sicca).If the dye touches the skin, there may be a slight, brief, discoloration.Fluorescent eye test Fluorescent eye test.Feder RS, Olsen TW, Prum BE Jr, et al.; American Academy of Ophthalmology. Comprehensive adult medical eye evaluation preferred practice pattern guidelines. Ophthalmology. 2016;123(1):209-236. PMID: 26581558 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26581558. Prokopich CL, Hrynchak P, Elliott DB, Flanagan JG. Ocular health assessment.Encyclopedia Entry for Flu :Fluoride in diet. Small amounts of fluoride help reduce tooth decay. Adding fluoride to tap water (called fluoridation) helps reduce cavities in children by more than half.Fluoridated water is found in most community water systems. (Well water often does not contain enough fluoride.) Food prepared in fluoridated water contains fluoride. Natural sodium fluoride is in the ocean, so most seafood contains fluoride. Tea and gelatin also contain fluoride. Infants can only get fluoride through drinking infant formulas. Breast milk has a negligible amount of fluoride in it.A lack (deficiency) of fluoride may lead to increased cavities, and weak bones and teeth. Too much fluoride in the diet is very rare. Rarely, infants who get too much fluoride before their teeth have broken through the gums have changes in the enamel that covers the teeth. Faint white lines or streaks may appear, but they are usually not easy to see.The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends the following dietary intake for fluoride: These values are AI (adequate intakes), not recommended daily allowances (RDAs). Infants 0 to 6 months: 0.01 milligrams per day (mg/day) 7 to 12 months: 0.5 mg/day Children 1 to 3 years: 0.7 mg/day 4 to 8 years: 1.0 mg/day 9 to 13 years: 2.0 mg/day Adolescents and Adults Males ages 14 to 18 years: 3.0 mg/day Males over 18 years: 4.0 mg/day Females over 14 years: 3.0 mg/day The best way to get the daily requirement of essential vitamins is to eat a balanced diet that contains a variety of foods from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate food guide plate. Specific recommendations depend on age and gender. Ask your health care provider which amount is best for you. To help make sure infants and children do not get too much fluoride: Ask your provider about the type of water to use in concentrated or powdered formulas. DO NOT use any fluoride supplement without talking to your provider. Avoid using fluoride toothpaste in infants younger than 2 years. Use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste in children older than 2 years. Avoid fluoride mouth rinses in children younger than 6 years.Diet - fluoride.Berg J, Gerweck C, Hujoel PP, et al; American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs Expert Panel on Fluoride Intake From Infant Formula and Fluorosis. Evidence-based clinical recommendations regarding fluoride intake from reconstituted infant formula and enamel fluorosis: a report of the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs. J Am Dent Assoc. 2011;142(1):79-87. PMID: 21243832 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21243832. Palmer CA, Gilbert JA; Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: the impact of fluoride on health. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012;112(9):1443-1453. PMID: 22939444 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22939444. Ramu A, Neild P, Naish J. Diet and nutrition.Encyclopedia Entry for Flu :Fluoride overdose. Fluoride can be harmful in large amounts.Fluoride is found in many over-the-counter and prescription products, including: Certain mouthwashes and toothpastes Certain vitamins (Tri-Vi-Flor, Poly-Vi-Flor, Vi-Daylin F) Water that has fluoride added to it Sodium fluoride liquid and tablets Fluoride may also be found in other household items, including: Etching cream (also called acid cream, used to etch designs in drinking glasses) Roach powders Other products may also contain fluoride.Symptoms of a fluoride overdose include: Abdominal pain Abnormal taste in the mouth (salty or soapy taste) Seizures Diarrhea Drooling Eye irritation (if placed in eye) Headache Heart attack Irregular or slow heartbeat Nausea and vomiting Shallow breathing Tremors (rhythmic movements) Weakness.Have this information ready: Person's age, weight, and condition (for example, is the person awake or alert?) Name of the product (ingredients and strength, if known) Time it was swallowed Amount swallowed Call for help even if you don't know this information.Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions. This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Take the container to the hospital with you, if possible. The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Tests that may done include: Blood and urine tests Chest x-ray ECG (electrocardiogram or heart tracing) Treatment may include: Fluids through a vein (by IV) Medicines to treat symptoms Calcium or milk Laxative Breathing support, including a tube through the mouth into the lungs and connected to a breathing machine (ventilator) The above tests and treatments are more likely to be done if someone overdoses on fluoride from household products, such as hydrofluoric acid in rust remover. They are less likely to be done for an overdose of fluoride from toothpaste and other health products.How well someone does depends on how much fluoride was swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster a person gets medical help, the better the chance for recovery. The amount of fluoride in toothpaste is usually not swallowed in large enough amounts to cause harm.Aronson JK. Fluoride salts and derivatives.Encyclopedia Entry for Flu :Flushable reagent stool blood test. This test is performed at home with disposable pads. You can buy the pads at the drug store without a prescription. Brand names include EZ-Detect, HomeChek Reveal, and ColoCARE. You do not handle stool directly with this test. You simply note any changes you see on a card and then mail the results card to your health care provider. To do the test: Urinate if you need to, then flush the toilet before having a bowel movement. After the bowel movement, place the disposable pad in the toilet. Watch for a change of color on the test area of the pad. Results will appear in about 2 minutes. Note the results on the card provided, then flush the pad away. Repeat for the next two bowel movements. The different tests use different ways to check for water quality. Check the package for instructions.Some medicines may interfere with this test. Check with your provider about changes in your medicines you may need to make. Never stop taking a medicine or change how you take it without first talking to your provider. Check test package to see if there are any foods you need to stop eating before doing the test.This test involves only normal bowel functions, and there is no discomfort.This test is mainly performed for colorectal cancer screening. It may also be done in the case of low levels of red blood cells (anemia).A negative result is normal. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different labs. Talk to your provider about your test results.Abnormal results of the flushable pad mean there is bleeding present somewhere in the digestive tract, which may be caused by: Swollen, fragile blood vessels in the colon that may result in blood loss Colon cancer Colon polyps Enlarged veins, called varices, in the walls of the esophagus (the tube that connects your throat to your stomach) that bleed When the lining of the stomach or the esophagus becomes inflamed or swollen Infections in the stomach and intestines Hemorrhoids Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis Ulcer in the stomach or first part of the intestines Other causes of a positive test, which do not indicate a problem in the gastrointestinal tract, include: Coughing up and then swallowing blood Nose bleed Abnormal test results require follow-up with your doctor.The test can have false-positive (the test indicates a problem when there actually is none) or false-negative (the test indicates there is NOT a problem, but there is) results. This is similar to other stool smear tests which can also give false results.Stool occult blood test - flushable home test; Fecal occult blood test - flushable home test.Blanke CD, Faigel DO. Neoplasms of the small and large intestine.Encyclopedia Entry for Flu :Fluorite.Latin name: Fluoritum.Pinyin name: ZI SHI YING.Effect(s): Treatment of insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep and cardiac palpitation, cough and asthma in deficiency syndromes of the lung, infertility.