Prevention
It is possible to prevent influenza by means of flu vaccination. The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) recommends that persons over 60 years of age, pregnant women from the second trimester of pregnancy, residents of old people’s homes or nursing homes and persons at increased risk (e.g. medical and nursing staff) undergo flu vaccination annually. The vaccination is also recommended for children, adolescents and adults with an increased health risk due to a basic disease (e.g. chronic lung, liver, kidney diseases, diabetes mellitus).
A vaccination protects up to 90 percent of those vaccinated from influenza or significantly reduces the course of the disease. However, the flu vaccination does not protect against the common cold. A cold can be prevented with a strong immune system.
Sufficient exercise, healthy nutrition and regular sauna sessions can help to keep the body’s immune system fit. Contact with people who have a cold (e.g. in unventilated rooms in wintertime) should be avoided if possible. In addition, hands should be washed regularly and thoroughly, as the viruses are easily transmitted from person to person or from door handles, railings or bus handrails via the hands to the body’s own mucous membranes.
Frequently, a cold with the corresponding symptoms is confused with flu. The following differences should be noted: the flu is caused by the influenza virus. This changes its outward appearance every season and, in order to be able to produce a vaccine, must be identified again and again.
The onset of a cold or flu-like infection is accompanied by creeping headaches, neck scratches, fatigue, sweating, and rhinitis. The fever that may have occurred is rather light, the cough often only weak. The flu occurs quickly, is accompanied by strong to very strong headaches, high fever and dry cough.
Furthermore, patients with flu often complain of severe pain in the limbs, circulatory problems and tiredness. The cold illness usually disappears after a few days. The influenza(flu) can last up to 14 days. This topic might also be of interest to you: Complications of influenza
