One of the best ways of preventing influenza may be to get a flu shot every year. These shots can be administered to adults, children, and babies more than six months of age, and can often protect people from the three most common strains of influenza. In addition to flu shots, another method of preventing influenza is regular hand-washing and avoiding people who are sick. People who are out shopping should sanitize their shopping carts with antibacterial wipes before handling them. It may also be a good idea for a person to avoid touching his eyes, nose, and mouth, particularly when out in public.
Most doctors recommend getting a flu shot as soon as flu season begins. Flu shots tend to greatly reduce a person's chances of getting the most common strains of flu, but it doesn't protect against all flu strains. Even so, this may be a person's best chance of preventing influenza. It is particularly important that babies, young children, and elderly people get a flu shot because influenza tends to be more dangerous for people who fall into these age groups. There are small risks of allergic reactions resulting from the flu shot, but these reactions are not likely to occur, and most doctors agree that the benefits of the shot greatly outweigh the risks.
Hand-washing and avoiding germs when possible is another way of preventing influenza. A person should wash her hands several times a day, particularly if she is frequently out in public due to her job, school, or other social obligations. Antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizing lotions are additionally very useful to have available when there is no immediate access to hand-washing facilities. Germs tend to spread by entering the body from the eyes, nose, and mouth, so it may be beneficial for a person who wants to prevent influenza to keep her hands away from her face during flu season.
In addition to preventing influenza, it is also important to try not to spread it. A person who feels like he is getting sick during flu season should stay home and avoid contact with other people until he begins to feel better. In the event that contact with other people is unavoidable, covering the mouth during coughing and sneezing may help prevent the spread of flu germs. If the cause of sickness is suspected to be the flu, a doctor can prescribe antiviral medicine to help with the symptoms and possibly reduce the duration of the sickness. It is important for a person who is coming down with the flu to see a doctor within the first few days of its onset, because drugs for treating influenza are typically most effective at that time.
