HeraldCourier.com
As we speak I am in Knoxville helping my daughter Emily with Lilly G, my grand girl. Her husband, Chris, is out of town and Lilly G got the flu. Not only that but she had a raging ear infection in one ear. I threw some stuff in my overnight bag and headed to Knoxville to help. Emily had several patients she needed to see the next day so it was just me and G for the day.
I really did not think much about myself, just knew that G needed me, so catching the flu from her was the last thing on my mind. I was expecting to see a very sick baby but G was surprisingly in a great mood. She was a little fussy but not at all what I expected.
I came across a great article that I wanted to share with you. The article titled, “Raise Your Flu IQ, Your Flu Questions Answered” by Deniel J. DeNoon, was in WebMD Health News. DeNoon spoke with Dennis Clements, MD, PhD, professor of infectious diseases and pediatrics at Duke University Medical Center. Clements also serves as medical director of PDC Primary Care.
Clements was asked questions about transmitting the flu. Clements answered, saying flu is spread by oral secretions — most often by breathing in droplets expelled into the air by an infected person’s cough. These droplets can land in your eye or nose and then you touch your mouth or rub your eyes or scratch your nose. If you shake hands with a person who is coughing or sneezing , it would be a good idea to wash your hands.
According to the article, Clements said most adults are contagious for about five to seven days. With young children, it’s longer. The youngest kids (1 to 2 year olds) can be contagious for 10-14 days. And they can also have diarrheal illness when they get the flu. They get more symptoms than we adults typically have.
According to the CDC, a person begins shedding virus a day before symptoms appear. This can occur as soon as one day after exposure.
Clements advised that if you find yourself on an elevator with someone who is coughing or sneezing, the best thing you can do is turn away.
Be well, I hope to see you in the gym!
