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- Services and providers for Flu in the U.S.
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National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Flu is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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Flu
Also called: Grippe, Influenza
Flu is a respiratory infection caused by a number of viruses. The viruses pass through the air and enter your body through your nose or mouth. Between 5% and 20% of people in the U.S. get the flu each year. The flu can be serious or even deadly for elderly people, newborn babies and people with certain chronic illnesses.
Symptoms of the flu come on suddenly and are worse than those of the common cold. They may include
- Body or muscle aches
- Chills
- Cough
- Fever
- Headache
- Sore throat
Is it a cold or the flu? Colds rarely cause a fever or headaches. Flu almost never causes an upset stomach. And "stomach flu" isn't really flu at all, but gastroenteritis.
The main way to keep from getting the flu is to get a yearly flu vaccine. If you get the flu, your health care provider may prescribe medicine to help your body fight the infection and lessen symptoms.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Start Here
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Flu (Influenza)
(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
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Influenza
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
Also available in Spanish
- Key Facts about Seasonal Influenza (Flu)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
| Basics | Learn More | Multimedia & Cool Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Research | Reference Shelf | For You |
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Overviews
- Cold and Flu Guidelines: Influenza (Flu)(American Lung Association)
- Flu(Food and Drug Administration)
- Influenza (Flu)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Seasonal Flu(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Latest News
- Flu Shot Does Not Cut Risk of Death in Elderly(08/29/2008, Reuters Health)
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Bacterial Pneumonia Caused Most Deaths in 1918 Influenza Pandemic: Implications for Future Pandemic Planning(08/19/2008, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
- Survivors Of 1918 Flu Pandemic Immune 90 Years Later(08/18/2008, HealthDay)
- FDA OKs Flu Vaccines for 2008-09 Season(08/05/2008, HealthDay)
- FDA Approves 2008-2009 Flu Vaccines(08/05/2008, Food and Drug Administration)
- Report Offers Resources for Home Health Care Response during a Flu Pandemic(07/08/2008, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
- More News on Flu
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
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Is It a Cold or the Flu?(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - Links to PDF
Also available in Spanish
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Is It a Cold or the Flu?
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Treatment
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Decongestants: OTC Relief for Congestion(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
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Flu Treatment(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
- Snort, Sniffle, Sneeze: No Antibiotics, Please(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Treatment and Prevention: Influenza Antiviral Drugs(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Decongestants: OTC Relief for Congestion(American Academy of Family Physicians)
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Prevention/Screening
- Flu Shot: Your Best Shot for Avoiding Influenza(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic(Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - Large PDF file
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Inactivated Influenza Vaccine 2008-2009(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - Links to PDF
Also available in Spanish
- Is the Flu Vaccine a Good Idea for Your Family?(Nemours Foundation)
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Live, Intranasal Influenza Vaccine 2008-2009(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - Links to PDF
Also available in Spanish
- Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers(Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - Large PDF file
- Preventing Seasonal Flu(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Selecting the Viruses in the Influenza (Flu) Vaccine(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Related Issues
- Asthma: Limit Asthma Attacks Caused by Colds or Flu(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Cold and Flu Guidelines: Myths and Facts(American Lung Association)
- Flu Shots: Important If You Have Heart Disease(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Flu Vaccine and Egg Allergy(American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology)
- HIV/AIDS and the Flu(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Pandemic Flu(Dept. of Health and Human Services)
- Questions & Answers: Seasonal Flu and Other Respiratory Viruses(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Questions & Answers: Thimerosal in Seasonal Influenza Vaccine(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Seasonal Flu and Staph Infection(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Smoking and Influenza(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Transmission of Influenza A Viruses between Animals and People(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- What You Should Know about Using Facemasks and Respirators during a Flu Pandemic(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Pictures & Photographs
- Influenza Photos(Immunization Action Coalition)
- Tutorials Return to top
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Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Influenza, Human(National Institutes of Health)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Clinical data on Fluarix: an inactivated split seasonal influenza vaccine.
- Article: Update on vaccine-preventable diseases: are adults in your community adequately...
- Article: Countywide school-based influenza immunization: direct and indirect impact on student...
- Flu -- see more articles
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Directories
- Flu Clinic Locator(American Lung Association)
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Organizations
- American Lung Association
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Also available in Spanish
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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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Statistics
- FASTATS: Influenza(National Center for Health Statistics)
- Flu Activity(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Influenza(American Lung Association)
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Children
- Children and the Flu Vaccine(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Flu(Nemours Foundation)
Also available in Spanish
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Influenza (Flu)(Nemours Foundation)
Also available in Spanish
- Tips for Treating the Flu(Nemours Foundation)
- Who Needs a Flu Shot?(Nemours Foundation)
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Teenagers
- Flu Facts(Nemours Foundation)
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Women
- Flu Shot in Pregnancy: Is It Safe?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Seniors
- Flu Information(Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
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Flu—Get the Shot(National Institute on Aging)
Also available in Spanish
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Date last updated: 15 September 2008 Topic last reviewed: 11 March 2008 |