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Warning signs: How do you know if the flu is deadly?

Antibiotics are not the right treatment for the flu, said expert.

Most flu shots are safe for children who are over six months old and must be taken before the beginning of the flu season.
Dr Gurukanth Neeleshwar Rao, specialist internal medicine at Aster Clinic Bur Dubai said, "Flu presents itself with symptoms of fever, cough, body ache, sore throat, and a runny nose. It is caused by a virus called Influenza virus."
He added, "Influenza virus is of two types - type A and type B. Flu is a self-limiting disease and no medicines are required, except for paracetamol to control fever. Most people recover within one to two weeks."
However, the flu can be a problem for high-risk patients. "In this case, the virus is the same. However, the severity of the disease is higher for high- risk patients, who are usually 65 years of age or older, young children, pregnant women, patients with uncontrolled diabetes and the ones suffering from other pre-existing medical conditions."
A delayed visit to the paediatrician in cases of severe illness can lead to organ failure. "The faster you consult the doctor, the better the chances of recovery," explained Dr Rao. Furthermore, antibiotics are not the right treatment for the flu. "Influenza is a virus. Patients need to be prescribed antiviral medicines, and parents should not start an anti-biotic course on their own."
Get vaccinated, brother urges after Dubai student dies of flu
The brother of a 17-year-old Dubai student - who died days after contracting the flu - has urged residents to get the flu shot. The Indian High School grade 12 student, Alia Niyaz Ali, had died at the Rashid Hospital on Tuesday night.
Her brother, Aman Ali, told Khaleej Times: "I don't want anyone to ever go through what my sister went through ... People cannot take flu for granted. Get yourself checked. Get yourself vaccinated annually. This is not a disease that gets cured by some over-the-counter medication. My sister never had any health problems. She was physically fit."
Vaccinations
"Most flu shots are safe for children who are over six months old and must be taken before the beginning of the flu season. Any time between September to October is a good time to take the shot." The vaccine gives patients protection for a year and patients can't take it at the time of active infection. A registered doctor or nurse needs to administer the vaccine, and it costs anything between Dh40 - Dh80 when purchased at a pharmacy, without insurance.
Danger: What to look out for?
To establish the severity of the case, parents can look out for the following symptoms:
1-If the child continues to get sicker and has persistent fever
2-Rapid or troubled breathing means the infection has spread to the lungs
3-If the child develops a blueish hue to his or her skin
4-The child is not ready to interact and if the child feels drowsy
5-Fever with rash                                       
6-Fever with a severe cough
7-The child is refusing to take fluids
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com