Now that we are in the middle of winter and the weather has turned cold especially in the evenings, one of the common illnesses that we hear about at this time of year is influenza or as is more commonly called the flu.

Influenza is an infection that causes fever, chills, cough, body aches, headaches, and sometimes ear aches or sinus problems. The flu is caused by the influenza virus. A virus is a microorganism which means it’s so small that you can’t see it without a strong microscope.

For most people, the flu is a nuisance, as most probably the doctor recommends that you stay indoors, but it goes away in a week or two. Not everybody catches the flu in the same way, for some people it can be very serious and the flu can make them very sick. These groups include:

• babies and kids under five years old

• people older than 65

• adults and kids who have health problems, such as diabetes and asthma

Anyone who is at risk of getting really sick needs to take the flu vaccine. People such as doctors and nurses also need the vaccine because they take care and are more in contact with sick people.

Healthy kids and adults can also get the vaccine; this will prevent them from getting the flu. Flu vaccines are usually given in autumn, before flu season starts. It starts in November and usually ends in April.

Getting the Flu Vaccine

If you get the flu vaccine, it will protect you from getting a bad case of the flu. You either won’t get the flu at all or, if you do get it, you will have only mild symptoms and you should get better pretty quickly.

How Does the Flu Spread?

This virus gets around in little drops that spray out of an infected person’s mouth and nose when he or she sneezes, coughs or even laughs. You can catch the flu from the tiny flu-infected drops which fall from someone’s mouth or nose, get on your hands and then you touch your mouth or nose. No wonder people are always saying to cover your mouth when you sneeze!

What If You Get the Flu?

But even if you steer clear of sneezers and you wash your hands regularly, you still might get the flu. At the doctor’s office, the doctor will ask you how you’ve been feeling and examine you. Based on your symptoms, your doctor can usually tell if you have the flu, especially during times when a lot of flu is going around your town or village.

Once your doctor says you have the flu, you can start taking these steps to feel better:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

• Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from school when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

• Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

• Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

• Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Tell your mum or dad if you have trouble breathing, your muscles really hurt, or if you feel confused. These are signs you may need to see the doctor again. Take the medicine your mum or dad gives you to ease your fever, aches and pains.

Most of the time, you’ll feel better in a week or two. Until then, you’ll have to stay home from school and take it easy. We hope you’re flu-free this year, but if you do get the flu, now you know what to do!

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Unusual facts about sneezing

The material spread by sneezing can travel 2-3 metres, at a speed of around 150 km/hour, so it’s a very efficient way of spreading germs. Some people sneeze when they get cold or go out into the sun. “Sun sneezing” often runs in families, and occurs in around one in four people. The world record for sneezing is held by Donna Griffiths from Worstershire in the UK, who sneezed for 978 days in a row, stopping on 16 September 1983.

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Vitamins Feed Your Needs

Like most kids, you’ve probably heard at least one parent say, “Eat your salad – it’s packed with vitamins!” But what exactly are vitamins? During this period of year, we need Vitamin C more than other vitamins as it will help us fight the flu.

Your body is one powerful machine, capable of doing all sorts of things by itself. But one thing it can’t do is make vitamins. That’s where food comes in. Your body is able to get the vitamins it needs from the foods you eat because different foods contain different vitamins. Eating a variety of foods is the best way to get all the vitamins and minerals you need each day, as well as the right balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and calories. Whole or unprocessed foods – like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean meats, fish, and poultry – are the best choices for providing the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy and grow properly.

Vitamins and minerals are substances that are found in foods we eat. Your body needs them to work properly, so you grow and develop just like you should. When it comes to vitamins, each one has a special role to play. For example:

• Vitamin D in milk helps your bones.

• Vitamin A in carrots helps you see at night.

• Vitamin C in oranges helps your body heal if you get a cut and fights colds.

• B vitamins in leafy green vegetables help your body make protein and energy.

Vitamin C

This vitamin is important for keeping body tissues, such as gums and muscles in good shape. C is also key if you get a cut or wound because it helps you heal. This vitamin also helps your body resist infection. This means that even though you can’t always avoid getting sick, vitamin C makes it a little harder for your body to become infected with influenza. Which foods are rich in vitamin C and can help us fight the flu?

Foods to eat to fight influenza

• citrus fruits, like oranges

• strawberries

• tomatoes

• broccoli and cabbage

Eating a balanced diet containing fruit and vegetables is one of the most important things to live a healthy life.