Influenza – Dr Ruhil Badiani, British GP
Dr Ruhil Badiani, a General Practitioner at Cornerstone Clinic, answers the most frequently asked questions about the Flu and how to protect yourself and your loved ones.
What is Influenza?
Different strains of the influenza virus produce influenza, also known as the “flu.” Influenza is a frequent illness. Flu usually becomes a concern in the UAE during the summer-winter transition. Additionally, using air conditioning can contribute to the flu’s transmission. The large cross-national population is another aspect, as people may carry different flu viruses back to the UAE from their travels.
How can I tell whether I have flu or just a cold?
The main symptoms of flu are listed below:
Compared to cold symptoms, flu symptoms typically manifest more quickly and with greater severity. The majority of cold sufferers will either have a very low temperature or none at all. Flu patients often prefer to stay in bed since they feel very ill and fatigued.
The majority of flu cases are moderate and may be treated at home with lots of fluids, rest, and either paracetamol or Ibuprofen for fever that your doctor will recommend.
Certain groups of people, such as the very young and old, pregnant women, and those with long-term medical conditions, are more susceptible to developing a bad case of the flu or experiencing flu-related complications like pneumonia. It is recommended to visit your family doctor, or GP, if you or a family member has any medical conditions or is extremely young or old.
There are medications that cure influenza; Tamiflu is the most well-known. Starting the medication within 48 hours of becoming infected is optimal for its effectiveness because it tends to lose effectiveness after this period. Tamiflu is not necessary for the majority of flu illnesses that resolve on their own. Medication can be administered as a treatment for patients that present severe flu cases, always under the doctor’s supervision and indications. Your general practitioner (GP) or family doctor can talk to you about whether they believe that beginning medication will be helpful in your particular situation.
Should I get a flu vaccination?
The flu vaccination is offered every year. Most people can have the flu vaccination, however there are certain groups of people in whom the vaccine is most beneficial. These groups are:
There are certain groups of people who should not have the flu vaccine. These include:
What is in the flu vaccine?
A new flu vaccination is produced every year, and the selection of flu virus strains for the vaccine involves extensive research. Every year, this will vary since the viruses multiply and mutate significantly. The flu vaccination contains inactivated viruses, which means that although they are ‘unalive’, they still have flu-like proteins on their surfaces that our bodies can identify. Our bodies start to produce antibodies to these viruses, preparing us to combat the flu virus before we become ill.
Can I get the flu from the vaccine?
The viruses cannot reproduce and therefore you cannot catch the flu because as previously mentioned, they are inactivated. It is however common for you to experience a fever or feeling unwell after receiving the vaccine, as this is your body’s reaction to the virus, just like with any other vaccination. This reaction indicates that your body is producing antiviral antibodies.
Should you be unlucky enough to contract the flu shortly after receiving the vaccination, this indicates that you were likely exposed to the virus just before receiving the vaccination. After immunisation, the body takes around two weeks to start producing antibodies.
Is the vaccine 100% effective?
Unfortunately, it is impossible to cover all the possible strains of flu in the vaccine. You can get flu of a different strain even if you have had the vaccine, so it is not 100% effective but it does minimise the possibility of developing more severe symptoms. In Dubai with such a melting pot of different nationalities and with so many people travelling regularly it is not surprising that people sometimes get the flu twice.
To book a consultation or for more information, contact us at +971 50 494 6377 to arrange an appointment with our GP, Dr Ruhil Badiani.
Dr Ruhil Badiani is a British doctor, who studied, graduated and practised in London for 10 years, before moving out to Dubai. Dr Ruhil Badiani has experience in treating patients of all ages and backgrounds. She values the patient doctor relationship and recognises the importance of psychological and social factors, as well as the physical factors, which contribute to a patient’s presentation. She recognises the importance of lifestyle changes to improve health and prevent disease, and is confident in the diagnosis and monitoring of chronic disease.
