Flu Safety Tips to Combat the 2018 Flu Season from Loyola's Experts
February 21, 2018Categories: Pediatrics, Primary Care
Tags: Pediatrics, Primary Care
MAYWOOD, IL – With widespread flu activity across most of the U.S., avoiding exposure can be difficult, but Loyola Medicine primary care physician Mary Barsanti-Sekhar, MD, offers some advice to minimize the risk.
First off, it's not too late to get the flu shot.
"There's still time to get the flu shot," Dr. Barsanti-Sekhar said. "The flu shot helps lessen symptoms and protects those around you as well."
Loyola Medicine continues to see a record number of flu cases and this year's flu season is expected to extend into March or April. Between January 27 and February 17, more than 2,400 patients were tested for the flu virus, with 962 positive diagnoses over the 28 days.
For the 2017-18 flu season, 1,836 cases of flu have been diagnosed at Loyola compared to 726 positive cases in 2016-17.
While Influenza A has been the bigger factor in this year's flu season, Influenza B has seen a recent increase in the area. This year's flu vaccine has been shown to be much more effective against Influenza B than Influenza A.
When it comes to avoiding the flu, Dr. Barsanti-Sekhar said good hand hygiene is one of the best ways to keep from getting sick.
"Washing hands with soap and water is the best option," she said. "Anti-bacteria alcohol gels are okay to use if you don't have access to soap and water. Frequent hand washing, especially after being in public places, helps lessen the chance of exposure."
Dr. Barsanti-Sekhar said there are certain items to try to avoid touching when in public, including door handles, tables, countertops and shared phones.
"Any items that are frequently being touched and not routinely being disinfected, you want to try to avoid," Dr. Barsanti-Sekhar. "And if you do touch them, be sure not to touch your mouth or face after being in contact with those items until you can wash your hands."
Serious complications can occur from the flu for at-risk populations. Those with chronic health conditions, pregnant women, the elderly and children younger than five years old should contact their doctor if concerned about exposure.
If you do get the flu, Dr. Barsanti-Sekhar said, be sure to avoid contact with friends and family and stay home from work to avoid spreading the virus. Regularly disinfect surfaces that you are touching.
"The best defense against the flu is to be healthy before you are exposed," she said. "Make sure you are getting enough rest, exercising and eating right."
Dr. Barsanti-Sekhar sees patients at the Loyola Outpatient Center and Loyola Medicine Park Ridge.
About Loyola Medicine
Loyola Medicine, a member of Trinity Health, is a nationally ranked academic, quaternary care system based in Chicago's western suburbs. The three-hospital system includes Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC), Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, MacNeal Hospital, as well as convenient locations offering primary care, specialty care and immediate care services from nearly 2,000 physicians throughout Cook, Will and DuPage counties. LUMC is a 547-licensed-bed hospital in Maywood that includes the William G. and Mary A. Ryan Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine, the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, the John L. Keeley, MD, Emergency Department, a Level 1 trauma center, Illinois's largest burn center, the Nancy W. Knowles Orthopaedic Institute, a certified comprehensive stroke center, transplant center and a children’s hospital. Having delivered compassionate care for over 50 years, Loyola also trains the next generation of caregivers through its academic affiliation with Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine and Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.
For more information, visit loyolamedicine.org. You can also follow Loyola Medicine on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or X (formerly known as Twitter).
About Trinity Health
Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care systems in the nation. It is a family of 127,000 colleagues and more than 38,300 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 26 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, the Trinity Health system includes 93 hospitals, 107 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 142 urgent care locations and many other health and well-being services. In fiscal year 2024, the Livonia, Michigan-based health system invested $1.3 billion in its communities in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs. For more information, visit us at www.trinity-health.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter).