Flu Season Starting Early in Radnor

If you’ve been feeling under the weather lately, you’re not alone. Flu season is hitting the Delaware Valley.

“Local hospitals, including Bryn Mawr and Paoli, are seeing a spike in respiratory illnesses,” Tweets Main Line Health. And our area is not alone.

“The U.S. is experiencing an early flu season,” Tweets FluGov, the federal government’s main flu information website.

Related:

Where to Get a Flu Shot in Radnor

Avoid the Flu This Season

Symptoms

Flu symptoms, according to Flu.gov, include:

• A 100F or higher fever or feeling feverish (not everyone with the flu has a fever)
• A cough and/or sore throat
• A runny or stuffy nose
• Headaches and/or body aches
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea (most common in children)

Prevention

Doctors say that the best way to prevent getting the flu is a flu shot. Check with your doctor’s office or local pharmacy. A number of Main Line area Rite Aid stores are currently out of the vaccine or low on it, but they expect to get more in later in the week, so call before you go.

Other prevention tips from Flu.gov include:

• Wash your wands
• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth
• Avoid close contact with sick people
• Stay healthy: Get plenty of sleep, exercise, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat healty
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

Additional Resources

• Flu.gov: When to seek emergency medical attention
• WebMD: Do you have the flu or a cold?
• KidsHealth: Symptoms Guid