Is it the flu... or just a cold? Published Sept. 17, 2009 By Lt. Col. (Dr.) David Duval Chief of Aeromedical Services, 71st Medical Group VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The flu season is upon us. This time around we also have a new player on the scene -- H1N1. Although we are hearing a lot of extreme predictions for the next six months, I will outline how to identify if you have the flu and how to prevent its spread. In an attempt to ensure clinic appointments are available for those with need, let's talk about how to tell the difference between a cold and the flu, and what you can do if you think you have the flu. The symptoms of the cold and flu may sound similar, but the timing and severity are what set them apart. A common cold takes a few days to get going; usually you'll feel the symptoms slowly hit and then steadily decline. The flu comes on rapidly, usually over just a few hours. The symptoms include: · Fever (usually high) · Muscle aches · Headache · Extreme tiredness · Dry cough · Sore throat · Runny or stuffy nose · Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults The current recommendation for the treatment of the flu is simple: stay home! Unless you feel like you can't breathe, we recommend people remain home for 24 hours after the fever is gone. When dealing with ailments that are highly contagious like the flu, the traditional stop by the doctor's office will actually expose and potentially infect more people. Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 71st Medical Group will not be prescribing anti-viral treatments, like Tamiful®, unless there are other conditions that put the patient at higher risk. The indiscriminant use of these types of medications increases the risk of the flu strain developing resistance and rendering our drug arsenal ineffective for those who need it most. If supervisors suspect somebody has the flu, there is no need to send them to the clinic for a quarters slip. Accountability and authorizations for remaining at home will be worked through the chain of command. Those sent home due to flu-like symptoms need to contact their health care providers. Military members should call the Medical Group at 213-7416 for triage by a healthcare professional. For those sent home, it's important they have a family member or Wingman to check on them to ensure their conditions don't get worse. The Wingman can also deliver groceries or supplies such as tissues to the sick person to limit public exposure of the virus. The best measures to prevent the flu are the tried and true methods of old: · Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner · Cover your cough and sneeze, (with your arm, not your hands) · Eat right · Get plenty of sleep · Get vaccinated with the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 shot as it becomes available As in years past, there is no silver bullet or magic elixir that will cure the flu. Instead, we need to improve our armor. Taking preventive measures outlined above remains the most important thing Wingmen can do to stop the spread of the flu virus and to protect our fighting force.