FLU
This is an acute infectious disease caused by a virus.
The flu has a worldwide distribution and, even though the virus is in a permanent infection status, it usually appears as regional or worldwide acute epidemics, caused by new virus strands.
The virus is transmitted via small drops expelled by the patients while coughing or sneezing, entering the airway of the new patient.
The most common form of presentation is a sudden headache, fever, shivers, muscle pain, malaise and symptoms affecting the airway such as dry cough and sore throat.
The flu is considered a benign disease, but occasionally may trigger severe cases due to complications.
The treatment of flu is symptomatic: bed rest, soft diet and warm drinks, acetyl salicylic acid or paracetamol (500 mg every 8 hours) (DRAWER 3, first aid kits A, B, C and RAFTS). In this case antibiotics are completely ineffective.
For sea workers who transit malaria areas, the main problem is to distinguish between the flu and the initial stages of malaria. In such cases, and even more so if the Anterior measures have proved ineffective MEDICAL ADVICE VIA RADIO should be sought.
Vaccination against the flu is justified due to the large number of working hours lost and its high incidence within our environment.