How can adults and children protect themselves against the flu?

The flu is usually treatable at home, but a couple of severe symptoms warrant a trip to the doctor. Preventive and functional medicine specialist Susan Blum, MD, talks about the red flags to know.

Transcript

00:00

In general, most people who get the flu can weather it out at home very safely, and it will pass in about a week or so.

00:07

[MUSIC PLAYING]

00:14

If you find that you have severe trouble breathing-- because the flu is a respiratory illness. And so the risks that we're worried about

00:21

are developing pneumonia or severe bronchitis that might require antibiotics. So if you find yourself with difficulty breathing or a fever

00:29

that doesn't go away after five, six, seven days, then it's time to go call your doctor or go to an emergency room.

00:37

Babies typically don't get flu shots. Many patients ask me that. But babies-- and I define babies by a newborn all the way up

00:44

to six months-- don't get flu shots. After six months of age, there is a flu shot for young infants from six months all the way up to a year to two years.

00:53

And usually, it's upon your pediatrician's advice whether to get those flu shots. Not all children over six months old

00:59

are automatically vaccinated against the flu. Over two years of age, there is a flu shot as well,

01:05

and more children usually get that particular shot. [MUSIC PLAYING]