It’s that time of the year again. Fall. Nature’s shining glory. Everything looks beautiful in the cooler temps after the harsh summer. It’s also the time of year when there are specials on the menu like spiced pumpkin latte. The seasonal favorite. But wait the other seasonal favorite is also around the corner. Which one you ask? The flu, remember? Flu season and all the exciting viral conditions that come with it.
If Covid wasn’t enough to shake our world, we also have the monkeypox, the swine flu and the new favorite chikunguniya. You think spices are exotic? Well the medical world prefers to take center stage. They will entertain you with a wide range of conditions that could possibly make a surprise entry on the menu.
The common cold, the flu, allergies and stomach bugs all light up the festive season that lies ahead. Change of weather they say. Suddenly there is a bombardment of emails, advertisements and billboards reminding you to get the flu shot. Save yourself they say. They also remind you how annoying the common cold is, calling it that irritating visitor who refuses to leave. Or the flu, which is like that dramatic character who takes full center stage. Every symptom of the flu hits instantly and suddenly the body is in full rebellion mode. Sneezing, coughing, fever and body ache all rolled in one. If by chance you are spared those two then you are hit with allergies. I mean how weak are you? You get allergic reactions to everything and everyone. While your body is busy reacting you might find yourself sprinting back and forth to the bathroom. Oh yeah, you forgot the stomach bug. No, it wasn’t something you ate. It happens, just like the other viral diseases.
So by now your head is probably heavy enough. You wish you could shut down for a bit and not have to think. Wrong. That’s not an option. Instead you have to think harder now. What’s trending? Maybe Monkeypox? I like monkeys. They are funny and energetic and sneeky. The poxes I am not a fan of. I have bad memories of itchy spots. Why would they associate my favorite monkeys with my most dreaded poxes. Monkeypox actually sounds like a fun video game rather than a bad case of rashes and fever. Or maybe you have swine flu. Yes it’s not a thing of the past. It still happens and should not be mistaken as something contracted from a wild party in a barn. The most fashionable one is chikunguniya. Try getting that right at the spelling bee. While you might be blaming the chickens it’s actually the irritating mosquitos that take credit. Suffice to say, in all three cases you feel like crap!
So what should you do? Are you going to run to the kitchen and start boiling onions and garlic to sniff on the steam? Or maybe you are the hot tea guru who has the famous concoction that cures all (that would be me)! Better yet, maybe you take the flu shot believing that whatever symptoms you get will be lessened by the help of the shot? Or maybe you should just stay home, stay masked, overdose on sanitizers and washing of hands? While that may help, you just might bring on a whole array of mental issues from being isolated. Heard of cabin fever?