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Flu Season Is Just Around the Corner
Posted on: 09/10/2008
Each winter, influenza is a major health problem, and there are a lot of misconceptions about influenza. Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause a mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Every year in the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and about 36,000 people die from flu. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.
Influenza is a respiratory illness. Symptoms of flu include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches. Children can have additional gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but these symptoms are uncommon in adults. Although the term "stomach flu" is sometimes used to describe vomiting, nausea or diarrhea, these illnesses are caused by certain other viruses, bacteria or even parasites, and are rarely related to influenza. It should be noted that the immunization against the flu (the "flu shot") does not protect against the "stomach flu" but does protect against influenza.
Because cold and flu share many symptoms, it can be difficult (or even impossible) to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Special tests that usually must be done within the first few days of illness can be carried out when needed to tell if a person has the flu. Unlike colds, the flu can result in complications such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, and hospitalizations.
There are many things you can do to try to prevent getting the flu. The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination every year. Yearly flu vaccinations should begin in September or as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the infuenza season, into December and January, and beyond. This is because the timing and duration of influenza seasons vary. While influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenxa activity peaks in January or later.
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, it is recommended that certain people should get vaccinated each year. They are either people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications. People who should get vaccinated each year are:
- Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
- Pregnant women
- People 50 years of age and older
- People of any age with certain crhonic medical conditions (including, but not limited to, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and neurological diseases)
- People who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities
- People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
- health care workers
- household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
- household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
There are two options for vaccination: the flu shot and the nasal spray. The spray is only approved for heatlhy people 2-49 years old who are not pregnant. The shot consists of inactivated (killed) viruses, while the spray consists of live, weakened viruses. You cannot get the flu from the flu shot, so anyone can get the shot. Becuase the spray has live virus in it, it cannot be given to high risk patients.
There are some people who should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. These include:
- People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs
- People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination
- People who developed Guillan-Barre Syndrome within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine
- Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group), and
- People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated)
Other measures to try to prevent the flu include:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.
- If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
- Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
- Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
- Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
If you do get the flu, it may be treated. There are flu antiviral drugs that can treat the flu or prevent infection with flu viruses. For treatment, antiviral drugs should be startd within 48 hours of getting sick. For prevention, antiviral drugs are 70%-90% effective in preventing infection. These drugs must be prescribed by a health care provider. IF you develop flu-like symptoms, (usually high fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches) or are exposed to the flu before you get a vlu vaccine, your health care professional will help you decie whether you should take antiviral drugs.
Wheaton Pediatrics will start taking calls September 15 for flu clinic appointments in October. The appointments are on a first come, first served basis. If your child is due for a well child visit during September through December, he/she can get the vaccine at that visit without making a special trip. We will not be taking wait lists at this time. We will be adding flu clinics on an ongoing basis, so if you call and they are filled, there will be more opening up. Protect your children from influenza by calling the office at 630-690-7300 to get an appointment for a flu vaccine.
-From the CDC website
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