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All you want to know about Flu this season
Namgyal Tsewang
Considering all the hue and cry made about flu and the shortage of the flu vaccine, I feel it would be appropriate to write about flu as it may help people understand this illness better and be better equipped knowing that a lot of us may not be able to get the vaccine this season.What is flu?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza viruses. There are three types of influenza viruses type A, B and C. Influenza types A or B viruses cause epidemics of disease almost every winter. In the U.S., these winter influenza epidemics can cause illness in 10% to 20 % of people and are associated with an average of 36,000 deaths (mostly in people with chronic medical problems) and 114,000 hospitalizations per year. Getting a flu shot can prevent illness from types A and B influenza. Influenza type C infections cause a mild respiratory illness and are not thought to cause epidemics. The flu shot does not protect against type C influenza.
Symptoms of influenza:
Uncomplicated influenza illness is characterized by the abrupt onset of high fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are more common in children than in adults.
Complications of influenza:
Influenza illness typically resolves after a limited number of days for the majority of persons, although cough and malaise can persists for longer than two weeks. But some people such as older people, young children, pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions (asthma, heart failure, diabetes) can be at high risk for serious flu complications. It can lead to secondary bacterial pneumonia and dehydration. Children can get sinus and ear infections.
How does flu spread?
Influenza viruses are spread from person to person primarily through coughing and sneezing of infected persons. Adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before getting symptoms and up to seven days after getting sick. This means you can give someone the flu before you know you are sick as well as while you are sick. Children can be infectious for longer than ten days and can shed virus for less than six days before their illness onset. Severely immuno-compromised persons can take weeks or months to shed the virus.
Preventing the flu:
The single best way is to get the flu vaccine each fall. Unfortunately, due to the shortage of the vaccine, people are often requested to forego their vaccine and give preference to those at high risk.
Flu vaccine:
There are two types of vaccines:
  • The flu shot — an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) is approved for people longer than six months of age including healthy people and people with chronic medical condition.
  • The nasal spray flu vaccine — a live weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu, is approved for use in healthy people five to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.
About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies that protect against influenza virus develop in the body.
When to get vaccinated?
October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, but you can still get vaccinated in December and later. Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May.
Who should get vaccinated?
All of us but due to the present condition of vaccine shortage people to be given priority.
  • All children agesix to 23 months.
  • Adults aged 65 years and older.
  • Persons aged two to 64 years with chronic medical conditions.
  • All pregnant women.
  • Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
  • Health care workers involved in direct patients care,
  • Babysitters who take care of children less than six months of age.
Check with your doctor about your flu shot!
Who should not be vaccinated?
  • People with severe allergy to eggs (vaccines prepared from hen's egg),
  • People with severe reaction to flu vaccine in the past,
  • >People who develop Gullain-barre syndrome within six months of getting vaccine in the past,
  • Children less than six months of age.
Good health habits:
  • Avoid close contact with sick people,
  • Stay home when sick to avoid giving to others,
  • Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing,
  • Clean your hands.
Uh-oh! I have the flu, what should I do?
Once the person has flu, treatment usually consists of good bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids, taking meds to relieve fever, headache. Beware! Do not give aspirin to kids with flu because of serious When should you visit your doctor?
If you have any of the flu signs and you have:
  • Heart and lung problems,
  • You are on immunosuppressive drugs,
  • You have signs of Pneumonia (high fever, shaking chills, chest pain which worsens with breathing and coughing).
Treating flu with drugs:
Antibiotics are not effective against flu viruses. However there are two drugs amantadine and rimantadine. When taken within 48 hours after onset of illness these drugs can reduce the duration of fever and other symptoms and allows you to return to your daily routines more quickly. Both these drugs are only available by prescription.