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INTRODUCTION: Flu (influenza) season means the months of the year when many people have it and it’s easy to catch. Outbreaks normally begin suddenly and occur mostly in the late fall and winter. It is a respiratory infection caused by a number of different viruses. Vaccines are usually administered in the fall, before flu season begins and are available as a shot or nasal mist.

Shots are most important for: persons 65 or older, nursing home patients, children over 6 months old, people with health problems such as asthma or with long-term diseases, such as HIV or heart disease, children or teen-agers who must often take aspirin, people who are often around older persons or those with health problems. Symptoms may be mild or severe – and if they’re mild can become severe without warning.

SYMPTOMS: If you get infected with the virus, you will usually feel symptoms 1 to 4 days later. Signs of the flu may include: fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, dizziness, lack of appetite, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, weakness, ear pain, diarrhea. They come on with out warning and are worse than those of the common cold however; having these symptoms does not guaranteed that you have the flu. Many different illnesses, including the common cold, can have similar symptoms. It is very hard to distinguish the flu from other infections on the basis of these signs alone.

If you develop flu-like signs and are concerned about your illness, especially if you are at elevated risk for complications, you should consult your MD. Based on your signs, your MD can usually tell if you have the Flu, especially during times when a lot of it is going around. After 5 days, fever and other symptoms have usually disappeared, but a cough and weakness may continue for a while. All symptoms are usually gone within a week or two.

VACCINES: Two types of flu vaccines are available in the United States: The “flu shot” – an in-activated vaccine (containing dead virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm OR the nasal-spray – a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not produce influenza (sometimes called LAIV for “live attenuated influenza vaccine” or FluMist). On October 24, 2007 CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended expanding the use of the nasal Flu vaccine LAIV (FluMist) to include healthy children ages 2-4 years old without a history of asthma or recurrent wheezing.

Anyone who is at risk of getting really sick needs to get a flu vaccination, or vaccine. It’s good for kids who are around older people and younger kids (like little brothers and sisters) to get the vaccine also. Should you get the vaccine, or shot, it will protect you from getting a bad case of the flu. Whichever one you get, you need to get a new vaccine each year because the flu virus changes every year and the vaccine is develop to fight the viruses that are going to be a problem that year.

The flu vaccine is normally offered between September and mid-November, although it can be given at other times of the year. Since it prevents infection from only a few of the viruses floating around that can cause flu-like symptoms, it is not a guaranteed protection against getting ill. Call your Physician or local public health department about availability in your area.

TREATMENTS: Many people treat their influenza by simply Resting in bed, Drinking plenty of liquids, Taking over-the-counter medicine such as aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol). You may develop complications if you get a bacterial infection, which can cause pneumonia in your weakened lungs. Treatment is often not necessary for children, but if the illness is recognized early and the patient is at risk of developing a severe case, it can and should be started. Treatment will only help however; If started early and only if the infection is actually influenza. Treatment includes bed rest and plenty of fluids; anti-viral medication may also be prescribed.

CONCLUSION: The Flu usually starts suddenly and may include the following symptoms: Fever (usually high), Headache, Tiredness (can be extreme), Cough, Sore throat, Runny or stuffy nose, Body aches, Diarrhea and vomiting (more common in children than adults). A doctor’s exam may be needed to tell whether you have developed the flu or a complication. There are tests that can determine if you have the flu as long as you are tested within the first 2 or 3 days of illness.

In some people, the infection can cause serious complications, including bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. The flu can produce mild to severe illness and at times may lead to death.

Although most healthy people recover from the flu without complications, some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious complications. The virus usually spreads from person to person in respiratory droplets when people who are infected cough or sneeze. People occasionally may become infected by touching something with the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. The single best way to protect yourself and others against influenza is to get a vaccination each year.

The flu vaccination is approved for use in those older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical problems (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease). October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, but getting vaccinated in December or even later may still be beneficial since most influenza activity occurs in January or later in most years.

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