What You Should Know About
Influenza
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious viral disease that occurs in the winter of each year, peaking between late December and March. Nearly 100 million cases of the flu are reported in the United States each year.
For healthy children and adults, the flu usually is a moderately severe illness that lasts 1 to 2 weeks. For people who are already ill or otherwise weakened, however, the flu can be very serious. In fact, it causes more than 20,000 deaths each year in the United States.
Fortunately, available vaccines can largely prevent the flu, and the severity of flu symptoms may be substantially reduced by newly available antiviral medications.
What Happens in Influenza
When someone who is sick with the flu sneezes, coughs, or even talks, the flu virus floats into the air and can be inhaled by anyone nearby. It is in this way that flu is spread from one person to another.
Usually, flu symptoms develop rather quickly and typically include extreme fatigue, muscle aches, a high fever with chills, headache, cough, a sore throat, and a runny or stuffy nose. The fever usually mounts quickly and may rise to 104° F. It usually subsides after 2 or 3 days. Most people recover from the flu in 1 to 2 weeks. However, the elderly, and those with underlying lung disease may develop life-threatening complications.
Preventing Influenza
Each year a flu vaccine that is specifically tailored to the strains of flu that are appearing that year is prepared. Although everyone can reduce the risk of getting the flu by getting a flu shot, the shot is recommended for those who are at greater risk:
- People age 50 and over
- Nursing home residents
- Adults or children with chronic illnesses
- People with chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis
- People with a suppressed immune system
- Health care workers
- Children and teens on long-term aspirin therapy
- Women who will be in their second or third trimester of pregnancy during the flu season
- Household members of people in high-risk groups.
The flu vaccine is safe for children over 6 months old, although children who are under age 3 should receive a reduced dose. Children under age 9 should receive two doses one month apart the first time they're vaccinated.
Remember that the effects of a flu shot last only for that flu season. A new flu shot is required every year. The best time to do so is in October or November, although you can get a flu shot any time during the flu season. The effect of the vaccine is strongest 1 or 2 months after you have a flu shot; the effect then declines gradually. It takes about 10 to 14 days after the injection for the antibodies to reach their peak.
Treatment and Tips
Because the flu is caused by a virus, usual antibiotics are of no benefit. However, several antiviral medications are now available, and may prescribed if symptoms are severe and one is confident that they are caused by the influenza virus. These drugs can help reduce the severity of flu symptoms and shorten the length of the illness. To be effective, however, they need to be given as soon as possible after flu symptoms start. |
|
