October 22, 2004

How to identify, fight & avoid spreading the flu

By Dr. Meena Sathappan
Special to the Times

It’s that time of the year again. Along with the fall, comes the flu! Yes, there is a shortage of flu shots this year. Nevertheless, there are many things that we can do to fight the flu. Let’s first get down to the basics.

The flu, also known as influenza, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), every year in the United States, on average, 5 to 20 percent of the population gets the flu. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications and approximately 36,000 people die from the flu.

Typical Flu symptoms
High fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches are typical flu symptoms. Gastro-intestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, are much more common among children than adults. Children may get sinus problems and ear infections.

Colds and the flu share many of the same symptoms. A cold is generally mild, while the flu tends to be more severe.

With a cold, you may run a low fever or no fever at all. On the other hand, the flu starts suddenly and hits hard. You’ll probably feel weak and tired. It usually takes longer to get over the flu than it takes to get over a cold.

Colds and the flu are caused by viruses. Colds are caused by more than 100 viruses. On the other hand, there are not as many viruses that can cause the flu. That’s why there is a shot (vaccine) to help prevent the flu, but not a shot for colds.

How the flu spreads
The flu spreads in respiratory droplets caused by coughing and sneezing. It usually spreads from person to person, though occasionally, touching something with a virus on it and then touching your mouth or nose may infect you.

You may be able to infect others beginning one day before getting symptoms and up to seven days after getting sick.

That means you can give someone the flu before you know you become sick as well as while you are sick.

Flu shots
One way to prevent getting the flu is to get a vaccine each fall. 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.

As many of you know, there is an acute shortage of the vaccine this season as a result of an interim suösion in the manufacture of flu vaccines by one of the major suppliers. As a result, only 54 million doses are available in the US.

For obvious reasons, the available supply is being prioritized for the following groups of people who are at high risk for serious flu complications:

- all children aged 6–23 months;

- adults aged 65 years and older;

- persons aged 2–64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions;

- all women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;

- residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities;

- children aged 6 months –18 years who are on chronic aspirin therapy;

- health-care workers involved in direct patient care; and

- out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children less than 6 months.

Given the seriousness of the shortage, don’t be surprised if your health care provider and other agencies refuse to administer the flu shot this season if you do not belong to the above groups of people!

Healthy people 5- to 49 years of age, who are not pregnant, may be able to get the nasal-spray flu vaccine, called FluMist, which is a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses. On the other hand, the flu shot is made of inactivated (killed) virus. Please check with your doctor if you are a candidate for the nasal spray vaccine.

People in the priority groups should ask their doctor where they can get a flu shot. The following Web site for Public Vaccine Clinics also provides information on where flu shots are available: http://www.findaflushot.com/lungusa/.

How to help
- 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 etc., 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.

- Wash your hands. It will often help protect you from germs.

- Nursing mothers who have the flu should put on a surgical mask during nursing.

What to do when you have the flu
- Rest

- Drink plenty of fluids like water, fruit juices and clear soups.

- Avoid alcohol and tobacco. Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.

- Gargle with warm salt water a few times a day to relieve sore throat.

- Take medications to relieve the symptoms of flu. Aspirin should never be given to children who have flu-like symptoms.

In some cases, your doctor may choose the use of antiviral drugs to treat the flu. (Antibiotics do not help cure the flu, since the flu is caused by a virus and not a bacteria).

The Web site, where this information and more can be found, is http://www.cdc.gov/flu.

Dr. Meena Sathappan is a board-certified pediatrician who lives and practices in Evergreen. She is available for questions and consultation at Aasha Pediatrics, 2060 Aborn Rd., # 230, San Jose, CA 95121 (corner of Aborn Road and Capitol Expressway). You can also e-mail her at msathappan@gmail.com.