What is influenza virus?
Influenza virus is a small virus that likes to infect the respiratory system. Because of the vulnerability of the respiratory tract in the winter, it tends to do most of its damage from December through March, though summer outbreaks have occured. The mode of transmission is from person to person by tiny droplets from respiratory secretions. Poor hand washing after people have touched contaminated nasal or oral secretions, contributes to the rapid spread of the virus.
How can I protect myself?
- Influenza vaccine -
- The influenza vaccine, that is injected is made from inactivated virus. It is injected at least 4-6 weeks before the peak of the influenza season in order to give the body a chance to build up antibodies to the virus. When the virus finally does attack, there are natural antibodies present in your body waiting for it to gobble it up. Though not 100% effective, it can reduce the intensity of the illness if the virus should infect you. The vaccine provides good protection against the most common strains of influenza virus that are likely to hit this area in a particular year. The viruses are smart and tend to mutate or change. As a result the virus is not the same from year to year. That is why you must receive a fresh vaccine every year. The present vaccince includes H1N1. Many pediatricians us the nasal inhaled vaccine, which is a live attenuated virus.
- Complications of the influenza vaccine-
- The most common complication is allergy to the vaccine. Since the vaccine is grown in eggs, anyone with an allergy to feathers, eggs, or chickens can not take the vaccine.
- Other complications include a low grade fever and chills, irritation at the site, weakness, aches, sore throat. Rare cases of neurologic problems have been reported.
- You can not catch the flu from the flu vaccine made from an inactivated virus.
- Antiviral medications - There are some very effective antiviral medications that can reduce the intensity and duration of the illness, if taken within 48 hours of the onset of influenza symptoms.
- Relenza (Zanamivir); Tamiflu (Oseltamivir); Flumadine (Rimantidine)
How do I know if I have Influenza virus?
The typical symptoms of influenza are:
- Intense watery nasal discharge
- Headaches and watery eyes
- Scratchy throat
- High fever
- Weakness
Influenza is not diarrhea or vomiting, though many patients feel nauseated during the illness. The influenza attacks the respiratory lining starting from the nose and going as far down as it can go in the airways. In many patients the disease can progress to a bronchitis or pneumonia, and be associated with a serious secondary bacterial infection. Patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions are particularly susceptible to develop additional respiratory complications, such as pneumonia, worsening of asthma, and a persistent bronchitis or bronchiolitis that can go on for months to years.
Patients with the following respiratory illnesses should be vaccinated:
- Asthma
- Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Sarcoid
- Occupational lung disease
Other patients who are at risk of developing complications include:
- Heart failure or angina
- Renal failure
- Diabetes mellitus
- Neurologic disease, such as strokes or Parkinsonís disease
- Patients with cancer
- Patients with altered immune systems
- People over 65
Recommendations:
- Vaccination is recommended to patients at high risk and should be completed during the months of October and November
- Vaccine may be obtained from: your physician, many pharmacies, public health clinics (county flu vaccine clinics), your employee health service
- At the first sign of influenza infection, see your physician for treatment!!!
