Ready or not, influenza season is upon us once again

Published 8:51 am Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Health Watch by Steve Mullenix

The North Jefferson News



The flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus.

It can cause mild to quite severe symptoms or even death. In fact, more than 36,000 people each year die from influenza. It is estimated that 20 percent of the population will get the flu, and that more than 200,000 individuals will need to be hospitalized from complications of the flu. The really sad thing is that in most cases, it could have been prevented by receiving a simple flu immunization.

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each year. October through December is the best time to get vaccinated. Being vaccinated during this time still provides protection during the peak of the flu season, which normally occurs in January or later.

There are two types of vaccines:

• The flu shot – An inactive vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given in the form of an injection usually in the arm. This injection is approved for use in people over 6 months old, including healthy people, and individuals with chronic medical conditions.

• The nasal-spray flu vaccine – A vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu. This method of vaccination is approved for healthy individuals from 2 to 49 years of age, who are not pregnant.

The vaccines contain three influenza viruses, which represent the strains of the flu that are believed to be the ones that will be causing the year’s outbreak. Thus, the formulation changes each year, and it is necessary to get a new vaccination each flu season. It takes about two weeks after the immunization for the antibodies to provide protection against the viruses.



Who should get vaccinated

In general, anyone who wants to reduce the chances of getting the flu should get vaccinated. However, there are certain groups which are at higher risk for complications, and should really make an effort to get vaccinated. The highest prior individuals for vaccination are:

• Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday

• Pregnant women

• People over 50 years old

• People of any age with chronic medical conditions

• People who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities

• People who care for others who are at high risk of complications of the flu

• Health care workers

“Catching” the flu can make you quite uncomfortable. The flu is spread normally from person to person mainly when an infected individual coughs or sneezes.

Sometimes people can catch it from touching an object which has come in to contact with an infected individual, and then touching their mouth or nose. Most infected individuals can transmit the flu to others a day before any symptoms develop and up to five days after they become sick. This means you could be infecting others before you even know you’re sick.

Normal symptoms of the flu include: a high fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, and sometimes, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, which is more common in children than adults.

Complications of the flu include bacterial pneumonia, to which there is also a vaccine that can be given along with the flu immunization. The pneumonia vaccine is only recommended every five years, but it well worth marking on the calendar and following when you need another injection.

Other complications include ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration and worsening of existing chronic medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma and diabetes.

There are anti-viral drugs (Tamiflu) that can be prescribed by your physician to possibly shorten the duration of the flu should you become infected, but immunization is the best prevention.

Other preventive methods include: Avoiding close contact with infected individuals, staying at home if you become infected, cover your mouth and nose, washing your hands, avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth and practice other good health habits.

Flu shots will be available at most physician’s offices, and pharmacies beginning in October. You don’t need a prescription, and in most cases the immunization is covered by your insurance at no charge to you.

So, tell me, which is the best option: painless to small pin prick discomfort for less than a second when receiving a flu immunization, or suffering the uncomfortable symptoms of the flu and putting your co-workers and family at the risk of suffering the same fate?

For me, I’ll take the first option.

Steve Mullenix (R.Ph) co-owns The Pharmacy in Mount Olive with his wife, Sherry Mullenix (J.D., R.N.). They can be reached at 631-1201.