We hear all sorts of things about the flu - flu shots, avian flu, swine flu, epidemic.
The flu, or influenza, is a virus that infects the upper respiratory tract (that is nasal passages, sinuses, throat and upper airways.) A virus is a chunk of genetic material that cannot live on its own but needs to infect another organism to replicate.
There are many viruses that cause upper respiratory illnesses besides the flu. The “common cold” is caused by viruses. There are hundreds of cold viruses that can infect humans. I'll discuss in a moment the differences between cold and flu.
Generally the flu is much more severe than a cold. The flu affects 5 to 20 percent of the population each year. 200,000 people are hospitalized each year with the flu and there can be 36,000 deaths annually.
We get colds and the flu more frequently in the wintertime because we are cramped in spaces together for longer periods. When someone with the flu coughs, microscopic droplets containing flu virus are spread into the air we breath.
We can also get the flu from a surface (handshake, countertop, pen) that has been coughed or sneezed on. When the droplets get into our system by rubbing eyes or nose or by putting hand to mouth, we become infected. The flu generally takes one to two days to “incubate.” This is the time before symptoms develop. A person is contagious at this time, so even if no symptoms are present, one can still spread it.
Symptoms include: high fever, shaking chills, muscle or joint aches, dry cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, headache, fatigue and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms. The flu can last one to two weeks, though the fever usually resolves in three to eight days. Colds don't usually cause high fevers, shaking chills, muscle aches or the extreme fatigue.
The other important differentiation that I see is that people who develop the flu do so very suddenly. Where a cold may start as some nasal congestion or annoying cough, people can frequently tell me the exact time that they started getting symptoms of the flu.
There are medications available to treat it. These medications are by prescription only and are given to those with known exposure of the flu even if they have no symptoms. Anyone who develops symptoms that they think might be the flu should see their physician as soon as possible because these medications are not effective unless given within 48 hours of developing symptoms. The medications also do not cure the illness but can shorten it.
The most important treatments are fluids and pain medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen when needed.
Prevention is the absolute key. The flu shot is the best way to do this. It protects most people from getting any illness and even if you do get the flu, it is usually milder because your body has built up immunity. Before the last week of October, flu vaccine is usually limited to those who are at more risk from complications of having flu (pneumonia or worsening illness). This group includes anyone over 65, residents of nursing homes, pregnant women, health care providers, household contacts of children less than 6 months of age, children age 6 months to 2 years and anyone with a chronic medical condition like diabetes, heart disease, asthma, emphysema or many others.
That means right now everyone should get a flu shot. I have so many patients tell me they don't want to get sick from the shot and refuse to get it.
The flu shot is an inactivated (dead) virus and cannot cause the flu. The most it can do is cause some redness at the injection site, perhaps some fatigue, a low fever or mild cold symptoms. This is in stark contrast to the one to two weeks of severe illness from the flu.
As it is cold season, many people confuse a common cold with the flu after getting immunized. The other issue is that the vaccine can take a week or two to build the body's immunity so if you are exposed to the flu on the day of your shot you may not be protected. Otherwise there are very few reasons not to get the shot.
Other ways to prevent the flu include stopping its spread. Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. Wash your hands if you cough into them or shake hands with someone who has. Don't share drinks with friends or co-workers, and try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
So far there has been little flu illness reported in central New York. Now is the perfect time to protect yourself and your family from an illness that's not just “a little cold.”
- Sources: Statistics used from the National Foundation for Infectious Disease Web site at www.nfid.org/library/influenza
Dr. Levy is a family physician in Auburn. He may be contacted at 282-0525.
There are many viruses that cause upper respiratory illnesses besides the flu. The “common cold” is caused by viruses. There are hundreds of cold viruses that can infect humans. I'll discuss in a moment the differences between cold and flu.
Generally the flu is much more severe than a cold. The flu affects 5 to 20 percent of the population each year. 200,000 people are hospitalized each year with the flu and there can be 36,000 deaths annually.
We get colds and the flu more frequently in the wintertime because we are cramped in spaces together for longer periods. When someone with the flu coughs, microscopic droplets containing flu virus are spread into the air we breath.
We can also get the flu from a surface (handshake, countertop, pen) that has been coughed or sneezed on. When the droplets get into our system by rubbing eyes or nose or by putting hand to mouth, we become infected. The flu generally takes one to two days to “incubate.” This is the time before symptoms develop. A person is contagious at this time, so even if no symptoms are present, one can still spread it.
Symptoms include: high fever, shaking chills, muscle or joint aches, dry cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, headache, fatigue and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms. The flu can last one to two weeks, though the fever usually resolves in three to eight days. Colds don't usually cause high fevers, shaking chills, muscle aches or the extreme fatigue.
The other important differentiation that I see is that people who develop the flu do so very suddenly. Where a cold may start as some nasal congestion or annoying cough, people can frequently tell me the exact time that they started getting symptoms of the flu.
There are medications available to treat it. These medications are by prescription only and are given to those with known exposure of the flu even if they have no symptoms. Anyone who develops symptoms that they think might be the flu should see their physician as soon as possible because these medications are not effective unless given within 48 hours of developing symptoms. The medications also do not cure the illness but can shorten it.
The most important treatments are fluids and pain medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen when needed.
Prevention is the absolute key. The flu shot is the best way to do this. It protects most people from getting any illness and even if you do get the flu, it is usually milder because your body has built up immunity. Before the last week of October, flu vaccine is usually limited to those who are at more risk from complications of having flu (pneumonia or worsening illness). This group includes anyone over 65, residents of nursing homes, pregnant women, health care providers, household contacts of children less than 6 months of age, children age 6 months to 2 years and anyone with a chronic medical condition like diabetes, heart disease, asthma, emphysema or many others.
That means right now everyone should get a flu shot. I have so many patients tell me they don't want to get sick from the shot and refuse to get it.
The flu shot is an inactivated (dead) virus and cannot cause the flu. The most it can do is cause some redness at the injection site, perhaps some fatigue, a low fever or mild cold symptoms. This is in stark contrast to the one to two weeks of severe illness from the flu.
As it is cold season, many people confuse a common cold with the flu after getting immunized. The other issue is that the vaccine can take a week or two to build the body's immunity so if you are exposed to the flu on the day of your shot you may not be protected. Otherwise there are very few reasons not to get the shot.
Other ways to prevent the flu include stopping its spread. Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. Wash your hands if you cough into them or shake hands with someone who has. Don't share drinks with friends or co-workers, and try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
So far there has been little flu illness reported in central New York. Now is the perfect time to protect yourself and your family from an illness that's not just “a little cold.”
- Sources: Statistics used from the National Foundation for Infectious Disease Web site at www.nfid.org/library/influenza
Dr. Levy is a family physician in Auburn. He may be contacted at 282-0525.
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