Improving influenza vaccine rates AAP News (subscription) - Topics include symptoms of and protection from influenza, when and where to receive the vaccine, and safety issues for those with chronic medical conditions ...
Study: It's wise for college students to get flu shot NECN, MA - 57 minutes ago But new research from the University of Minnesota suggests the flu vaccine has some big payoffs for all students. Researchers followed nearly 13000 students ...
Ask the Expert about flu WalesOnline, United Kingdom - Q Why do I need a flu vaccine? A Every year 3000 to 4000 deaths are caused by influenza in the UK ? more than 85%of those occur in people over 65. ...
New record set in mass dispensing exercise Heber Springs Sun-Times, AR - An influenza vaccination offers 70 percent to 90 percent protection against infection and can decrease the severity and side effects if you do get sick. ...
Reminding readers to get flu vaccination shot Brazil Times, IN - Despite serious health risks associated with influenza, many people are not getting immunized. More than four out of five Americans should be vaccinated...
New strain of influenza The Daily Yomiuri, Japan - Aug 5, 2008 A Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry task force assigned to map out preemptive measures against the possible outbreak of a new strain of influenza has ...
Cheshire Home (Shatin) reports influenza-like cases Media Newswire (press release), NY - Two male and four female patients (aged 68 to 101) of an Infirmary Ward in SCH have presented with symptoms of influenza-like illness since August 3. ...
US commemorates 1998 terror attacks DailyNewsOnline, United Republic of Tanzania - In order to address this problem, the Global Emerging Infections System (GEIS), part of the US Department of Defense, has been tasked to build influenza...
Evolution and ecology of influenza A viruses. - RG Webster, WJ Bean, OT Gorman, TM Chambers, Y … - Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, 1992 - mmbr.highwire.org ... 1992 March; 56(1): 152-179 Evolution and ecology of influenza A viruses. ... These species
harbor influenza viruses of all the known HA and NA subtypes. ...
The Effectiveness of Vaccination against Influenza in Healthy, Working Adults - KL Nichol, A Lind, KL Margolis, M Murdoch, R … - New England Journal of Medicine, 1995 - content.nejm.org Original Article from The New England Journal of Medicine -- The Effectiveness of
Vaccination against Influenza in Healthy, Working Adults. ...Influenza. ...
Influenza, commonly known as "the flu," is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract. Although the flu affects both sexes and all age groups, kids tend to get it more often than adults. The illness even has its own season - from November to April, with most cases occurring between late December and early March.
What Are the Symptoms of the Flu?
The flu is often confused with the common cold, but flu symptoms tend to develop quickly (usually 1 to 4 days after a person is exposed to the flu virus) and are usually more severe than the typical sneezing and stuffiness of a cold.
Symptoms of the flu may include:
fever
chills
headache
muscle aches
dizziness
loss of appetite
tiredness
cough
sore throat
runny nose
nausea or vomiting
weakness
ear infection
diarrhea
Infants with the flu may simply seem sick all of a sudden or "just don't look right."
How Long Does the Flu Last?
After 5 days, fever and other symptoms have usually disappeared, but a cough and weakness may continue. All symptoms are usually gone within a week or two. However, it's important to treat the flu seriously, because it can lead to pneumonia and other life-threatening complications, particularly in infants, senior citizens, and people with long-term health problems.
Is the Flu Contagious?
Spread by virus-infected droplets that are coughed or sneezed into the air, the flu is contagious. People infected with the flu are contagious as long as they show symptoms (most of the time that means about a week for adults, but for children it can mean up to 2 weeks).
The flu usually occurs in small outbreaks, but epidemics tend to occur every few years. Epidemics (when the illness spreads rapidly and affects many people in an area at the same time) peak within 2 or 3 weeks after the first cases occur and then begin to decrease.
What About the Flu Vaccine?
Usually offered between September and mid-November (although it may be given at other times of the year), the flu vaccine reduces the average person's chances of catching the flu by up to 80% during the season. But because the flu vaccine prevents infection with only a few of the viruses that can cause flu-like symptoms, getting the vaccine isn't a guarantee that you and your family won't get sick during the flu season. But even if someone who's gotten the shot gets the flu, symptoms will usually be fewer and milder.
Given as one injection in the upper arm, the flu shot contains killed flu viruses that will not cause your child to get the flu, but will cause your child's body to fight off infection by the live flu virus. Getting a shot of the killed virus causes a person to become protected against that particular type of live flu virus if he or she comes into contact with it.
Even if you or your child may have gotten the vaccine last year, that won't protect you from getting the flu this year, because the protection wears off and flu viruses constantly change. That's why the vaccine is updated each year to include the most current strains of the virus.
For children under 9 who are getting a flu shot for the first time, it's given in two separate shots 1 month apart. It can take up to 1 or 2 weeks after the shot for the body to build up protection to the flu. Getting the shot before the flu season is in full-force gives the body a chance to build up immunity to, or protection from, the virus. Although you can get a flu shot well into flu season, it's best to try to get it earlier rather than later, if your child's doctor thinks it's necessary. However, even as late as January, there are still 2 or 3 months left in the flu season, which means it's still a good idea to get protection.
In times when the vaccine is in short supply, certain people need it more than others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) previously recommended that only certain high-risk groups be vaccinated this flu season because the flu shot was in short supply. But now, the CDC is encouraging those who are not in the high-risk groups to contact their doctor or local public health department for information on the availability of the vaccine.
It's still most important for the high-risk groups to be vaccinated against the illness. However, in areas where there's enough vaccine available, non-high- risk individuals (including children 2 years to 18 years) should be considered for the flu shot.
So who, exactly, is considered high risk? The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that these groups, who are at increased risk of flu-related complications, be given the flu shot:
children 6 to 23 months old
anyone 50 and up
women who will be pregnant during the flu season
anyone who lives or works with infants under 6 months old
residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes
any adult or child with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma
health-care personnel who have direct contact with patients
children - from 6 months to 18 years - on long-term aspirin therapy
out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of anyone in any of the high- risk groups
People who should notget the flu shot include:
infants under 6 months old
anyone who's severely allergic to eggs and egg products - because the ingredients for flu shots are actually grown inside eggs. If your child is allergic to eggs or egg products, let your child's doctor know before he or she gets a flu shot.
anyone who's ever had a severe reaction to a flu vaccination
anyone who has Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare medical condition that affects the immune system and nerves
anyone who's sick with a fever
Another non-shot option called the nasal mist vaccine came on the market in 2003 and is now approved for use in 5- to 49-year-olds. But this nasal mist isn't for everyone, and can't be used on high-risk children and adults. Also, because the nasal spray flu vaccine is made from live viruses, it may cause mild flu-like symptoms, including runny nose, headache, vomiting, muscle aches, and fever. Check with your child's doctor to see if your child can - or should - get this type of flu vaccine.
Preventing the Flu From Spreading
Although there's no guaranteed way - including the vaccine - to prevent anyone from getting the flu, the most simple step you can take is to avoid large crowds. Since it's often nearly impossible to keep kids cooped up, here are some other things you and your family can do to help prevent the spread of infections like the flu:
Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
Never pick up used tissues.
Never share cups and eating utensils until you're better.
Stay home from work or school when you're sick with the flu.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Treatment
In most cases, the flu rarely requires specific medical treatment. But some kids who have chronic medical conditions may become sicker with the flu - and may require hospitalization. Flu in a newborn can also be hazardous. For a severely ill child or one with other special circumstances, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine that can ease flu symptoms, but only if given within 48 hours of the onset of the flu.
But these at-home tips will help most otherwise healthy children get back on their feet again:
Drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Get plenty of sleep and take it easy.
Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve fever and achiness. However, do not give aspirin to your child unless your child's doctor instructs you to do so.
Wear layers, since the flu often makes you cold one minute and hot the next. Wearing several layers - like a T-shirt, sweatshirt, and robe - makes it easy to add or subtract clothes as needed.
When to Call Your Child's Doctor
You should call your child's doctor as soon as your child shows symptoms of the flu and if:
you think your child should receive a flu shot
your child's flu symptoms get worse
your child has a high temperature for more than a few days
your child seems to get better, but then feels worse than before
For the most part, though, the flu is usually gone in a week or two with a little rest and tender loving care.
