|
| |
INFLUENZA FACTS
The flu is
caused by the influenza virus which infects the respiratory tract (nose, throat
and lungs). The flu is different from a cold and usually comes on suddenly
and may include these symptoms:
 |
headache
|
|
fever
|
|
extreme
tiredness
|
|
sore throat
|
|
body aches
|
|
dry cough
|
|
nasal
congestion
|
The flu is
caused by a virus, so antibiotics (like penicillin) don't work to cure it.
You should get rest, drink plenty of liquids, avoid using alcohol and tobacco
and take medication to relieve the symptoms. If you experience any of the
above symptoms, you should contact your health care provider.
Each flu
season is different but it is estimated that approximately 10%-20% of US
residents get the flu each year. And average of 114,000 people is
hospitalized for flu-related complications and on average 36,000 Americans die
each year from complications of the flu. Some of the complications caused
by the flu include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic
medical conditions such as: congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.
Children may get sinus problems and ear infections as a complication from the
flu.
Myths about
flu shots:
|
flu shots
cause the flu - Wrong. The licensed injectable flu vaccine used in the
US cannot cause the flu and does not cause flu illness. The flu vaccine is
made from inactivated or killed flu viruses.
|
|
flu
vaccine doesn't work - Not Exactly. The vaccine covers the three most
common strains identified as circulating the previous year. When the
viruses in the vaccine and the circulating viruses are similar, the flu shot is
very effective. Studies of healthy young adults have shown flu vaccine to be
70%-90% effective in preventing the flu. In the elderly and those with
certain long-term medical conditions, the flu shot can be less effective in
preventing illness. However, the vaccine is very effective in reducing
hospitalizations and death from flu-related causes.
The vaccine takes approximately two weeks to provide protection - if a person is
exposed to the flu during those two weeks, they may still get sick.
|
|
there is
no need to get a flu shot - Wrong. Flu viruses are constantly
changing. Generally new influenza virus strains circulate every flu season so
the vaccine is changed each year.
|
The single best way to
protect yourself against the flu is to get a flu shot each fall.
Getting a flu shot in 1976
The following
groups of people who are at increased risk for serious complications
from the flu need to get a yearly flu shot:
|
persons age
50 and older;
|
|
residents of
nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
|
|
adults and
children 6 months of age and older who have chronic heart or lung conditions,
including asthma;
|
|
adults and
children 6 months of age and older who need regular medical care or had to be in
a hospital because of a metabolic disease (like diabetes), chronic kidney
disease or weakened immune system;
|
|
children and
teenagers (6 months to 18 years) who are on long-term aspirin therapy;
|
|
household
caregivers of any of the above;
|
|
healthy
children 6 months - 23 months of age due to the substantial increased risk for
flu-related hospitalizations;
|
|
women who
will be more than three months pregnant during the flu season
|
|
|
if you are not able to open
documents on this site,
you can obtain a FREE .pdf
|
