Beat The FLU BUG

By:  Sanjay Shah, M.D.

Fall is here and winter is knocking on the door.  With winter comes a myriad of respiratory diseases including influenza commonly known as the flu.  Anyone who has suffered from influenza would want to avoid the terrible symptoms including; fever with chills, severe headaches, sore throat, and cough.  These symptoms last for at least a week, but the misery does not end there.  Elderly, very young children and anyone with certain risk factors may develop complications from flu that can result in hospitalization and even death.  Each year about 10-40% of healthy children may develop flu.  Unlike many other viral illnesses such as chicken pox and measles, the influenza virus changes character every year, and can strike over and  over again in subsequent years.  In the fall each year under guidance from the CDC (Center for Disease Control), flu vaccine is prepared against strains of influenza expected to circulate in the U.S. in the upcoming winter.  The flu vaccine is made available in early October and it is recommended to receive the immunization before mid-November.

Although anyone who wishes to avoid the flu can receive the vaccine.  Flu vaccine is especially recommended for people with severe hearty and lung disease or people who are otherwise susceptible to severe complications of influenza.  It is recommended that children six months or older with the following condition be immunized:

1.  Asthma or any chronic lung condition such as cystic fibrosis or lung disease from prematurely.

2.  Heart disease.

3.  Children with HIV or any other kinds of immune deficiency.

4.  Children with sickle cell disease and other blood diseases.

5.  Children with diabetes.

6.  Children with renal failure.

In addition, pregnant women who will be in their second or third trimester of pregnancy during the flu season.  It is also recommended that close household contact with the above-mentioned are at high-risk children and health-care workers providing care to them should receive yearly influenza vaccine.

Influenza vaccine has killed influenza virus and cannot cause flu symptoms in the people receiving the vaccine.  Mild side effects can include; low grade fever and soreness at the injection site.  The vaccine has efficacy of 70-80%.  Children getting the vaccine for the first time require two doses of the vaccine one month apart.  Also children younger than thirteen years of age are given “split-virus” vaccine (a purified version of the vaccine) that has fewer side effects.  Overall, getting vaccinated against the flu is a smart move with major socio-economic impact on the community.