Flu or Influenza

Influenza, commonly called “the flu”, is an infection of the respiratory tract caused by the influenza virus. There are three types of viruses -- influenza A, B and C. Types A and B are to blame for majority of respiratory illness that occur most winters. Type C causes mild illness or no symptoms at all. Flu viruses are spread from one person to another by sneezing, coughing or direct contact, that is why we call them airborne.

Compared with most other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, influenza infection often causes a more severe illness. Typical influenza illness includes fever (usually 100°F to 103°F in adults and often even higher in children) and respiratory symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, as well as headache, muscle aches, and often extreme fatigue, you may feel shivery and rotten and all you want to do is to lie down. These problems usually last 3-4 days. There is no treatment as antibiotics don’t work against viruses.

Every year an estimated 25 million to 50 million Americans contract the flu. The flu can be life-threatening for the very young, the old or those with chronic diseases or those whose immune system is compromised like people with AIDS or on cancer treatment drugs. About 20,000 die from flu complications each year. Bacterial pneumonia is the most common serious complication.

What to do? Lie down and rest. Take Tylenol (generic is fine) as directed on the label for fever or headache, if you have one. Drink lots of clear fluids and water, stay away from anyone you like or you will spread it to them and listen to your body. If you need to sleep, do that. There is no treatment as antibiotics do not work against viruses. They are used if you get bronchitis or pneumonia as a complication of the flu.

Most people who get the flu recover completely in ten days to two weeks.


Some History of Human Influenza
Antigenic shift occurs only occasionally. When it does occur, large numbers of people, and sometimes the entire population, have no antibody protection against the virus. If the new virus is capable of being spread easily from person to person, a worldwide epidemic, called a pandemic, can occur. During this century, pandemics occurred in 1918, 1957, and 1968, each of which resulted in large numbers of deaths, as noted below.


Mortality associated with pandemics:
1918-19 “Spanish flu” -- Caused the highest known influenza-related mortality: approximately 500,000 deaths occurred in the United States, 20 million worldwide.

Influenza Vaccine
Much of the illness and death caused by influenza can be prevented by annual influenza vaccination. Influenza vaccine is specifically recommended for people who are at high risk for developing serious complications as a result of influenza infection. These high-risk groups include all people aged 65 years or older and people of any age with chronic diseases of the heart, lung or kidneys, diabetes, immunosuppression, or severe forms of anemia.

Beginning in 2000, all person aged 50-64 years were added to the groups recommended for annual vaccination. Influenza vaccine is also recommended for people who are in close or frequent contact with anyone in the high-risk groups. These people include health care personnel and volunteers who work with high risk patients and people who live in a household with a high-risk person.

Some people are not vaccinated because of misconceptions about influenza and the vaccine. Many people are not aware of the seriousness of influenza infection and some believe that the vaccine can cause the flu. Influenza vaccine produced in the United States cannot cause influenza. The only type of influenza vaccine that has been licensed in the United States is made from killed influenza viruses, which cannot cause infection. An influenza vaccine that is made with live influenza viruses has been developed and may be marketed in the future. This vaccine is made with viruses that can provide antibody protection but do not cause classic influenza symptoms.

Why the Vaccine Must Be Taken Every Year
Although only a few different influenza viruses circulate at any given time, people can become ill with the flu many times in their lives. The reason for this continuing susceptibility is that influenza viruses are continually changing, usually as a result of mutations in the viral genes. Currently, there are three different influenza virus strains, and the vaccine contains viruses representing each strain. Each year the vaccine is updated to include the most current influenza virus strains. The fact that influenza viruses continually change is one of the reasons vaccine must be taken every year. Another reason is that antibody made after being vaccinated declines over time, and antibody levels are often low one year after vaccination.

When To Receive Influenza Vaccine
In the United States, influenza usually occurs from about November until April, with activity peaking between late December and early March. The optimal time for vaccination of persons at high risk for influenza -- related medical complications is during October through November. However, to avoid missed opportunities for vaccination, vaccine should be offered to high -- risk persons who are hospitalized or seen at their physician’s office starting in September and continuing through the winter. It takes about one to two weeks after vaccination for antibody against influenza to develop and provide protection.

Some of this information provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

** Note **

Please remember that the information presented in this forum is for your education only, and is not intended to extend medical advice or diagnosis. If you have questions or feel that you may be experiencing symptoms similar to those presented, please call the Berkeley County Health Department at (304) 263-5131 or your primary care provider for formal medical attention.