Flu season in the northern
hemisphere can range from as early as November to as late as May. The peak
month usually is February.
However, this coming season
is expected to be unpredictable because of the emergence of the H1N1 influenza
virus — or swine flu. The H1N1 has caused the first global outbreak —
pandemic — of influenza in more than four decades.
There is concern that the 2009
H1N1 virus may make the season worse than a regular flu season. It is feared
that there will be many more hospitalizations and fatalities this season. The
2009 H1N1 virus caused illness in the U.S. during the summer months when
influenza is very uncommon.
The 2009-10 flu vaccine
protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause
the most illness during the flu season. The seasonal vaccine is not expected to
protect against the 2009 H1N1 virus. A vaccine for 2009 H1N1 is being produced
and may be ready for the public in the fall.
The 2009-10 vaccine can be
administered anytime during flu season. However, the best time to get
inoculated is October-November. The protection provided by the vaccine lasts
about a year. Adults over age 50 are prime candidates for the vaccine because
the flu can be fatal for people in this age group.
The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that up to 20
percent of the population gets the flu each year.
The CDC reports vaccination
rates are better for those over 65. About seven in 10 seniors get their flu
shots. You can get the flu vaccine from your doctor, at public health centers,
senior centers, pharmacies and supermarkets.
For more than four decades,
the flu vaccine has been strongly recommended for older people, but now some
scientists say the vaccine probably doesn’t work well for those over 70. About
75 percent of flu deaths happen to people in this age group.
Flu is a contagious illness
of the respiratory system caused by the influenza virus. Flu can lead to
pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, ear problems and dehydration.
Droplets from coughing and
sneezing spread the flu. An adult with flu can infect others beginning one day
before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. Children may
spread flu for more than seven days.
The best way to combat the
bug is to get the flu vaccine. You have to get inoculated annually because new
vaccines are prepared every year to combat new versions of the virus. When you
battle the flu, you develop antibodies to the invading virus, but those
antibodies don’t work on new strains. The vaccine does not prevent flu in all
people; it works better in younger recipients than older ones.
Contrary to rumor, you can’t
catch the flu from the vaccine. The flu vaccine is not made from a live virus.
The recovery time for the
flu is about one to two weeks. However, in seniors, weakness may persist for a
longer time.
The common scenario for flu
is a sudden onset of symptoms, which include chills, fatigue, fever, cough,
headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, muscle aches and appetite loss.
While nausea, vomiting and
diarrhea can be related to the flu, these are rarely the primary flu symptoms.
The flu is not a stomach or intestinal disease. The term stomach flu is
inaccurate.
When symptoms strike, get to
a doctor as soon as possible; the faster the better.
There are prescription antiviral drugs to treat flu. Over-the-counter medicines
can help relieve symptoms of the flu. You should also drink liquids to prevent
dehydration, and sleep to bolster your immune system.
If you have a question,
please write to fred@healthygeezer.com
All Rights Reserved © 2009
by Fred Cicetti