How Do You Prevent The Flu?
Get vaccinated this month against the virus

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By ANNA WILSON - Blue Ridge HealthCare

SPECIAL TO THE NEWS HERALD

The best way to prevent the flu is to be vaccinated each fall before the start of flu season, which typically lasts from November to March.

Influenza is contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses.

“Children are more likely to come down with the flu, and they can easily spread the virus to others,” said Tammy Boyd, MD, a physician at Drexel Family Medical Practice. “The flu is spread through respiratory droplets caused by the coughing and sneezing of a person with flu.”

You can get the flu simply by touching a surface like a telephone or doorknob that has been contaminated by a touch from someone who has the flu. The viruses can pass through the air and enter your body through your nose or mouth. If you've touched a contaminated surface, they can pass from your hand to your nose or mouth.

“You’re at greater risk of getting infected when you’re around crowds,” Dr. Boyd said. “That’s why it is so easily transmitted in schools.”

Every year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control, 5 percent to 20 percent of the population gets the flu. Although most people recover, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized with flu complications and about 36,000 people die from flu.

Young children, older people and people with certain health conditions are at a high risk for serious flu complications, Dr. Boyd said. “I encourage everyone to talk to their physician about getting the flu shot,” she added.

October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, but any time during the season is still beneficial. Flu cases have been known to show up as early as October and as late as May, the CDC said.

The vaccine is recommended for people considered to be at high risk, including the following:

  • people over age 50
  • children and adults with heart disease and lung disease, including asthma
  • people who live in nursing homes or other institutional settings
  • people who have a chronic disease such as diabetes, asthma, anemia, or kidney disease
  • people who can transmit the flu to others at high risk. This group includes healthcare workers, and employees of facilities that care for people at high risk.
  • women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the flu season
  • people whose immune system is weakened because of chemotherapy
  • people with HIV, or AIDS

If you do get the flu, Dr. Boyd suggests resting in bed and drinking plenty of fluids. Over-the-counter medications that may help include Motrin or Tylenol, she said. Dr. Boyd doesn’t recommend giving aspirin to children and adolescents who have the flu as it sometimes leads to Reye’s syndrome, a condition that affects the nerves. Acetaminophen does not seem to be connected to the syndrome.

Dr. Boyd points out that taking antibiotics to fight the flu will not work. “The flu is caused by a virus,” she said. “Antibiotics only work on infections caused by bacteria.”

A typical bout of flu usually clears up within 7 to 10 days. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to your physician.

Call your physician’s office to find out when flu shots will be available. Vaccinations also will be given by the Burke County Health Department.

SYMPTOMS OF THE FLU

If you get infected by the flu virus, you will usually feel symptoms 1 to 4 days later. You can spread the flu to others before your symptoms start and for another 3 to 4 days after your symptoms appear. The symptoms start very quickly and may include

  • Body aches
  • Chills
  • Dry cough
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Stuffy nose
  • Extreme tiredness
  • Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults

Typically, the fever begins to decline on the second or third day of the illness. The flu almost never causes symptoms in the stomach and intestines. The illness that some call "stomach flu" is not influenza.

From National Institutes of Health

The second largest employer in Burke County, Blue Ridge HealthCare serves a four-county area and includes Grace and Valdese hospitals, Blue Ridge Home HealthCare, Grace Heights and College Pines Health & Rehabilitation Centers, Grace Ridge Retirement Community, Phifer Wellness Center and a number of physician practices.