It is September and the influenza season is upon us once again. Here is the United States the flu season usually extends from early fall to early spring, with the peak of activity occurring anytime from November through March. The health impact of influenza on the population is significant. Each year between 5 to 20% of the population get the flu, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized with flu-related complications, and deaths from flu-related causes average 23,000 a year with the very young and the very old most susceptible to serious complications. Although the H1N1 flu pandemic reportedly ended in 2009, the H1N1 flu virus is circulating again this flu season, along with the other influenza viruses.
Just to dispel some common myths and misunderstanding surrounding influenza:
1) The influenza vaccine CANNOT make you sick. The influenza virus is killed in the flu shot, and weakened in the flu nasal spray vaccine. With the nasal spray some people experience some headache, mild body aches, and/or runny nose, but recipients do not get influenza.
2) The “Stomach Flu” is NOT the same as seasonal influenza. The “Stomach Flu” is a popular term used for an intestinal infection, often with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Influenza is primarily a respiratory disease with symptoms such as high fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat and severe body aches. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can occur with influenza, but this is more commonly seen in children rather than adults.
Currently the BEST prevention we have for influenza is the vaccine. The vaccine is indicated for people age 6 months and older and should be administered as soon as it is available. Most people will receive the flu shot – and that includes pregnant women. The influenza nasal spray is only for healthy people age 2 to 49 years old.
The only reasons to NOT get the influenza vaccine – if you were diagnosed with a rare condition called Guillan-Barre within 6 weeks of receiving an influenza vaccine, or if you have a SEVERE allergic reaction to chicken eggs or other components of the vaccines.
For more information on influenza, please visit http://www.flu.gov
If you have any comments please feel free to send them our way. Also, if you are interested in a blog on a certain topic, please let me know.
Craig Endo, MD