| Show Flu Season Dont Don't Stop it Deal With it A The Thew t w Human IJ Side SideBy By Laura Burton Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Famil Practitioner The influenza or flu virus was not formally formally formally for for- mally identified until 1933 studies of influenza antibodies reveal that influenza A was present in people who died during the pandemic of 1918 which caused approximately 20 million de deaths Today to people in the United States die each year from influenza or the associated complications Flu viruses are categorized as A B or C C. The most severe and widespread ill illness illness illness ill ill- ness is caused by influenza A viruses Influenza B viruses generally cause milder and less extensive outbreaks Influenza C viruses have not been consistently consistently consistently con con- proven to cause illness Influenza za A viruses infect humans pigs horses birds sea mammals and other animals The close contact between these species causes genetic changes of the influenza virus Virus The flu is characterized by an acute onset of cough fever malaise body aches and headaches A runny nose nasal congestion and sore throat are arc often present as well The fever is typically over 1004 F and lasts for several days Nausea and vomiting are less likely to occur and if they are present they are seen in children more often than adults Some common complications complications complications com com- associated with the flu are secondary secondary secondary sec sec- bacterial bronchitis asthma may become worse or exacerbated ed heart infections such as or may develop and Guillain- Guillain Barre Bane and Reyes Reye's syndromes may occur There are two principle measures to reduce the impact of the flu vaccination with a ina inactivated killed virus and therapy therapy therapy ther ther- apy with an influenza specific antiviral drug The most effective of the two measures measures measures mea mea- is to vaccinate especially risk high individuals each year before the flu season season season sea sea- son begins Antiviral are used for those who have the flu or and/or those who cannot cannot cannot can can- not receive the vaccination The genetic characteristics of the circulating circulating circulating cir cir- cir cir- strain of influenza provide the basis for selecting the strains for the annual flu vaccine The vaccine is derived from virus grown in eggs thus the reason why those who are allergic to eggs may NOT receive the vaccine After the virus is grown it is killed with therefore it is not infectious The influenza vaccine because it is a killed virus does not cause the flu If respiratory respiratory respiratory res res- res- res disease develops after the influenza vaccine it is a coincidental ill ill ill- ness The effectiveness of the vaccine depends on the degree of similarity between the strains of virus in the vaccine and those that are circulating during the flu season as well as the age and overall health of the person receiving the vac vac- cine The Advisory Committee on Immunization Immunization Immunization Practices of the Center for Dis Dis- Dis- Dis ease Control recommends that the influenza vaccine be given to everyone older than 6 months who is at risk for developing complications from za Those who are considered at risk include people over age 65 residents of nursing homes or other chronic care facilities adults and children with chronic chron chron- ic respiratory diseases including asthma asthma asthma ma adults and children with cardiovascular cardiovascular cardiovascular cular diseases adults and children with metabolic diseases children and teenagers who are taking term long aspirin therapy which would put them at risk for dev developing loping Reyes Reye's syndrome if exposed to the influenza virus and women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the flu sea sea- son Also anyone who might transmit the flu to those at risk should receive the vaccine Those people would include doctors nurses and care givers There are some reasons that people should not receive the vaccine They are allergy to eggs anyone who has had Guill Barre Guillain a syndrome and anyone with an acute illness that causes a fever |
