Flu Shots

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

This is a quick plug for getting your influenza vaccine. This is now recommended for everyone that can get it (especially with ample supplies this year).

Your young children and school children should get it to minimize bringing this wonderful bug home. Young children may require a 2 step injection series, just be warned.

Adults and elderly folks should consider it, especially with other concomitant diseases like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer or chronic lung disease.

EDIT - PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD RECEIVE THE INFLUENZA VACCINE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY WILL BE DELIVERING AT THE HEIGHT OF FLU SEASON (JANUARY - MARCH).

Every year, the CDC estimates about 36 000 people in the US die of complications due to influenza.

The myth of "I got the shot and got the flu" is untrue, though I am often unable to convince people otherwise. The only true contraindication is severe allergic reaction the the shot in the past or allergy to eggs or chicken as that is how it is incubated and manufactured.

Influenza viruses are spread from person to person, primarily through respiratory droplet transmission.

The typical incubation period for influenza is 1--4 days, with an average of 2 days.

Children can be infectious for >10 days after the onset of symptoms, and young children also can shed virus before their illness onset.

Uncomplicated influenza illness is characterized by the abrupt onset of constitutional and respiratory signs and symptoms (e.g., fever, myalgia, headache, malaise, nonproductive cough, sore throat, and rhinitis).

Among children, otitis media, nausea, and vomiting also are commonly reported with influenza illness.

Uncomplicated influenza illness typically resolves after 3--7 days for the majority of persons, although cough and malaise can persist for >2 weeks.

Current treatment includes antipyretics (tylenol and ibuprofen) in addition to symptomatic treatment.

IF YOU OR ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS THINK YOU HAVE INFLUENZA ANTI-VIRAL TREATMENT IS MOST EFFECTIVE IF STARTED LESS THAN 2 DAYS FROM ONSET OF SYMPTOMS.

HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS MAY ALSO REQUIRE TREATMENT TO DECREASE TRANSMISSION AND LENGTH OF ILLNESS.

Tamiflu is the current recommended anti-flu medicine. It comes in a liquid form for children. There are different dosing regimens for treatment and prophylaxis (exposed patients but not symptomatic).


Hopefully you and yours will have a flu-free 2008!