Flu season is here once again and with it,
all the ongoing muscle aches headaches, and fever. Flu season
usually begins early December and lasts through March, but rumor
is the season may begin earlier this year. It seems a new strain
slipped into New York on a cruise ship from Alaska (true story)
and scattered cases of this flu are currently being reported.
Influenza is the "flu virus"
and unlike simple "cold" viruses, influenza is a major
health problem, not just a nuisance. It can keep our children
home from school and make us lose time from work. Surprisingly,
it not only affects 50 billion people, but causes more than
20,000 deaths each year. More that 80% of those deaths are in
persons over age 65, making it the 6th leading cause of death in
that age group.
Influenza A and B are the most
important strains of the virus. The flu virus goes throughout
multiple variations and mutations every year. This requires that
the flu vaccine be newly formulated each year based on the
strains of flu that arose the previous year. Influenza A can
also be found in animals. This explains epidemics caused, for
example, by animal viruses such as swine flu (from pigs) and
avian flu (from birds).
It is not surprising that the flu can
mimic a cold with sore throats and dry cough, because the virus
usually infects and stays in the nose, throat, and lungs. Potent
chemicals released from injured cells in the nose, throat, and
lung called chemokines (Chee-mo-kines) and not the virus, are
responsible for symptoms commonly found like headache, muscle
aches and fever.
Flu symptoms usually come on quickly
and last about a week. People can sometimes pinpoint the exact
time they began to feel bad. This muscle aches and pains,
headache and fever may be very sever, but stomach upset, nausea,
vomiting, or diarrhea are almost never present. Complications,
like pneumonia, can occur, are more common in persons over 65,
and should be diagnosed early and treated.
SO how can we prevent the flu? Very
simply, Get the flu vaccine, now. Flu vaccine is now
being given in late fall because it takes 2-3 weeks for the
vaccine to become protective. Unfortunately, it is estimated
that only 30% of people get the flu vaccine regularly each year.
Everyone who ca, both children and adults, should get the
vaccine. The only exceptions are people with egg allergy, women
during the first three months of pregnancy and people who have a
fever. Contrary to popular belief, the flu vaccine rarely
produces flu-like symptoms and in those rare cases where it
does, the symptoms are much more mild than those of the actual
flu. In addition, people with known egg allergy can be tested to
the vaccine. If the tests are negative, the vaccine can be
safely given.
Unfortunately, even if you do get the
vaccine, there is still a chance of getting the flue. Should you
get the flu there are some medications available to make
symptoms less sever and to help you get well faster. The first
anti-flu drugs, Amantadine and Rimantadine, were only effective
against Influenza A, and sometimes caused unwanted side effects.
Some viral strains are now resistant to these drugs as well.
This year we have a new drug called
Relenza (Ree-len-za) which works by preventing the influenza
virus from spreading. IT works to prevent an enzyme called
neraminidase, which the virus needs to multiply. It is effective
against both influenza A & B. Relenza is a powder inhaled
twice a day by mouth for five days through a device that comes
by prescription. The good news is the drug stays in the lungs
where the flu virus attaches and multiplies. This drug, like all
anti viral drugs, is best used as early as possible after flu
symptoms begin. It can cause some coughing or wheezing in
asthmatics or persons with emphysema, so it is recommended that
these people have Proventil HFA or A1 buterol inhaler around
just in case, but that appears to be the only significant side
effect. Who can use Relenza? Well it is easier to say who
cannot. Relenza is not approved for children under age 12,
pregnant and nursing women. Hopefully, this means that now we
have medication to help us feel better and heal quicker should
we get the flu.