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What is influenza?
The flu is a contagious illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.
What are the symptoms of flu?
The symptoms of influenza include:
- Fever (usually high)
- Headache
- Extreme tiredness
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle aches
- Stomach symptoms, such as nauseas, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults.
How does the flu spread?
Flu viruses mainly spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
Can there be complications from the flu?
Yes. Complications of the flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.
When should I get vaccinated?
Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September or as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season, into December, January, and beyond. This is because the timing and duration of influenza seasons vary. While influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later.
Who should get vaccinated?
In general, anyone who wants to reduce the chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, certain people should get vaccinated each year either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for high risk persons. During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or delayed, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations regarding priority groups for vaccination.
People who should get vaccinated each year are:
- Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
- Pregnant women
- People 50 years of age and older
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
- Health care workers
- Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
- Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
Who should not be vaccinated?
Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. They include:
- People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs
- People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past
- People who previously developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within six weeks of getting an influenza vaccine
- Children less than six months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this age group)
- People who have a moderate to severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen
Who can use the nasal-spray vaccine?
Vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is an option for healthy people 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant, even healthy persons who live with or care for those in a high risk group. The one exception is healthy persons who care for persons with severely weakened immune systems who require a protected environment; these healthy persons should get the inactivated vaccine.
What are the potential side effects of the vaccine?
Different side effects can be associated with the flu shot and nasal spray.
The flu shot: The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. Some minor side effects that could occur are
- Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
- Fever (low grade)
- Aches
If these problems occur, they begin soon after the shot and usually last 1 to 2 days. Almost all people who receive influenza vaccine have no serious problems form it. However, on rare occasions, flu vaccination can cause serious problems such as severe allergic reactions.
LAIV (FluMist®): The viruses in the nasal-spray vaccine are weakened and do not cause severe symptoms often associated with influenza illness.
In children, side effects from LAIV (FluMist®) ca include:
- Runny nose
- Wheezing
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Muscle aches
- Fever
In adults, side effects from LAIV (FluMist®) can include:
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Cough
What are influenza antiviral drugs?
Influenza antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid, or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. Antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. This could be especially important for people at high risk.
How are antiviral medications used for the flu?
While getting a flu vaccine each year is the best way to protect you form the flu, antiviral drugs can be used as a second line of defense to treat the flu or to prevent flu infection. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within two days of symptoms). When used this way, these drugs can reduce the severity of flu symptoms and shorten the time you are sick by one or two days. They also may make you less contagious to other people.
How effective are antiviral drugs?
When used to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs are about 70 to 90 percent effective. It’s important to remember that flu antiviral drugs are not a substitute for getting a flu vaccine.
Can influenza antiviral drugs be used in pregnant women?
Oseltamivir and zanamivir are both “Pregnancy Category C” medications, indicating that no studies have been conducted to assess the safety of these drugs for pregnant women. Because of the unknown effect of these drugs on pregnant women and their unborn children, these two drugs should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the unborn child.
Physicians considering using one of these drugs in a pregnant woman should consult the drug package insert.
What are emergency warning signs?
In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Not waking up or not interacting
- Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
- Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
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