It's getting to be that time of the year - football games; cool, crisp days . . . and the flu.

Influenza, the flu, is caused by a friendly virus that is more than willing to move from person to person via sneezing, coughing, and even talking. Anytime the influenza virus is expelled into the air it can be inhaled by anyone nearby and may claim another victim.

For most healthy people, the flu is generally a moderately severe illness and a major inconvenience. When the flu bug bites, generally between November and March, its strikes the lungs, swelling and inflaming the lining of the respiratory tract. Fortunately, the damage is rarely permanent -- the tissues heal within a few weeks.

But the flu is not that simple. It affects your whole body. You may experience a fever, chills, loss of appetite, and your head, back, arms and legs may ache. You may also have a sore throat, dry cough, nausea and burning eyes. The flu tends to start suddenly -- you may feel fine one hour and have a high fever the next.

In other words, the flu is not fun. So, what can you do to prevent the flu, or at least contain the impact of its symptoms?

"The simplest, oldest methods of avoiding spreading the flu include frequent handwashing and covering your mouth if you cough or sneeze," says Anne Sullivan, MD, University of Iowa Health Care. "Flu shots are about 70 percent effective in preventing influenza."

If you don't get a flu shot and the flu is breaking out all around you, contact your health care professional. According to Sullivan, a doctor at the North Liberty UI Family Care Center, there are several prescription drugs that may help protect you from the flu.

If you do get the flu, call your health care provider to be sure that what you have is the flu. Generally, the diagnosis can be made from your symptoms. Bed rest and over-the-counter medications may be all you need to see you through your bout with the flu. In case, you have a severe case of the flu, your doctor can chart the best course of treatment for you. There are several prescription drugs available to treat the symptoms of some types of flu.

It is important to drink a lot of liquids says Sullivan. "Drink water, juice, and non-caffeinated drinks. When you have a high fever, your body needs much more liquid than when you are healthy."

If you have a health-related question, or to make an appointment, call UI Health Access - 800- 777-8442 or 384-8442.

More information:

• www.cdc.gov - Click on Health Topics A-Z, then influenza

Listed above are several Web sites that offer additional information on this topic. University of Iowa Health Care does not sponsor or endorse these sites, or guarantee the accuracy of the information contained on these sites. These links are here for general information only, and should not be used for personal diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions, please contact UI Health Access.

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Are you a priority case?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects delays and a possible shortage of the influenza vaccine for the 2000-2001 flu season. To make sure that the people most likely to get the sickest from the flu receive the flu vaccine first, the CDC suggests the following guidelines:

Top priority - health care workers

• Vaccination of health care personnel and employees of hospitals, clinics, offices and chronic care institutions who have close contact with persons in high risk groups is also a top priority.

High priority - (at risk for flu complications) to be vaccinated in October and November:

• Persons 65 years of age and older
• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities that house persons of any age who have chronic medical conditions
• Adults and children who have chronic disorders of the pulmonary or cardiovascular systems, including asthma
• Adults and children who have required medical follow-up or hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes mellitus), renal dysfunction, hemoglobinopathies, or immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications)
• Children and teenagers who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
• Women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the influenza season

Others - to be vaccinated after December 1

• Persons who are most likely to transmit influenza virus infection to high risk persons
• Persons who want to receive influenza vaccine but are at lower risk of influenza-related complications.

If you are 65 years or older you should also receive one pneumonia vaccine to protect you from developing pneumonia. Please call UI Health Access if you have any questions or if you would like further information.

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Did you know . . .

Out of every 100 Americans, 40 will get the flu this season. In 1997, 720 Americans died from the flu. Each year more than 108 million cases of flu are reported. Americans attribute flu symptoms for experiencing more than 35 million days of restricted activity, including 190 million days in bed, and 75 million lost days of work. (National Center for Health Statistics)

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Are you a priority case?

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