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Here Comes Flu Season

Influenza or “Flu” is a virus that can cause an infection that varies from a mild illness to a severe illness – even causing death. It is estimated that between 5-20 percent of the population in the United States gets the flu annually. Approximately 36,000 people die from complications of the flu each year. Common complications of the flu include pneumonia and ear infection. Common flu symptoms include high fever, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches, and nausea. Flu season runs from October to May of each year

How to prevent influenza:

  1. Wash hands often. Flu virus is killed by heat, germicides, detergents, and alcohols.
  2. Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing to prevent spreading the flu to others.
  3. Stay home from work or school when sick.
  4. Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. Human flu viruses can survive on surfaces for two to eight hours. An easy way to spread germs is to touch a contaminated surface and to then touch your face.
  5. Avoid close contact with those who are sick.
  6. Vaccination

Vaccinations usually begin in October. Check with your physician's office to see when they will begin administering flu shots. It is definitely recommended for certain high risk groups. These groups are those at greater risk of having severe flu or complications associated with flu infection. Children must be at least six months old to receive flu vaccine. High risk groups eligible for vaccination include children ages 6 months to five years, pregnant women (after the first trimester of pregnancy), adults over 50 years of age, and individuals with certain chronic conditions. Vaccination is also strongly encouraged for health care providers, childcare workers, and those living with people within the high risk groups.

There are two types of vaccination: a shot and a nasal spray. The shot is available to those over 6 months of age; it is made of inactivated (or dead) virus. You cannot get the flu from this dead virus. The nasal spray is made of a live, weakened virus. As a live virus vaccine, the nasal spray does have the potential to produce mild signs or symptoms of influenza infection. Children must be at least five years old to receive the nasal spray.

For both forms, protection begins about 2 weeks after receiving the vaccine. The body needs these two weeks to build antibodies to protect against the flu virus. An annual vaccination is recommended because flu strains change from year to year and the immunization is changed each year in anticipation of this.

Whooping Cough – It’s Back

Whooping cough is a contagious bacterial infection that can produce cough spasms that can last over 6 weeks. The Chinese called it the 100 day cough. The cough can be so severe that it may cause the child to vomit, turn blue, break a rib, have seizures, or stop breathing. Between the cough spasms, the patient may appear to be well. In small infants, the cough spasm can be so bad that they have difficulty with eating, drinking, sleeping, and breathing. Babies are at higher risk of dying from this infection. Children who have been vaccinated and adults or teenagers tend to have milder symptoms. In recent years, more teenagers have had the illness because protection wanes with time. As a result, a new vaccine (Tdap) was developed for teens and adults. This vaccine also provides protection from tetanus and diphtheria.

There has been an increase in the number of cases of pertussis (or whooping cough) in Texas. In 2005, there were 2,000 reported cases of pertussis and nine deaths in Texas. Eight of the nine deaths occurred in infants less than three months of age. Children generally receive 5 vaccines for pertussis by the age of 4-6 years; the first is given at 2 months of age. The booster vaccine that was recently developed is usually given at 11-12 years of age. It can be given to anyone between the ages of 11 and 64. It is especially important that women of childbearing age or new mothers and fathers receive this vaccine so that they can avoid spreading pertussis to their new babies. By vaccinating teens and adults, we provide protection for infants.

It is important to consider these vaccines that can protect your children against preventable illnesses. Please contact your pediatrician to update your vaccines soon.

For more information, visit these websites:

  • http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/utils/ybGet.asp?section=dis&obj=influenza.htm&cssNav=browseoyb
  • http://www.webmd.com/content/article/5/1680_51269.htm
  • http://www.cispimmunize.org/
  • http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/public.shtm
  • http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/pertussis/default.shtm

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