Bebout Family Medicine
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See our Office Hours PageInfluenza and the Influenza vaccine.
Influenza is a common and potentially dangerous respiratory illness. The amount of effect it has on the general population in terms of overall illness and loss of work/school time is staggering. Influenza is an upper respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses A&B. These viruses are prevalent in the environment but peak illness seems to occur in the fall and winter months in temperate climates. The illness is transmitted by respiratory secretions with both small aerosol droplets and large droplets both contributing to spread. Large congregations of people in close proximity (schools, shopping centers, etc.) are contributory in the spread of disease. The incubation period after exposure till illness is 2-3 days.
Significant history: In 1917, the average life expectancy of a U.S. male was 48 years. The pandemics of influenza at that time caused the life expectancy to drop by up to 12 years. Estimates of mortality of the 1917 pandemic is from 1-3% of the entire world population. Influenza is not to be taken lightly.
Below is a graphic illustrating how the flu has morphed into other illnesses and caused global pandemics over time. I show this to demonstrate how influenza changes forms via mutation and recombination with other flu types.
Influenza is a specific disease caused by specific organisms. It is a viral illness and there is no cure. Control is currently our best option. Many people say they have the “flu” when in actuality they have a cold or a gastrointestinal illness. Symptoms of the flu compared with a cold are:
Flu vs Cold
| Signs and Symptoms | Influenza | Cold |
|---|---|---|
| Symptom onset | Abrupt | Gradual |
| Fever | Usual; lasts 3-4 days | Rare |
| Aches | Usual; often severe | Slight |
| Chills | Fairly common | Uncommon |
| Fatigue, weakness, dizziness | Usual | Sometimes |
| Sneezing | Sometimes | Common |
| Stuffy nose | Sometimes | Common |
| Sore throat | Sometimes | Common |
| Chest discomfort, cough | Common; can be severe | Mild to moderate; hacking cough |
| Headache | Common | Rare |
What are the emergency warning signs of flu sickness?
In children
- 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
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Treatment of influenza is symptomatic and supportive. This includes rest, fluids and fever control. Some meds such as Tamiflu may shorten the time of illness if given early enough but do not cure the disease. The best option for influenza at this time is prevention. This is in the form of a yearly vaccination.
There is a lot of misinformation about the flu vaccine that I would like to clear up. A common misconception is that the flu shot will cause the flu. This is false and basically impossible. A flu vaccine is either made from killed or inactivated virus or from other viral components that are inert. There is nothing living in these vaccines that can cause illness. If a person becomes ill after receiving a flu shot it can be from the following:
- Lag between shot and effectiveness. It takes about 2 weeks before your body builds immunity from the shot. If you are exposed before the shot becomes “active” then you can get sick
- Ineffective vaccine – The vaccine is the best guess on the part of scientists on what influenza patterns will be this year based on last years patterns. If they are wrong or the virus mutates, then the vaccine will be ineffective.
- You actually have a cold, not the flu.
- Incomplete effectiveness of the vaccine.
A yearly flu vaccine is your best bet to avoid the flu. The vaccines effectiveness wanes over time and also the virus may mutate making a previous vaccine obsolete. Other methods of prevention of acquiring the flu and prevention of spread include proper handwashing, covering the mouth when coughing, avoiding sick people, avoiding crowds if possible during high flu activity, self quarantine until 24 hrs after the break of fever and cleansing of possibly contaminated surfaces like counters, sinks and handles.
Great information. Answers my questions about people saying they won’t ever get the shot again because it made them sick. We’ve never had any problems with the shot.
Doc!! Love the site please keep the info coming!! WONDERFUL use of technology!!