A Love Story...and public service anouncement

I will seek and find you

I shall take you to bed and have my way with you.
I will make you ache, shake & sweat until you moan & groan

I will make you beg for mercy, beg for me to stop

I will exhaust you to the point that you will be relieved when I'm finished with you

And, when I am finished, you will be weak for days

With all my love,
The Flu

My instructor included this letter in one of her slides today and I thought it was pretty funny and very true! Anyway, here are a few facts for you since the flu season and more importantly, the flu vaccination season is creeping towards us.

Facts:

• Influenza is a virus which does not respond to antibiotics and is highly contagious - spread by droplet transmission (CDC, 2007)
• Influenza causes more hospitalizations and deaths in US children than any other vaccine-preventable diseases (Poehling 2006, CDC 2007)
• Influenza can cause secondary upper respiratory infection, croup, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, sinus infection, dehydration, ear infections, worsening of chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, congestive heart failure etc. (CDC, 2007)

Prevention vs Treatment:

• Flu shots are available in 2 forms - injection and nasal spray
• Injectable Vaccination - contains inactivated "killed virus" meaning it's chopped up bits of the virus so it can't give you the flu. The best time to get one is Oct-Nov and it's approved for use in 6 months of age and older.
  
• Nasal Vaccination - contains live attenuated virus (weakened) that's approved for age 5 years - 49 years and who are NOT pregnant
• Antiviral medications such as Tamiflu are helpful only if received within 1-2 days of exposure to influenza and tend to decrease sick time by 1-2 days

What a Vaccine Is and Is Not

• About 2 weeks after you receive your flu vaccination, antibodies build up against the influenza virus
• The flu vaccination does not protect against flu-like symptoms that are caused by an organism other than the influenza virus

Should I get the shot? Or not?

Should

• Really anyone that wants to reduce their risk should consider the shot
• Kids: age 6 months to 5 years are at high risk
• Pregnant women
• Age > 50 years
• Living in long term care facility
• Many people with chronic conditions such as COPD, asthma, diabetes, CHF, etc.
• Live with people that have high risk of infection
• Care giver (regardless of setting)
  

Should Not

• If severe allergy to chicken eggs
• If severe reaction to flu vaccination in the past
• Children < 6 months of age
  
• If currently sick - wait until symptoms pass to get the vaccination