Don’t Become A Statistic This Flu Season

The flu is back, it’s early and it’s bad! Thousands will die over the next few months. Many of the deaths could be prevented, if only people took action soon enough.
Getting a flu shot is a good idea. This year, however, the vaccine may provide only partial protection.
The strain of influenza A causing misery in several states is Fujian. This year’s vaccine protects against the Panama strain, which is related, but not identical, to Fujian.
Public health experts hope that the vaccine will provide some benefit, but it is hard to predict how many people will come down with this bug despite a shot.
In an average year, more than 100,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 or so die from flu and its complications. In a year like this, when flu begins early with a mutated virus, the toll could be higher.
Even if influenza strikes your community, that doesn’t mean you are doomed. There are effective drugs to prevent flu or speed recovery.
Over-the-counter products promoted for sniffles and fever only alleviate symptoms temporarily. They don’t fight off the virus and can’t protect people from potentially lethal complications.
Prescription anti-viral medications, on the other hand, could save lives. The trouble is that many physicians and patients don’t think of them.
Part of the problem is that most people don’t take the flu seriously. It is perceived as a nuisance, little worse than the common cold. But influenza can paralyze the microscopic cilia that help to protect the respiratory tract from infection. The resulting complications, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, may become life threatening.
Elderly people or those with chronic conditions affecting the lungs or the heart are most vulnerable, but even healthy people can be seriously affected. High fever, aches and pains, congestion and cough can put some people out of commission for weeks.
Doctors could prescribe any of several different flu medicines this year. The oldest, amantadine, has been around for decades and is relatively inexpensive.
Rimantadine (Flumadine) should also be effective against the Fujian flu. It’s pricier but less likely to cause side effects. If taken early enough, either of these medications can prevent infection with influenza A or shorten recovery time.
Some people taking either medicine experience insomnia, nausea or dizziness, but reactions like these pale in comparison to a bad case of the flu.
Doctors have two other options for treating the flu. One is Tamiflu. This relatively new drug works for both Type A and Type B influenza. It is an oral medicine that seems to be well tolerated. Tamiflu has been shown to prevent the flu as well as shorten its duration.
Relenza also fights both kinds of flu virus, but this inhaled medicine is not appropriate for people who suffer with asthma or other chronic lung problems. It is not approved for prevention.
With a bad flu season ahead, discuss all your flu options in advance with your physician. Getting a flu shot, even if it is not perfect, still makes sense. It may also be prudent to have a prescription for antiviral medicine on hand in case the Fujian virus hits your household.