The flu is a contagious disease caused by influenza viruses that cause mild to severe illness and sometimes death.  Influenza spreads person to person through coughing or sneezing of the infected person.  It can also be spread by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching your mouth or nose. The flu is a respiratory disease and not a stomach or intestinal disease.  Even though nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can be related to the flu (more likely in children), influenza is not "stomach flu."

In the Northern hemisphere, flu season is in the winter.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during the past 21 flu seasons, the heaviest flu activity months were December, January, February and March. Because the viruses change all the time, it is suggested you get a flu vaccine every year.

Every  year in the United States:

• Between 5 and 20 percent of the population gets the flu
• More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications
• About 36,000 people die from the flu

Flu Prevention

1.  Vaccinations

The best way to prevent the flu is getting vaccinated every fall, in October or November.  Even if you don't get vaccinated until December (or later), it will still be beneficial because most influenza activity usually happens in January or later.  Though it varies, flu season can last as late as May.  Vaccines are administered by either nasal spray or injection.

Who should get vaccinated?

• People at high risk for complications from the flu, including: children (6-56 months of age), pregnant women, people age 50 or older, people of any age with chronic medical conditions, and people who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities.
• People who live with, care for, or are in regular contact with, people at high risk for complications from the flu (healthcare workers, nannies, teachers, housecleaners, etc.)
• Anyone who wants to decrease their risk of influenza.

Who should not get vaccinated?

Some people should consult their doctor before getting a flu shot, including:

• People with severe allergies to chicken eggs
• People with past severe reactions to an influenza vaccine
• People who developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting a past influenza vaccine
• People who currently have a moderate or severe illness with a fever.  They should wait until their symptoms lessen before getting vaccinated.
• Children less than 6 months old (vaccine is not approved for this age group)

2.  Prescription Medication

There are currently three antiviral drugs approved in flu prevention that are available by prescription only.  Always consult your physician before taking.  More information about antiviral drugs and the flu is available on the CDC's Website: www.pandemicflu.gov.

3.  Good Health Habits

• Avoid close contact with those who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.
• Stay home when you're sick. If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose.When sneezing or coughing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue.  It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Clean your hands. Washing your hands frequently will help protect you from germs. Carry a bottle of alcohol hand sanitizer for when soap and water are not available.  Alcohol solution should be a minimum 60 percent.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something contaminated with germs and then touches his/her eyes, nose or mouth.

Types of Flu

Seasonal Flu (or common): A respiratory illness that can be transmitted person to person.  Most people have some immunity and a vaccine is available.

Avian Flu (or bird): Caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally in wild birds.  The H5N1 variant is deadly to domestic fowl and can be transmitted from birds to humans.  There is no human immunity and no vaccine is available.

Pandemic Flu: An extremely dangerous human flu that causes global outbreak (or pandemic) of serious illness.  Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily.  There is no pandemic flu currently but there have been 3 in the past century—in 1918, 1957 and 1968.  The pandemics of 1957 and 1968 were relatively mild, but the pandemic of 1918 was catastrophic.  Millions of people worldwide became sick and over 500,000 Americans died.  Health experts in many countries are predicting another influenza pandemic in our lifetime.

Find out what the Minnesota Department of Health recommends for individuals, families, businesses, communities and schools to plan for, and prepare for, pandemic flu.

Symptoms/Possible Complications

Symptoms

• Fever (usually high)
• Headache
• Extreme tiredness
• Dry cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle aches
• Stomach symptoms also can occur, but are more common in children (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)

Possible Complications

• Bacterial pneumonia
• Ear infections
• Sinus infections
• Dehydration
• Worsening of chronic medical conditions like congestive heart failure, asthma, AIDS, diabetes
• Death

Symptom Treatment

Because influenza is caused by a virus, antibiotics (like penicillin) do not work to cure it. 

• Get a lot of rest.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Avoid using tobacco and alcohol.
• Take over-the-counter medication to relieve flu symptoms. Do not give aspirin to a child or teenager with flu-like symptoms, especially a fever, without consulting with your doctor first.  Doing so might cause a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.
• Contact your doctor if your symptoms get worse, if your symptoms last a long time (more than 14 days), or if, after feeling a little better, you show signs of a more serious problem like chest pain or coughing with thick, yellow-green mucus.

Flu or Common Cold?

A cold and the flu are similar in many ways. Both do not respond to antibiotics.  Both are respiratory illnesses but are caused by different viruses.  A cold is usually milder than the flu but because symptoms can be similar, the only way to tell for sure is by special tests conducted by your doctor within the first few days of illness.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in general:

• Colds don't usually result in serious health problems like pneumonia, bacterial infections or hospitalizations.
• A stuffy nose, sore throat and sneezing are usually signs of a cold.
• The flu can lead to more serious problems, like pneumonia.
• Tiredness, fever, headache and major aches and pains probably mean the flu.
• Coughing can be either, but severe coughing usually points to the flu.

More Information & Resources

Have flu-related questions or concerns?

• United Way 2-1-1™ is a free and confidential, 24-hour information/referral line that can connect you to helpful programs and resources in our community. Find healthcare resources and information like where to get a flu shot by calling 2-1-1 (or 651-291-0211 by cell phone). Check out the 2-1-1 online version at www.beehivetwincities.org
• Find current Minnesota health alerts at www.health.state.mn.us
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: www.pandemicflu.gov
• View our tipsheet: 10 Tips to Prevent the Common Cold

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Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, MN Department of Health