•  Colds and Flu •  Fever in Adults •  Flu (Influenza) •  Seniors and the Flu

Every year millions of Americans catch the flu, and more than 200,000 wind up in the hospital. A flu shot is your best protection against becoming one of these statistics. If you're young and healthy, the vaccine reduces your chances of getting the flu by 70 to 90 percent. If you have a weak immune system or you're over 65, it can cut your chances of getting sick by as much as 40 percent. The reason it isn't as effective when you're older is that your body becomes less able to produce antibodies. (This is all the more reason to get an annual flu shot; your body might have a hard time making antibodies quickly against a live flu virus.)

A flu shot doesn't confer immediate protection, though. The vaccine works by introducing a harmless version of the flu virus to your bloodstream, and it takes about two weeks for your body to churn out an adequate supply of antibodies, so be sure to get your shot early in the season. In most parts of the country, flu season runs from November through April, peaking between late December and early March. The influenza virus mutates quickly, and new strains show up each year. Even if you got a shot last year, you'll need another to protect you against this season's most common strains.

Experts recommend annual flu shots for anyone at high risk of developing flu, especially:

•Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday

•People 50 years old or above

•Anyone who lives in a nursing or long-term care home, assisted living residence, or similar facility

•Adults and children (6 months of age or older) who have chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma

•Adults and children (6 months of age or older) who need regular or follow-up treatment for a kidney, immune, blood, or metabolic disorder (like diabetes), and anyone else who lives in the same household

•Children (6 months to 18 years) who are on long-term aspirin therapy, because a viral infection like the flu puts them at risk for Reye's syndrome

•Pregnant women

•Doctors, nurses, hospital or nursing home employees, home caregivers, and household members of people in high-risk groups

You can get a flu shot at your doctor's office, and some health plans cover the cost. Also, many pharmacies and employers offer low-cost inoculation (about $10) at the beginning of flu season (usually October).

Anyone over the age of 6 months can get the vaccine, with a few exceptions. One exception is people who are allergic to eggs. The vaccine uses viruses grown in hen's eggs and then inactivated (killed), so if you're severely allergic to eggs, check with your primary care doctor or allergist before you have a shot. Also, check with your doctor if you've had a severe reaction to a flu shot in the past, or if you developed Guillain-Barre syndrome in the 6 weeks following your flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also says that if you have a moderate or severe illness with a fever, you should wait until your symptoms ease up before you get a flu shot.

About a third of all people who get the vaccine will feel sore at the injection spot. Although the vaccine cannot cause flu, up to 10 percent of recipients develop mild flu-like symptoms, including low fever, weakness, and sore muscles. These symptoms usually start 6 to 12 hours after receiving the vaccine and can last up to two days. But remember -- even if you do feel symptoms from a flu shot, they'll be much milder than actual flu symptoms.

If shots bother you, ask your doctor if the nasal spray flu vaccine (FluMist) is right for you. This vaccine has been approved for people who are between the ages of 2 and 49, who are not pregnant and don’t have any health issues.

You can also follow these tips to help you stay healthy:

•The influenza virus spreads when infected people cough or sneeze, so avoid close contact with people who are sick.

•Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you cough, sneeze, or touch your eyes. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are great for killing germs when you're on the go; you may want to use them on stair rails, doorknobs, and grocery cart handles, among other things. When someone in your house is sick, antibacterial wipes are good to use on surfaces in high-traffic areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms.

•Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. (You can spread germs from the mucus in your eyes and mouth this way.)

•Cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw it out immediately afterward. If you don't have a tissue handy, cough or sneeze into your elbow or sleeve. (Teach kids these techniques, too!)

•Killing germs is one thing; staying healthy is another. Getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and eating lots of fruits and vegetables will help keep your body's immune system working at its peak.

Finally, if you feel sick or have a fever, stay home until the fever is gone for 24 hours (without having to take medicine to reduce it). If you're sick, limit contact with others unless you need a friend or relative to bring you medication or other supplies. (It’s a good idea to stock up on OTC pain relievers and fever reducers before you get sick; check the expiration dates on medications in your medicine cabinet so you’ll know what to replace.)

A class of flu drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors, zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu) have some advantages over other drugs: they suppress both types of influenza (A and B), and they inhibit most strains, not just the strains of the season. The CDC recommends these drugs as the preferred antiviral treatment for the 2008-2009 flu season. Like the other antivirals, neuraminidase inhibitors only work if you take them within the first 48 hours, and they generally shorten the length of the flu by about a day.

They also have side effects to watch for: People with chronic lung conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may have trouble breathing or feel like their lung capacity is reduced while on zanamivir, and should keep a fast-acting inhaler handy. Osteltamivir produces nausea and vomiting in about 10 percent of people, and some of the less common effects include vertigo and insomia. The FDA also recommends that osteltamivir not be given to infants less than a year old. Zanamivir is approved for treateing people age 7 and older.

Finally, echinacea has been reported to boost the immune system, and some studies show it can reduce the severity and length of cold and flu symptoms. In one study, a daily 900-milligram echinacea supplement during a bout with the flu significantly reduced patients' symptoms, including weakness, fatigue, chills, sweating, sore throat, muscle and joint aches, and headaches, when compared to both a placebo and a lower dosage (450 mg).

References

Last updated September 1, 2009
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