Well, it’s getting there, anyway.  In my area there has already been positive flu tests in our ERs and in some clinics, including mine.

What is the flu?

Flu is caused by the influenza virus.  Viruses in general, and influenza in particular, are able to change fairly quickly, which can make it hard to treat and prevent.   

Why does my doctor want me to take the flu shot?

While flu is a very common disease that we don’t think much of, it can be deadly.  In general about 12,000-50,000 people die from the flu each year, about 30-170 of them children.  In case you’re thinking they’re all old or otherwise sick, you’re wrong. A lot of these people were previously healthy.  

Now, most people do not die from the flu, or even have to go to the hospital.  They can, however, develop fever, cough, nasal congestion, red eyes, some belly ache, very low energy, and body aches for up to 14 days.  This can keep them from school or work for up to several days. If you’re a parent, imagine having to be off work several days for each child you have.

Why do I have to take the shot every year?  

Viruses like the flu are very sneaky because they can change parts of their makeup frequently enough that it makes it hard for us to keep up.  Also, there is more than one kind of flu virus. Think of it like music. Country, rap, and opera are all different, but also all music. And there’s more being made all the time.

Can the flu be treated?   

Somewhat.  There are a few medications that can be prescribed by your doctor that do directly attack the virus, such as Tamiflu and Relenza.  They generally shorten the symptoms by a little over a day. Otherwise you can use medicines like tylenol or advil for fever and body aches, mucinex or robitussin for cough, and vicks on the chest for congestion.  Obviously you should also drink plenty of fluids and get a lot of rest.

Is there any other way to prevent the flu?

Yes.  You get flu from other people who have it, or from touching something that an infected person has gotten virus on.  So if you make sure to wash your hands, don’t drink from water fountains, and don’t share drinks with others, you can lower your chances of getting influenza.

If you are ill, please cover your cough, stay home when sick, and wash your hands.  If you have to go out, you might consider wearing a mask. That way you do your part in keeping other people healthy.  

Also, there is something called ‘herd immunity.’  That means that everyone else getting the flu shot decreases their chances of getting the flu, which decreases the chance of people around them getting the flu.  Please don’t take this as a reason to not get the flu shot. For it to truly be effective 80-90% of the people have to have gotten the shot, so let’s leave that to those who truly can’t get the shot (people whose immune system won’t let them get shots, like those with cancer).

But I’ve heard you can get the flu from the shot.

Absolutely untrue.  The shot is what’s called ‘killed’, which means that the virus is unable to infect you.  With the nose spray, which is a ‘live virus’, technically it’s possible for you to get sick from it, but the chances of it happening are so low as to be nonexistant.  

What happened with these people is probably one of two things.  First, and most likely, they sat next to someone with the flu in the waiting room/work/bus/grocery store that had the flu, and caught it from them.  Alternatively, there are a small number of people that react to the shot itself.

Bottom Line. Get the shot.  It lowers the chances you’ll get sick.  Lowers the chances people around you will get sick.  Even if insurance doesn’t pay for the shot, it’s usually less than $30, which is less than a week off work or a trip to the ER.