Fighting the Flu

Author:

Christine Haran

Medical reviewer:

Medically Reviewed On: September 14, 2005

Published on: October 21, 2004

Though a flu shot may be your best defense against the misery of flu season, not everyone chooses to get one. And as the vaccine shortage of 2004 taught us, there may sometimes be seasons where many of us go flu-shot-free.

Fortunately, there are other tried-and-true ways of warding off the virus. Dr. Sohini Sengupta, an assistant research professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gives some common-sense self-care practices that may help you avert the flu this season, or at least avoid passing it to others.

Germ Dodge
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number-one way to prevent infections is by washing your hands with warm water and soap. That's because the flu is generally transmitted through respiratory droplets when a person coughs or sneezes. So keeping your hands nice and clean will lower the likelihood you'll infect yourself if you happen to pick up germs living on an elevator button, telephone receiver or someone else's hand.

"Wash your hands with warm, soapy water regularly, especially before eating or after you cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough," Sengupta says. "If you don't have warm, soapy water, use alcohol-based anti-bacterial wipes or hand sanitizers."

Some infection-control experts recommend coughing into your sleeve so that your hands stay germ-free. You should also avoid sharing food, drinks and other personal items like towels and toiletries. If you're a parent, Sengupta says, it is important to also teach your children these practices because they are very likely to be exposed to viruses at daycare or school.

Sengupta cautions that people of all ages should pay special attention to maintaining their health during flu season so they are less susceptible when exposed to the flu virus. "Viruses like weaker immune systems, and a lack of sleep and poor nutrition can weaken the immune system." She also recommends staying hydrated by drinking lots of water.

As an extra precaution, people who are vulnerable to developing complications of the flu, such as the elderly and those with immune-suppressing conditions, should try to avoid daycare centers, as well as crowds, where the chances of being exposed to the virus are high. Also steer clear of people who are already sick, though people are also contagious about a day before they develop symptoms.

Side Kicking the Virus
For healthy people between the ages of 5 and 49, the nasal flu vaccine, marketed by MedImmune as FluMist, is an alternative to the flu shot. However, this vaccine is only for low-risk individuals who are not pregnant. "It's a little different than the flu shot because it contains a weakened live virus rather then the killed virus," Sengupta says.

Vaccines must contain proteins from the virus in order to get the body to produce protective antibodies. These antibodies will ultimately prevent a full-blown infection and lessen the severity of the symptoms if someone catches the flu virus.

If You've Hit the Mat
If you have the flu, be sure to stay home so you don't spread the infection to your innocent co-workers. But how do you know you've got the flu and not just a bad cold?

The most obvious signs of the flu are a fever between 102° F (39° C) and 104° F (40° C), a bad headache, body aches and severe fatigue and weakness. You may have a dry cough, a sore throat and a stuffy nose. Children, particularly, may also have ear infections, nausea and vomiting. In short, Sengupta says, "You'll probably feel like you can barely get out of bed."

If you develop symptoms like these, contact your doctor within two days. When your flu symptoms are caught early enough, you can try a prescription antiviral medication. They may at least shorten the duration of your misery. The flu often lasts about a week, though people can continue to feel rundown for weeks afterwards. The primary treatment advice is still to rest, drink plenty of fluids and take medicines like Tylenol or Advil to reduce a low fever. "If you're a healthy individual," Sengupta says, "the virus is just going to take its course before the body gets rid of it."

However, if you have a high fever for more than a few days, or if your symptoms have not improved after week, you should get checked out by a doctor.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?
Certain groups of people are at high risk of developing serious complications from the flu. The CDC considers the following groups of people to be high-priority groups for vaccination.