Health Advice An answer to your medical questions » Flu

Flu vaccine

Kevin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:08:12 +0000

Flu is a viral disease which can easily spread like an epidemic as it is infectious and the virus can spread in any form of contact with the infected person especially in crowded areas.

It is more dangerous because the infected person is liable to pass on the virus to other people even after being cured, because they carry the virus for three to four days and can unknowingly pass it on to healthy people who come in contact with them.

Flu or influenza is a seasonal disease which mostly falls in the winter season so taking the vaccine can protect you from the disease.

As the outbreak occurs every season it is better to take protection against the onslaught of the virus than to suffer from the pains of flu every year. Vaccines have been developed for protecting people against influenza and its after effects and also to stop the spread of flu.

The vaccine has to be taken every year as the strains of the viruses keep on changing so the scientists develop the flu vaccine according to the present strains of virus and expected strains of virus in the future. The vaccines are easily available from the doctor’s clinic, drug stores, any local clinic or at the supermarket.

Types of Flu Vaccine
There are two types of flu vaccines available which can be used by healthy people who are between the age group of five years to forty nine years. One type of vaccine is the injection or the flu shot and the other one is the nasal spray which is called the flu mist.

The vaccine should not be given to children who are six months or below that age. A nasal spray should not be used by people who are suffering from diabetes, asthma, have low immunity due to the use of drugs or immunodeficiency disease. Even pregnant women should not use the nasal spray.

The flu vaccine should be taken at least 2 to 3 months before the season starts, and this will provide enough protection as the effect will continue for at least a year. The vaccine should be taken every year as the previous year virus will easily develop immunity and mutate to form other strains for survival.

Flu shot side effects

Kevin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:07:48 +0000

The flu shot is for prevention against the flu virus that can spread like an epidemic every year, which normally starts from the month of October or November and continues up to May. The vaccination should be taken as soon as it is available so that the immune system of the body can develop total immunity against the onslaught of the flu virus.

The center for disease control always advertises that people should take the flu shot for prevention against influenza but there are many types of controversies related to the flu shot that are being mentioned today.

The major problem that is connected with the flu shot is the preservative used by the manufacturers which is thimerosal and it is a mercury-based product that is harmful for human. Moreover many types of contamination take place during the production of the vaccines which makes the person vulnerable to other types of diseases which may have entered the vaccine as some of the live but weakened viruses have to be developed in the bodies of the experimental animals.

Flu Shot Side Effects Facts

There are two types of side effects in flu shots which can be called mild side effects and severe side effects. The mild side effects that usually occur when the shot is given are swelling, fever, aches, soreness and redness of the area where the flu shot has been given. Scientists have found that the use of the mercury-based preservative has developed autism in many people who have taken flu shots. Many people suffer from all the symptoms that occur due to the effect of the influenza virus but doctors say that this helps the immune system to become stronger.

In case of severe side effects a person can develop breathing problem, dizziness, increase in the heartbeat, wheezing sensation and weakness. Flu shots can also develop side effects in people who are allergic especially to eggs, as the flu shot contains eggs which can develop severe side effects in these people.

Flu shots can also develop side effects in people who have a weak immune system and are suffering from diseases for which regular drugs have to be taken.

Flu shot

Kevin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:07:13 +0000

Flu or influenza is a viral disease which can easily turn into an epidemic as it is easily spread through direct or indirect contact. To control the epidemic situation and to protect people from contacting influenza, vaccines have been developed which can be taken as a nasal spray or in the form of injection which is called the flu shot.

The disease control center mostly advises people that they should take the flu shot so that they can be saved from being infected by influenza. But there are many types of controversies that relate to the safety of the flu shot or flu vaccine.

The main controversy is about the use of thimerosal by the manufacturers of the vaccines as this preservative is prepared from mercury which has been banned for nearly twenty years as it has been found that this mercury-based product is harmful to our health. It has been discovered by doctors that the use of this preservative in vaccines can lead to autism. So many states have passed orders that have totally restricted the use of thimerosal in vaccines especially in those vaccines which are used for pregnant women and children.

Flu Shot Facts

Flu shots are made every year which is different from the previous one by scientists so that the viruses cannot give up the immunity and it is also a fact that the strains of the viruses keep on changing each year. The new flu shots that are prepared consist of the inactivated or dead flu viruses of the previous year. While preparing the vaccines the scientists take into consideration the viruses that are already in circulation and those viruses that are going to circulate in the following year.

The flu shot used as nasal spray is made of live but weakened viruses which can be easily used by healthy people who are in the age group of five years to forty nine years. The flu shot and the nasal spray can effectively prevent some strains of flu viruses but these vaccines are ineffective in the case of avian flu.

Though flu vaccines maybe ineffective if new strains of flu viruses develop and a person contacts flu it will still help as the vaccine will provide some protection from the adverse effects.

Flu treatments

Kevin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:06:46 +0000

Flu is a mostly a seasonal disease which is caused by the virus that infects the body and the person suffers from fever, blocked nose, sore throat and muscle pain in the entire body. This disease is also known as influenza which can become an epidemic very easily as it is infectious.

This virus can spread from direct contact with the person who is suffering from flu or through indirect contact by touching the items that has been used by the person who is infected with the disease. There is no treatment for the flu as the strains of the virus keeps on changing every year.

Vaccines are available for preventing the disease but the vaccines are not totally effective as the viruses keep on mutating and changing strains. So a person who has been vaccinated can easily contact influenza but the pain and the suffering will be less than a person who has not been vaccinated.

Normally the person suffering from the flu can get relief from the symptoms within seven to fifteen days without taking any medicine but if the symptoms prolong for a longer time then the person should get medical aid to get relief from the ailment.

Flu Treatment
Most of the people who suffer from flu usually take plenty of rest and drink lots of liquid and take medicines that are available off the counter to get relief from the symptoms like body ache, fever and sore throat. There are some medicines which can provide relief if they are taken as soon as the infection sets in and within forty eight hours of any symptoms. These are the antiviral medicines which have been recently developed for flu treatment. These drugs which are available only by prescription can reduce the time of the fever and provide relief from other flu symptoms.

People who are suffering from other kind of diseases or small children and older people should consult the doctor as soon as they are infected with flu as it can become fatal because their immune system is already weak.

Even healthy people who have contracted flu and do not get relief within the stipulated time should consult a doctor if they notice that their fever is not going down, weakness is increasing, mucus is coming from the cough and are suffering from breathing problem.

Flu symptoms

Kevin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:05:57 +0000

Every kind of disease whether it is caused by bacteria or a virus is always accompanied by some symptoms which make it easy for the doctor to identify the disease and prescribe the adequate medicine so that the patient can get quick relief. In the same manner there are some common symptoms of flu or influenza which though similar to the common cold can be differentiated, as the symptoms of a common cold are not as long-lasting as flu symptoms. Mostly people who are infected with a flu virus feel the effect of the attack nearly three to four days later.

A person who is infected with the flu virus can easily pass on the virus to other persons before developing the symptoms of the disease and a person who has suffered from flu and has been cured can also pass on the virus to other people up to three or four days after their recovery.

Some flu symptoms are different from the symptoms of common cold. It is essential to know about the symptoms of flu because if treatment is done within forty eight hours it is possible to decrease the intensity of the flu.

Flu Symptoms

There are some symptoms which will easily help a person to distinguish between common cold and flu, and one such symptom is fever above one hundred point four degrees Celsius which gives an indication that it is not common cold but flu because a common cold is never accompanied by a fever.

Another symptom of influenza is muscle pain throughout the body which is not there in common cold and even if a person suffers from muscle pain in a common cold it is very light.

With the flu, muscle pain is accompanied with headache whereas in common cold there is no headache. Some of the symptoms like stuffy nose and sore throat are common in both the flu and a common cold but chills and stomach problems are symptoms which can be found only in flu.

Stomach problems are mostly found in children who have contacted flu. The patient may also suffer from dry cough and tiredness and fatigue. In adults the complications can increase if bacterial infection sets in as it may cause pneumonia.

Stomach Flu

Kevin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:05:32 +0000

Stomach flu is not caused by the virus that commonly causes flu or influenza but it is a kind of stomach upset which is called gastroenteritis. So stomach flu is not flu but a stomach ailment which is caused by a virus or bacteria that reaches the stomach through food or water.

Gastroenteritis can also be contacted from a person who is suffering from this disease. Mostly this problem arises due to food poisoning which can be caused by eating any kind of food that contains the germs of this disease.

Mostly these germs are found in the food that has been contaminated while growing, processing or while preparing the food. It can also be caused by eating any type of meat products that has not been properly cooked or any type of food cooked in unhygienic conditions. Even drinking polluted water or unsafe water can lead to gastroenteritis or stomach flu. In stomach flu the cells that are found in the small intestine lining is damaged which causes leaking of the cells fluid in the intestine causing watery diarrhea.

Prevention of Stomach Flu
A person suffering from stomach flu or gastroenteritis suffers a lot as they loose a high percentage of water, as it is lost through the continuous loss of fluid through vomiting or diarrhea. So prevention is necessary to safeguard oneself from weakness and dehydration.

The best preventive method is to maintain hygiene by washing the hands before cooking or eating food. Special care should be taken after going to the toilet or after cleaning a baby. Things that are used by a person suffering from stomach flu should not be shared by anybody else.

Food should be cooked properly and raw vegetables, meat and other products should be bought from places where they are kept hygienically. Vegetables and the fruits should not be eaten without washing them properly in water. Drinking water should also be kept covered and any type of water or drinks should not be consumed outside which has not been stored properly. Preserved foods must be checked for their expiry date and any other kind of warnings that are given on the label before being bought.

Flu or Cold

Kevin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:47:39 +0000

Every person falls sick at some time but the main season that affects most people is the winter season when the changing climatic conditions lead to many kinds of problems especially in the children, older people and the people who are weak due to some health problems.

The most common disease that affects people in the starting phase of the winter season is a common cold and flu as the viruses of these ailments become active in this season. The viruses that cause cold are totally different from the viruses that cause flu.

Though the viruses of both diseases are different, the symptoms of the diseases are somewhat common due to which it becomes difficult to decide whether the person has caught a common cold or the flu.

The symptoms that are similar in a common cold and flu are sore throat, coughing, blocked nose and sneezing. But there is a major difference between flu and the common cold and that is in a common cold a person doesn’t suffer from fever but in influenza the person suffers from high fever.

Treatment for Flu or Cold
Basically there is no treatment available for a common cold as the effect of the virus disappears within 10 days but a person can take off the counter medicines to relieve himself of some of the symptoms like a blocked nose and constant coughing. Taking rest also helps in providing relief from the slight body ache or the uneasiness that is caused by the symptoms of a common cold.

But if the conditions persist then medical attention should be sought to get treatment and relief from any kind of bacterial attack.
If all the common cold symptoms are present with severe headache, body ache and fever then it is the sign of flu for which proper rest is required along with intake of liquid, off the counter medicines can be taken to bring down the fever and get relief from the headache and body ache.

Medicines can also be taken for subsiding the coughing and gargling can be done to get relief from a sore throat thus make the flu pain not as bad. The room should be kept warm and antiviral medicines can be taken for reducing the duration of the fever.

Bird Flu

Kevin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:44:26 +0000

Bird flu is also known as avian flu which is commonly found in birds but still the mutation of the bird flu virus is generally not transmitted from one person to another, but in some cases has and when it does becomes fatal.

These influenza viruses have natural occurrence in birds as they are mostly found in wild birds that do not suffer from the problems of the disease but can easily transmit it to the domestic birds like ducks, chickens, hens and turkeys.

Bird flu can also spread like an epidemic amongst poultry and at that time the birds are slaughtered so that the virus does not spread to human.

The virus that causes bird flu is the H5N1 virus which is an endemic in major parts of Asia and it has recent times has spread amongst some poultry in European countries. This strain of virus can also affect animals like tigers and pigs. Though the symptoms can vary in birds and animals and is not always fatal if there are virulent strains then it can easily kill the infected birds and animals.

The bird flu is not a pandemic in humans as there are only few cases of bird flu cases in humans which has developed due to direct contact with the infected animals or birds.
Prevention of Bird Flu Virus

It is essential to take precautionary measures against the spreading of the bird flu virus as it causes great loss to farmers. During the seasons when the bird flu spreads the farmers should always safeguard their poultry and keep them locked so that they do not come in contact with the native birds which are the carriers of the virus. The native birds are immune to the adverse effects of the virus that this type of immunity is not present in the poultry stock.

Regular checking must be done to eliminate any infected bird amongst the livestock. The cages and other places where the birds are kept should be cleaned and during the seasons of bird flu precautionary measures should be taken in advance so that the birds can be saved from being infected by the virus. All the birds should not be kept in a single cage as the virus has the tendency to develop quickly in crowded places.

Flu advice

Kevin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:41:59 +0000

Flu is a kind of viral fever which is also known as influenza. It is an infectious disease which is commonly found in humans. This disease mostly affects the lungs especially the upper airways. This disease is caused by RNA germ which is also known as the flu virus.

There is a difference between influenza, stomach flu and common cold as they are not only caused by different viruses but stomach flu is in fact gastroenteritis which is also known as the twenty four hour flu which is totally different from influenza.

Influenza or flu is a seasonal disease which often spreads as an epidemic and if not treated properly can become fatal and lead to death. Another type of flu that is very dangerous and spreads like an epidemic is the avian flu which in common terms is known as bird flu.

The word flu has originated from Italy in the 15th century when this disease was believed to be caused by the unfavorable influences that developed due to the astrological changes. Bird flu was also discovered in Italy in 1900. Bird flu is caused by a virus called H5N1.

Flu Outbreaks

The flu Outbreak takes place suddenly and mostly occurs in the fall season or in the beginning or ending of the winter season. It can also occur during the changing seasons like from summer season to the rainy season and from winter season to summer season. The disease can spread through the whole community which can lead to an epidemic as it is a contagious disease which can easily spread through indirect contact like using or touching the things that has been used by a person suffering from influenza.

It can also spread through direct contact with a person who is suffering from flu. The intense period of the epidemic is nearly three weeks after which it starts subsiding and vanishes totally within another three to four weeks. More than seventy percent of people are affected during a flu epidemic as it easily spreads in crowded areas like schools, public places, gymnasiums, swimming pools and other such places.