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H I G H T S T O W N M E D I C A L AS S O C I A T E S
PATIENT
EDUCATION
GUIDE
The “flu” makes life miserable
for thousands of people every
year. For most affected individuals, the flu is nothering more
than an exhausting and inconvenient illness. But for others,
the flu can also be dangerous.
This guide explains what to
expect when you have the flu
and how you can prevent it.
What is the flu?
Flu is short for influenza, a virus that can cause infection in the lungs. The illness that
people call “stomach flu” is almost never caused by influenza.
What are the symptoms?
Influenza usually begins with a headache, chills and a cough; these are followed by
general body aches and a high fever (often to 102 to 104°F) that may last three to four
days. Symptoms like those of a cold also appear—you may have a runny nose,
sneezing, a sore throat, or a tight feeling in your chest. Most people recover within a
week, but you may continue to feel exhausted or just “not yourself” for as long as
three or four weeks.
How does it spread?
The influenza virus is generally passed from person to person by sneezing or coughing.
The virus can also live for a short time on objects. For this reason, you can come down
with influenza by touching something that has been handled by someone already
infected and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
The virus speads easily and quickly—especially among schoolchildren and their
families and among people who live in crowded conditions. After the virus enters your
body, you may have no symptoms for two to four days. After symptoms appear, you
may be contagious for three to four days.
When is the flu dangerous?
Influenza may cause serious complications, particularly in people who have chronic
heart or lung disease, are older than 65 years, or live in nursing homes. In these high˜
risk groups, influenza can lead to bacterial pneumonia, which may be life–threatening.
Sudden high fever, chills, chest pain, and coughing up yellow–green sputum are
common early signs of bacterial pneumonia.
Reye's syndrome is a serious brain disorder that has been linked to the use of
aspirin in children with influenza or other viral infections. Early signs of Reye's
syndrome include nausea and vomiting.
If you have any questions, please
contact your physician at
Hightstown Medical Associates
(609)443-1150
Fax (609) 443-0041
http://HightstownMedical.com
Should I be vaccinated?
The answer is yes, if you are in any of the groups at risk for influenza with
complications, or if you are likely to spead the virus to persons at risk (see the list of
these groups on the reverse). Since the vaccine does not take effect for several weeks,
you sould receive it in the fall, before the influenza season begins. The vaccine is no
guarantee that you won’t get influenza, but it greatly reduces your chances of getting
Who should receive influenza
vaccine?
• Persons with chronic heart or
lung disease
• Residents of nursing homes
and other long–term care centers
• Healthy adults 65 years or
older
• Persons with diabetes, kidney
dysfunction, or chronic anemia
• Persons with immune system
disorders
• Persons with asthma requiring
regular treatment
• Children receiving long–term
aspirin therapy
• Health care providers
• Family members who may
spread the infection to persons
with any of the problems listed
above
• Persons providing essential
community services (such as
police and fire department
personnel)
the disease or of having a severe case. However, because eggs are used to prepare the
vaccine, be sure to tell your physician if you are allergic to eggs.
The influenza virus usually changes every year, so if you received a vaccine last
year, it will not protect you if a new strain of influenza virus is spreading this year.
That’s why it is important to be vaccinated every year with a new vaccine. You may
also wish to ask your doctor about the pneumococcal vaccine, which may protect you
from certain types of pneumonia which may follow the flu.
The influenza vaccine may cause mild side effects, such as fever or soreness or
redness at the site of the vaccination. These reactions are infrequent and usually last no
more than two days.
What is the best treatment for the flu?
Resting in bed, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking a non–aspirin pain killer (such as
Tylenol) to relieve aches and lower the fever are recommended. Antibiotics do not
help.
Relenza and Tamiflu are medications which were introduced in 1999 for use in
the very early stages of the flu. Their effectiveness is limited and their cost is high.
Amantadine, a drug effective against Type A Influenza virus (but not Type B), may
reduce the severity and duration of symptoms. But, to be effective, it should be started
within 48 hours after the first symptoms appear. Your physician will know whether
this medication is likely to help you.
What if I think I have the flu?
See your doctor. Although most people recover without needing medical care, severe
influenza is dangerous; it is best to check with your physician to be sure that your
symptoms and recovery are normal. Also, not everything that can make you miserable
is during influenza season is really influenza. Some influenza–like symptoms may be
caused by other types of infection and require other treatment.
Special instructions for you:
Modified from
The Journal of
Respiratory
Diseases
Vol 10 No 12—December 1989
A. Thomas McGill, MD
Frederick L. Ruben, MD
Montefiore Hospital
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Copyright  1989 by Cliggott Publishing Co.