Flu advice for parents from Carson Tahoe Medical Center

Several cases of Influenza Type B have been seen in the Emergency Department at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center over the past seven days. Symptoms of Influenza B include high fever, headache, fatigue, coughing, sore throat and runny nose. Patients experiencing these symptoms are encouraged to consult their healthcare provider, especially if they are immune compromised. Those with chronic illnesses, pregnant women, people over 65, and young children are all considered high risk.

Remember, the best way to stop the spread of the flu is to wash your hands frequently, cover all sneezes and coughs, and keep your hands away from your face. Patients with the flu should practice "social distancing" by staying home and limiting contact with others whenever possible.

The best way to protect yourself from influenza is to get a vaccination each year.

What is influenza (flu)?

Influenza, commonly called "the flu," is caused by the influenza virus, which infects the respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs). Unlike many other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, the flu causes severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

Influenza is a respiratory illness. Symptoms of flu include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches. Children can have additional gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but these symptoms are uncommon in adults. Although the term "stomach flu" is sometimes used to describe vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea, these illnesses are caused by certain other viruses, bacteria, or possibly parasites, and are rarely related to influenza.

How does the flu spread?

The main way that influenza viruses are spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. (This is called "droplet spread.") This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled (generally up to 3 feet) through the air and deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Though much less frequent, the viruses also can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or an object and then touches their own mouth or nose (or someone else's mouth or nose) before washing their hands.

If I got the flu last year, will I have immunity against the flu this year?

In general, a person who is infected with an influenza virus one year will have some immunity to closely related viruses that may persist for one or more years. For example, if someone was infected with the A/New Caledonia/20/99-like strain of H1N1 that predominated during the 2006-07 season, they are likely to have some immunity that will protect them if they are exposed to that strain or a closely related strain again during the 2007-08 season. The degree of protection depends on the health of the person involved. Young and healthy people with normal immune systems will likely have good immunity against the same or closely related strains of virus from one year to the next. However, people with weakened immune systems are less likely to have immunity that carries over in other years. It's important to remember that influenza viruses are constantly changing so antibody made against one strain will become less effective against new strains as influenza strains evolve over time. In addition, there are different types of influenza viruses circulating and different variants within virus types, and the same type of flu virus does not necessarily circulate each year. For instance, during the 2006-07 flu season, influenza A (H1N1) viruses predominated; however, infection with an influenza A (H1N1) virus (and subsequent antibodies protecting against re-infection with the same virus) would not provide protection against influenza B or influenza A (H3N2) viruses.

Does the flu have complications?

Yes. Some of the complications caused by flu include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. Children may get sinus problems and ear infections as complications from the flu. Those aged 65 years and older and persons of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease) are at highest risk for serious complications of flu.

How do I find out if I have the flu?

It is very difficult to distinguish the flu from other viral or bacterial causes of respiratory illnesses on the basis of symptoms alone. A test can confirm that an illness is influenza if the patient is tested within the first two to three days after symptoms begin. In addition, a doctor's examination may be needed to determine whether a person has another infection that is a complication of influenza.

How soon will I get sick if I am exposed to the flu?

The time from when a person is exposed to flu virus to when symptoms begin is about one to four days, with an average of about two days.

How long is a person with flu virus contagious?

The period when an infected person is contagious depends on the age and health of the person. Studies show that most healthy adults may be able to infect others from 1 day prior to becoming sick and for 5 days after they first develop symptoms. Some young children and people with weakened immune systems may be contagious for longer than a week.

How many people get sick or die from the flu every year?

Each flu season is unique, but it is estimated that, on average, approximately 5% to 20% of U.S. residents get the flu, and more than 200,000 persons are hospitalized for flu-related complications each year. About 36,000 Americans die on average per year from the complications of flu.