How to stay healthy this flu season

The flu season is here and here are some info on how to stay healthy during the flu season.

What is influenza?

Influenza, or flu, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It is more serious than a common cold. An annual flu shot is your best protection against influenza.

What are the symptoms of a flu?

• Fever and chills
• Cough, sore throat and runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle aches, joint pains, headaches and fatigue

Seek immediate medical advice if the illness quickly becomes worse or if any of the following symptoms occur:

• Shortness of breath or rapid breathing
• Chest pain
• Confusion or sudden dizziness
• Persistent vomiting.

Quadrivalent? trivalent? You might have heard of these terms before but what do they really mean?

Influenza vaccines can change from year to year as new strains of influenza virus appear. This is one reason vaccination against influenza is given every year. A quadrivalent covers four influenza strains (types) and a trivalent covers three.

What are the differences between different brands of vaccines?

Different brands are available in the market. They differ in terms of the age groups they target. Some brands are manufactured specifically for children less than 3 years of age. Others are only indicated for adults. However, at the time of this writing, there are no vaccinations are available for babies less than 6 months old.

Who should be getting the flu shot?

It is recommended that everyone gets their flu shot annually, but the following groups are more susceptible to catching the flu than a healthy adult:

Children - seasonal influenza vaccination is available for anyone aged 6 months and over to protect against influenza, provided they do not have a medical reason that precludes them from receiving influenza vaccines.
Pregnant women - a flu shot is safe for both baby and mother, and can be given at any stage of pregnancy
Women who are breastfeeding - there are no evidence of risk to the baby. Breastfeeding does not adversely affect immunisation nor does it contraindicate with the administration of other vaccines to the baby.
Elderly or individuals with chronic illness such as cardiac disease, chronic respiratory conditions, impaired immunity.

Side effects

• Headache
• Aching muscles
• Mild fever
• Analphylaxis
• You will need to remain in the area for 15 mins after vaccination

Note that the routine use of paracetamol to prevent fever, at the time of vaccination, is no longer recommended except for children with a history of seizures

Staying healthy in flue season

• Get a flu shot
• Cover mouth and nose when you sneeze
• Stay home if you're sick
• Practice good hygiene - wash hands frequently
• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Common misconceptions

Can a flu shot give you the flu?
No, a flu shot cannot cause flu illness. The most common side effects from the influenza shot are soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling where the shot was given.

Do i need to get a flu shot every year?
Vaccination each year is important as the strains of flu virus circulating in our community change. Some strains can cause more serious illness than others

The flu is not a serious illness
Totally untrue. The flu is a highly contagious disease that can lead to severe complications, including hospitalisation, pneumonia and death.
Pregnant women have an increased risk of complications because part of their immune system is naturally suppressed during pregnancy and their 'expanded size' can make breathing more difficult.

The flu vaccine causes severe reactions or side effects.
The flu vaccine is very safe. some people but experience mild symptoms like headache, aching muscles and a mild fever.
Children (especially if under five) may develop higher body temperatures than adults after having the flu shot. This is because they have a smaller body and surface area. This can sometimes result in convulsions caused by the fever.

Getting a flu shot every year weakens your immune system.
The vaccine prepares and boosts your immune system to help fight the virus if you are exposed to it. People who get the flu shot every year are better protected against flu than those who do not get vaccinated.

References

https://www.tga.gov.au/media-release/2018-seasonal-influenza-vaccines
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/pages/seasonal_flu_vaccination.aspx
Australian Medicine Handbook 2017