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Entry bubble Influenza: Avoid A Long Winter Headache

By: Jake | October 29, 2007 | Category: Health

With the California wildfires and drug resistant staph infections outbreaks in schools dominating the headlines the last few weeks, you may not have noticed it's flu season.
According to the CDC, seasonal influenza infects 5% to 20% of the population every year. Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections (this one always gets me), dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. 

The CDC says there are three ways to prevent getting the flu. The most effective prevention is to get a flu vaccine, more commonly known as a flu shot, like I did this week. You can search for flu vaccine providers near you. In order to encourage vaccinations, the CDC has declared November 26-December 2 Flu Vaccination Week with Tuesday the 27th serving as Children’s Flu Vaccination Day. The CDC encourages health care providers to expand hours and offer more flu clinics during this week. In addition to a flu shot you can take anti-viral drugs and practice good health habits.

One thing I recommend in addition to these tips is to keep an eye out on CDC's flu activity and surveillance page.  The CDC partners with local health departments and provides a weekly report and map about flu outbreaks around the country. Also, if you do get sick here's how you can tell if it's a the flu or just a cold.
 

| Comments [8] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: flu   infection   influenza   shot   staph   vaccine  

Comments:

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Whoa. Thanks for reminding me, Jake. I need to go get my flu shot today. Like, right now before I forget again...

Posted by Nancy on October 29, 2007 at 08:25 AM EDT #

Flu shots are great, but what about people who are allergic to eggs? I understand that people who are allergic to eggs cannot take the flu shot. Are there alternative types of flu shots available for such persons?

Posted by Talking Books Librarian at http://talkingbookslibrarian.blogspot.com/ on October 29, 2007 at 11:03 AM EDT #

Good question Talking Books Librarian,

People who are allergic to eggs should not take the flu vaccine, but there are other options like the nasal-spray flu vaccine. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/nasalspray.htm

Their best bet is to talk to their doctor and see what he/she recommends.

Posted by Jake on October 29, 2007 at 11:17 AM EDT #

Thank you for the comment, Jake. However, I noticed at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/fluvaccine.htm that it states both vaccines (shot and nasal spray) are grown in eggs, so it is likely that neither vaccine would be appropriate for people allergic to eggs. And of course, as you mentioned, the best bet is for people to check with their doctors.

Posted by Talking Books Librarian at http://talkingbookslibrarian.blogspot.com/ on October 29, 2007 at 04:03 PM EDT #

TBL,

Thanks for pointing that out. I looked around the CDC page and didn't see that information. I was recommending the nasal vaccine based on this information I found at the link I provided above:
Who should not be vaccinated with the nasal-spray flu vaccine LAIV (FluMist®)?

* People less than 2 years of age†
* People 50 years of age and over
* People with a medical condition that places them at high risk for complications from influenza, including those with chronic heart or lung disease, such as asthma or reactive airways disease; people with medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure; or people with illnesses that weaken the immune system, or who take medications that can weaken the immune system.
* Children <5 years old with a history of recurrent wheezing
* Children or adolescents receiving aspirin
* People with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder of the nervous system
* Pregnant women

There's no warning here for those who are allergic to eggs. I'm going to email the CDC about their omission of the egg allergy population on this page.

Posted by Jake on October 29, 2007 at 04:20 PM EDT #

Thank you. It would definitely be good to have the egg allergy information directly at the link you gave as well, so people with egg allergies can quickly and easily obtain the information.

Posted by Talking Books Librarian at http://talkingbookslibrarian.blogspot.com/ on October 30, 2007 at 10:39 AM EDT #

Everyone,

CDC updated their website based on my email. If you are allergic to eggs, you should not get the nasal spray vaccine. If you are allergic, consult with your doctor.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/nasalspray.htm

Thanks to TBL for bringing up the issue!

Posted by Jake on November 14, 2007 at 02:53 PM EST #

Excellent! Thanks so much! I hope this information will help ease confusion for those who have egg allergies. However, I do wish there was an alternative to the flu vaccine for those who are allergic to eggs. It seems sad that there is not another alternative, other than apparently getting the flu!

Posted by Talking Books Librarian at http://talkingbookslibrarian.blogspot.com/ on November 14, 2007 at 03:53 PM EST #

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