As the H1N1 and other viruses continue to spread, Dr MUIRIS HOUSTONanswers your questions about coping with influenza
WHILE LATEST figures show the national influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate was 173 per 100,000 population in the week to January 16th , representing a slight decrease from the updated rate of 200.8 per 100,000 reported for the previous week, flu infection rates increased significantly in younger age groups (0-4 and 5-14 year olds). So what’s the latest advice concerning vaccination and coping with flu infection?
Does the flu vaccine work?
No vaccine is 100 per cent effective, but people who have had the influenza vaccine are far less likely to get flu and, if they do, the symptoms will be less severe. The flu vaccine has a good safety record, and this year’s seasonal flu jab is no different from any other in terms of the risk it presents. The influenza viruses circulating this year are A (H1N1) 2009, influenza B, and some influenza A H3N2. All three are contained in the single flu jab currently available from GPs here.
Is there any point in getting vaccinated now?
Yes there is. If you are pregnant or had a baby within the last six weeks, then you should seriously consider having the seasonal flu shot. While the epidemic will soon peak, there will still be plenty of flu viruses doing the rounds for a couple of months or so. The same advice applies to people with pre-existing health conditions such as heart and lung disease as well as those with chronic liver and kidney disease. These illnesses make it harder to fight off flu and also act as points of “weakness” through which an influenza virus can cause the kind of complications that require hospital admission and even a need for intensive care.
Why has the immunisation advice for pregnant women changed?
The HSE advised doctors the change was necessary because of an increasing number of influenza B cases seen in recent weeks as “there is evidence that influenza B can cause significant morbidity for pregnant women”.
The latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show that almost 20 per cent of confirmed flu cases are due to the influenza B virus. If women relied only on a swine flu shot they received during last year, they would not be protected against the B strain of the virus. Because some women were previously (correctly) advised that the swine flu shot would be sufficient, public health experts have asked GPs to contact pregnant women and advise them of the change in national vaccination policy.
What should I do about my children?
The advice for children hasn’t changed. If your child has a pre-existing medical condition, they should be given the seasonal flu vaccine. Otherwise, encourage them to practise the preventive habits outlined below. There is no need to keep children away from school. If you become worried about a sick child for any reason, then contact your family doctor.
What should I do if I think I have it?
Symptoms of seasonal flu include sudden onset of fever, cough as well as sore throat, aching muscles and joints. If you think you are coming down with flu, it’s best to isolate yourself in bed. Drink plenty of fluids and take paracetamol to reduce your temperature. Most people will recover with self-care in about a week to 10 days after the onset of infection.
However, if you develop any of the following, then it is important to seek medical advice: increasing difficulty breathing, for example unable to complete a sentence; sharp chest pains that make it difficult to breathe or cough; thick yellow or green phlegm or brown or bloody phlegm; severe earache; uncharacteristic changes in behaviour such as becoming confused or appearing terrified (particularly in children); and being so drowsy as to have difficulty eating, drinking or talking.
What’s the best way to avoid it?
Other than adopting the lifestyle of a hermit, there are a number of preventive steps we can all take. Hand hygiene is crucial – by washing our hands regularly, we remove any viral particles we pick up through normal social intercourse and reduce the chance of droplets of infection entering our bodies and multiplying.
Strictly following HSE advice to use tissues only once and to bin them immediately after sneezing or wiping our noses is probably the most effective way of curbing the spread of the virus to others.
