Flu season underway

  • Published
  • By 60th Medical Group Public Health
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Seasonal flu and cold season has started. The staff at David Grant USAF Medical Center reminds you there are a number of actions we should all take to prevent the spread of this infectious agent as well as other "wintertime" respiratory viruses.

"Seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a variety of influenza viruses that occurs every winter throughout the United States," said Lt. Col. Fred Kelsey, 60th Aerospace Medicine Squadron's Public Health flight commander. "It can cause mild to severe illness and at times can lead to death."

According to Colonel Kelsey, the best way to prevent or minimize the impact of seasonal flu is by getting your flu vaccination each year.

"Flu vaccinations are available through DGMC and are mandatory for military members," Kelsey said. "Yearly seasonal flu vaccinations begin in September as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season, usually ending in April."

Kelsey added that certain people need to get vaccinated each year because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for high risk persons. People in these groups include:

· Children aged six months to 19 years old
· Pregnant women;
· People 50 years of age and older;
· People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions;
· People who live in nursing homes/ long-term care facilities
· People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, such as health care workers, household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu, household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than six months of age.

Flu and many other respiratory viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with the illness. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

"Most adults with influenza may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than seven days," Kelsey explained. "Symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick."

Kelsey also stressed some persons can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those persons can still spread the virus to others, so take everyday preventive actions to prevent spreading the flu or other respiratory viruses, even if you don't feel ill.

· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it;
· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective;
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, and clean commonly touched objects such as door knobs and phones often
· Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
"If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities," Kelsey said. "Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine before you go back to work."
If you get the flu:
· Stay home from work or school;
· Get lots of rest;
· Drink plenty of liquids
· Avoid using alcohol and tobacco

There are over-the-counter medications to relieve the symptoms of the flu. However, never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, particularly fever. If needed, consult your doctor for the best treatment, but also be aware of these warning signs that require urgent medical attention:

In children:
· Fast breathing or trouble breathing
· Bluish skin color
· Not drinking enough fluids
· Not waking up or not interacting
· Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
· Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
· Fever with a rash

In adults:
· Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
· Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
· Sudden dizziness
· Confusion
· Severe or persistent vomiting

The majority of people will recover from the flu without any complications. For more information, call DGMC's Public Health flight at 423-5464.