Preventing Flu
Good preventive measures include:
- Wash hands thoroughly, including use of alcohol-based gels.
- Avoid touching eyes or nose prior to washing hands.
- Avoid biting fingernails.
- Avoid sharing personal items during the flu season.
- Consider the flu vaccine .
- Indications for a yearly flu vaccine, which should be discussed with your doctor:
- Persons older than 50 years of age
- Residents and employees of nursing homes and long-term care facilities
- People with chronic heart and lung conditions
- People with chronic metabolic disease, kidney problems, hemoglobin abnormalities, or immune system problems
- Children and teenagers routinely taking aspirin
- Pregnant women
- Healthcare providers
- Household members of high-risk individuals
- Children age six months to five years
- Anyone wishing to reduce their risk of getting the flu should consider the vaccine.
The vaccine has been associated with fewer hospitalizations and deaths from influenza or pneumonia among the elderly living in the community. * 2
Two forms of flu vaccine are available-injectable and nasal spray (FluMist). In a study comparing the effectiveness of the two forms in children, researchers found that the nasal spray led to fewer cases of influenza through a single flu season. Talk to your doctor about which vaccine is the most appropriate for you or your child. * 1
American Lung Association website. Available at: http://www.lungusa.org .
CDC MMWR 2006;55(RR10):1-42.
Derlet R, Lawrence R. Influenza. Emedicine website. Available at: http://www.emedecine.com/med/topic1170.htm .
Griffith's 5-Minute Clinical Consult . Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999.
Influenza vaccines. WHO position paper. Wkly Epidemiol Rec . 2002;77:229-240. World Health Organization website. Available at: http://www.who.int/docstore/wer/pdf/2002/wer7728.pdf . Accessed August 30, 2005.
Leblebicioglu H, Brook I. Influenza. Emedicine website. Available at: http://www.emedecine.com .
MMWR Weekly: Recommended immunization schedules for 0-18 years-United States, 2008. Center for Disease Control website. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5701a8.htm . Updated January 11, 2008. Accessed January 24, 2008.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease website. Available at: http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/ .
Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 5th ed. Churchill Livingstone, Inc; 2000.
* 1 3/2/2007 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Belshe RB, Edwards KM, Vesikari T, et al. Live attenuated versus inactivated influenza vaccine in infants and young children. N Engl J Med. 2007;356:685-696.
* 2 10/15/2007 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Nichol KL, Nordin JD, Nelson DB, Mullooly JP, Hak E. Effectiveness of influenza vaccine in the community-dwelling elderly. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:1373-1381.
* 3 1/30/2008 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Public health advisory:Nonprescription cough and cold medicine use in children-FDA recommends that over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products not be used for infants and children under 2 years of age. US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/cough_cold_2008.htm . Accessed January 30, 3008.
* 4 2/28/2008 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Slapak I, Skoupá J, Strnad P, Horník P. Efficacy of isotonic nasal wash (seawater) in the treatment and prevention of rhinitis in children. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008;134:67-74.
* 5 3/12/2008 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : 2008 safety alerts for drugs, biologics, medical devices, and dietary supplements: tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate). US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#Tamiflu . Accessed March 12, 2008.
Last reviewed February 2008 by Jill Landis, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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