FLU SEASON AND THE FLU VACCINE
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s we eagerly begin the fall season, enjoying the colder temperatures, leaves changing color, and the arrival of pumpkin spice everything, another annual occurrence looms. The beginning of the flu season will be upon us shortly, and in fact has already started in New Mexico. This season brings with it the yearly question, “Do I really need or want the flu vaccine?” The most common excuse to refuse the flu vaccine is, “Every time I get the flu vaccine, I catch the flu,” or “I get deathly sick because of the vaccine.” Serious reactions to the vaccine are rare, and it is impossible to contract influenza from the vaccine. The influenza virus (flu) causes a respiratory (mouth, nose, throat, and lung infection for simplicity sake) infection. The virus is transmitted by respiratory droplets from sneezing or coughing and passed to another person who may touch a surface or even shake hands with another person who has the illness. The best way to avoid catching the flu is to always wash your hands and make sure to carry hand sanitizer with you at all times. Cover your mouth and nose if coughing or sneezing! Also, if you feel that you have the flu, the best
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November 2018
advice is to stay home, and this means avoiding restaurants, grocery stores, school, and even church! If you do have the flu and cannot avoid going out in public, please wear a mask and get home as soon as possible! The flu can be confused with a simple cold (viral upper respiratory infection) but has distinct characteristics. The flu is a sudden-onsetillness, which can literally begin so quickly patients often can remember the exact time symptoms begin. Symptoms of the flu include fever, chills, body aches, sore throat, runny nose, cough, headache, burning eyes, and fatigue, but the main complaint I have encountered in my years of practice are the body aches and burning eyes. I have had patients compare the flu to being run over by a truck or feeling like you have worked out and every muscle in your body is sore. If you experience these symptoms from now until the end of March, see your primary care doctor within 48 hours. Unfortunately, there is no immediate cure for the flu once you have it, but an antiviral medicine called Tamiflu can decrease symptoms by 2-3 days; after 48 hours the medicine is not recommended. If you
