A Simple Remedy for the Flu: Get a Shot

 

Down under in Australia, where the seasons are reversed, peak flu season 2007 has come and gone. Flu cases reported were three times greater than normal, and three children died. Back in the northern hemisphere, Hawaii has already reported some early cases of the flu, and experts are worried that this flu season might be heavier and more severe than usual. Regardless of what happens this winter, there is one thing that you can do to protect yourself: get a flu shot. Plenty of vaccine will be available–up to 132 million doses–and it’s highly recommended for anyone at risk of complications from the flu and anyone likely to come in contact with such individuals. But even if you belong to neither of these groups, there’s no reason to pass up the opportunity to protect yourself from an unpleasant and sometimes deadly illness.

The flu is an upper respiratory viral infection with symptoms similar to those of the common cold but much more severe. Whereas cold symptoms may come on gradually, the flu is likely to hit you hard on the first day–with fever, chills, headache and a generalized achy feeling that makes you want to go to bed. Like a cold, the flu is viral rather than bacterial and, as a result, cannot be treated with antibiotics. Antivirals such as amantadine (Symmetrel), rimantadine (Flumadine), zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu) can be used to decrease the severity and duration of the flu, but it’s still a battle that requires patience. And eventually, you could end up with a serious complication such as pneumonia. In a normal year–and this year may not be normal–the flu kills about 36,000 Americans and sends about 226,000 to the hospital. Most of those who die are over age 65. Others at risk of hospitalization because of serious complications include residents of nursing homes; children younger than two; persons with chronic heart or lung conditions such as heart disease or asthma; adults and children six months and older who need regular medical care due to diabetes, kidney disease or a compromised immune system; and individuals suffering from brain injury, seizure or neuromuscular disorders.

For high-risk persons, vaccination against the flu is highly recommended. And persons who come in regular contact with such persons–such as family, friends and health care workers–should also be immunized to keep from spreading the disease to them.
For children and young adults, the flu is rarely a life-threatening event. But they are the ones most likely to catch and spread the virus, and the illness can take away precious days of work and study.
Safe for Arthritis Patients
There are a few who should not get the flu shot. These include anyone with:

• a moderate to severe illness with fever at the time,
• severe allergies to chicken eggs or the vaccine; or
• Guillain-Barre syndrome that developed within the past six weeks.

In the past there have been questions about the safety of the vaccine for persons with rheumatoid arthritis, but that concern was put to rest with an Israeli study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases [January, 2006].
Rheumatoid arthritis involves malfunctions in the immune system, and there were rumors that the vaccine might trigger new outbreaks of inflammation.
In a study of 82 consecutive patients from rheumatology clinics, researchers found a good response to the flu vaccine in arthritis patients, although lower than that of healthy controls. Vaccination did not result in worsening of any symptoms.
“Based on our present data,” the authors wrote, “we feel that vaccination against influenza, which is strongly indicated in rheumatoid arthritis, can be recommended in patients with this disease.”
Powerful immunosuppressant drugs such as prednisone and methotrexate are often prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis, but this study determined that these drugs did not affect a patient’s response to immunization. That conclusion has been questioned by other scientists who say that the influence of such drugs was not possible to determine in this study.
Seniors age 65 and over also have a reduced response to vaccination; they tend to produce fewer antibodies than younger adults. That makes it all the more important for seniors to get immunized each year–and early in the season so that antibodies have ample time to develop.
While an immunized senior may still get the flu, symptoms will not be as severe, and there will be less likelihood of complications.
The traditional flu shot is made from a killed or inactivated virus so there is no possibility of getting the flu from the shot itself. The alternative form of immunization, a nasal spray, is made from live, attenuated (weakened) flu virus. It doesn’t cause the flu either, but it can cause mild symptoms and for that reason it is not recommended for high-risk individuals.
Since the 1930s, thimerosal, an anti-bacterial compound that contains mercury, has been used as a preservative in vaccines. At high doses, mercury can cause damage to the nervous system. Although there’s no scientific evidence of adverse effects from thimerosal, many Americans are concerned, and in recent years the thimerosal content of most vaccines has been reduced. The nasal spray and many flu vaccines used today are thimerosal free or have minimal amounts.
One reason for concern about thimerosal involves a proposed association between the preservative and the development of autism in children. Symptoms of autism start appearing around age two–when most American children are receiving their first shots.
In May, 2004, an expert panel convened by the Institute of Medicine concluded that there is no credible link between autism and thimerosal.

The report was based in part on five large studies conducted since 2001 in the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Sweden that found no evidence of a link. Other studies that did find a link were found to have limitations or inadequate supporting evidence. There are many reasons people have for not getting a flu shot–not enough time, anxiety about a needle prick or simply that “it won’t happen to me.” Unfortunately, the flu can happen to you and may this winter unless you take action to prevent it.