FLU FACTS
(Sources: www.cdc.gov/flu/ and www.flumist.com)
GENERAL INFORMATION
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Influenza (also known as the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses.
Flu comes on suddenly with fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or
body aches, headaches, tiredness, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. Some people with the flu will not
have a fever.
The flu is spread from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes.
Complications of the flu include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, sinus problems, ear infections, and death.
The time from when a person is exposed to flu virus and to when symptoms begin is about 1-4 days.
Flu is more dangerous than the common cold for children.
Each year an average of 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized because of influenza complications.
During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, 345 deaths in children were reported to the CDC from April 2009 to May 2010.
Children with the highest risk of flu complications are infants less than 6 months of age. The best way to protect
children younger than 6 months if to make sure members of their household and their caregivers are vaccinated.
Children with the next highest risk are age 6 months up to their 5th birthday and children with chronic health
problems, including asthma, immune suppression, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes,
sickle cell anemia, long-term aspirin therapy, and any condition that can reduce lung function (cognitive
dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorder, or other neuromuscular disorders).
The single best way to protect against seasonal flu and its potential severe complications in children is to get a
seasonal influenza vaccine each year! Call to schedule your child’s flu vaccine.
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The 2011-2012 vaccine will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus.
It takes about 2 weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against
influenza virus infection.
All children 6 months up to 9 years of age are recommended to receive 2 doses of flu vaccine 4 or more weeks
apart if they are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time or those vaccinated for the first time during the
previous influenza season but who only received one dose. The first dose “primes” the immune system; the
second dose provides immune protection.
Influenza vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.
There are several reasons why someone might get flu-like symptoms even after they have been vaccinated
against the flu.
1. People may be exposed to a flu virus shortly before getting vaccinated or during the two-week period
that it takes the body to gain protection after getting vaccinated.
2. People may become ill from other (non-flu) viruses that circulate during the flu season, which can also
cause flu-like symptoms (such as rhinovirus).
3. A person may be exposed to an influenza virus that is not included in the seasonal flu vaccine. There are
many different influenza viruses that circulate every year. The flu vaccine protects against the 3 viruses
that research suggests will be most common. Seasonal flu vaccine provides the best protection available
from seasonal flu - even when the vaccine does not closely match circulating flu strains. Vaccination can
lessen illness severity and is particularly important for people at high risk for serious flu-related
complications.
All employees of Northwest Pediatrics receive a flu vaccine prior to every flu season.
Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as the 2011-2012 vaccines are available!
FLU VACCINES
FluMist®
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FluMist® is a seasonal flu vaccine that is administered as one gentle spray in each nostril.
It contains a weakened live virus. It cannot cause flu illness.
The most common side effects are runny or stuffy nose, sore throat and low grade fever.
FluMist® does not contain thimerosal or other preservatives.
FluMist® is effective for up to 12 months so can be given NOW to provide protection during the 2011-2012 flu
season.
The CDC website: www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/nasalspray.htm states that FluMist® reduced the chance of
influenza illness by 92% compared to placebo.
FluMist® can be given to people with minor illnesses (diarrhea or mild upper respiratory infections with or
without fever), but nasal congestion might limit delivery of the vaccine to the nasal lining.
HEALTHY patients 2-49 years of age can receive FluMist®.
CONTRAINDICATIONS TO FluMist®:
1. Allergy to eggs, egg proteins, or other vaccine ingredients
2. Have life-threatening reactions to flu vaccines
3. Children or teenagers taking aspirin or products containing aspirin
YOU MAY NOT be able to get FluMist®if you:
1. Have asthma
2. Have recurrent wheezing (only for 2- to 5-year olds)
3. Have a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome
4. Have long-term health problems such as a weakened immune system or have heart, kidney, or lung disease,
or diabetes
5. Are pregnant
6. Are in close contact with someone with a severely weakened immune system
Fluzone®
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Fluzone® is the inactivated (contains killed viruses) vaccine that is given with a needle.
The viruses in the flu shot are killed so you cannot get the flu from the flu shot.
The Fluzone® that NWPeds has ordered does not contain thimerosol.
Side effects from Fluzone® include soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given, low grade fever, and
aches. If these problems occur, they begin soon after the shot and usually last one to two days.
The flu shot has been shown to prevent influenza in about 70-90% of healthy persons younger than age 65
years. Among certain patient populations, the flu shot has been shown to be most effective in preventing
severe illness, secondary complications, and deaths related to the flu.
Fluzone® can be given to people with minor illnesses (diarrhea or mild respiratory illnesses without fever). If
fever is present, Fluzone® should be given at a later date.
All children 6 months of age and older should get Fluzone® if they are unable to receive or elect not to receive
FluMist®!
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CONTRAINDICATIONS to Fluzone®:
1. Allergy to eggs, egg proteins, or other vaccine ingredients
2. Have life-threatening reactions to flu vaccines
3. History of Guillain-Barre Syndrome that occurred after receiving influenza vaccine
FLU TESTS
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The most common flu tests are the “rapid influenza diagnostic tests”.
These tests can provide results in 30 minutes or less.
The ability of these tests to detect the flu can vary greatly.
You could still have the flu, even though your rapid test result is negative.
Despite a negative rapid test result, your health care provider may diagnose you with flu based on your
symptoms and their clinical judgment.
Most people with flu symptoms do not require testing because the test results usually do not change how you
are treated.
During an outbreak of a respiratory illness, testing for the flu can help determine if flu viruses are the cause of
the outbreak.
Flu testing can be helpful in some people with suspected flu who have certain health conditions and for whom a
diagnosis of the flu would alter decisions about their care.
FLU ANTIVIRAL DRUGS
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Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu.
Antiviral drugs are different than antibiotics.
When started within 2 days of getting sick, these drugs can make you feel better and shorten the time you are
sick by 1-2 days. The can also help prevent serious flu complications.
There were only 2 antiviral drugs recommended by the CDC last season, due to resistance to other antiviral
medications. The brand names for these are Tamiflu® and Relenza® (the generic names for these drugs are
oseltamivir and zanamivir).
Tamiflu® is available as a capsule or liquid and is approved for use in children 1 year of age and older.
The most common side effects to Tamiflu® are nausea or vomiting (it helps to take it with food).
Relenza® is a powder that is inhaled. It is approved for use in children 7 years of age and older, but only for
people without breathing problems (such as asthma) or heart disease.
The most common side effects to Relenza® are dizziness, sinusitis, runny or stuffy nose, cough, diarrhea, nausea,
or headache. Relenza® may also cause wheezing and trouble breathing in people with lung disease.
Confusion and abnormal behavior leading to injury has been observed rarely in people with the flu, MOSTLY
CHILDREN, WHO WERE TREATED WITH TAMIFLU® OR RELENZA®. Flu can also cause these behaviors. BUT
PERSONS TAKING THESE DRUGS SHOULD BE CLOSELY MONITORED FOR SIGNS OF UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR OR
PROBLEMS THINKING CLEARLY. This behavior should be immediately reported to a health care provider.
PROTECTING YOUR CHILD AGAINST THE FLU
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HAVE YOUR CHILD VACCINATED AGAINST THE FLU!
Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Stay away from people who are sick.
Wash hands often with soap and water (for as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice). If soap
and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
If someone in the household is sick, try to keep the sick person in a separate room from others in the household,
if possible.
Keep surfaces like bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen counters and toys for children clean by
wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.
Throw away tissues and other disposable items used by sick persons in your household in the trash.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS SICK
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Make sure your child gets plenty of rest.
Encourage plenty of fluids (ideally, children need to make as much urine as they normally do).
Cough medicines are not recommended.
Keep your child out of school or daycare for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone (fever should be gone
without the use of a fever-reducing medicine). A fever is defined as 100⁰F or 37.8⁰C.
Consult Northwest Pediatrics as needed.
Call for emergency care if your child of any age has any of the warning or emergency signs below:
1. Fast breathing or trouble breathing
2. Bluish or gray skin color
3. Not drinking enough fluids (not going to the bathroom or voiding at least 3-4 times in 24 hours)
4. Severe or persistent vomiting
5. Not waking up or not interacting
6. Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
7. Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
8. Has other conditions (like heart or lung disease, diabetes, or asthma) and develops flu symptoms,
including a fever and/or cough.
The single best way to protect against seasonal flu and its potential severe
complications in children is to get a seasonal influenza vaccine each year! Call to
schedule your child’s flu vaccine.