Influenza – the ‘Flu’ 

The ‘Flu’ is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the influenza viruses. There are two main types that cause infection: influenza A and influenza B. Influenza A usually cause more severe illness than influenza B. It usually spreads from person to person in respiratory droplets when people who are infected cough or sneeze. Healthy adults maybe able to infect other 1 day before getting the disease and up to 5 days after getting sick.

Flu occurs more often during the winter and usually peaks between December and March. The influenza virus is unstable and new strains and variants are constantly emerging.

Common Flu Symptoms
•    Fever (usually high)
•    Headache
•    Tiredness (can be extreme)
•    Cough
•    Sore throat
•    Runny or stuffy nose
•    Body aches
•    Diarrhoea and vomiting

However many different illnesses including the common cold can have the same symptoms, though Flu tends to last longer.

People can have different reactions to the Flu, and the Flu can cause mild to severe illness. In some people it can cause serious complications such as pneumonia, dehydration or worsening chronic medical conditions.

What to do?
•    If you develop Flu-like symptoms and have a chronic medical condition, such as ASTHMA or DIABETES, you should contact your GP for advice. Your GP may prescribe antiviral drugs.
•    Antibiotics are not effective against Flu, they are only used to treat the complications.
•    Symptomatic treatments such as: paracetamol and/or ibuprofen (if no medical contraindication) for headache aches and pains and sore throats.
Irritant coughs can be soothed by warm drinks, such as hot lemon and honey.
Decongestants at night may help blocked noses and ears.

Normally there is no need to consult your doctor unless
•    Fever persists beyond 3 days
•    Headache is very severe despite taking pain killers
•    There is a suggestion of a secondary bacterial infection such as
1.    Tonsillitis
2.    Ear infection
3.    Sinusitis – leading to pain and pressure over the forehead or cheek bones
4.    Bronchitis – a chesty cough with fever.

Many cold remedies contain paracetamol, PLEASE be careful that you don’t accidentally overdose on these remedies.


PREVENTION

If you have a chronic medical condition such as
•    Asthma
•    Diabetes
•    Renal disease
•    Chronic heart disease
•    Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment including a lack of a spleen, or splenic dysfunction

You are be entitled to an annual free Flu jab in October or November.
These can be obtained from your GP practice. The side effects of the vaccine tend to be mild, with a sore arm or mild flu symptoms. It is contraindicated in people with egg allergy.

Some of the chemists in town offer vaccination to other individuals who wish to be vaccinated. They will charge for this service.

In the case of large epidemics the Health Protection Agency will liase with GPs, Universities and Schools about how best to manage the outbreak.

Source: EMIS
             Centre for disease control and prevention
             Health Protection Agency

Avian Flu

Avian or 'Bird Flu' is a contagious viral disease, that normally infects birds and less comonly pigs.

Bird to human infection can occur but it is rare. All human cases were probably infected through close contact with infected live poultry. Human illness is very severe in most cases, though some cases have been reported to have fully recovered.

The potential for transformation of avian influenza into a form that both causes severe disease in humans and spreads easily from person to person ia a great concern for world health.

Advice for travellers to infected areas

• Avoid contact with live poultry and wild birds
• Avoid visiting live animal markets and poultry farms
• Avoid contact with surfaces contaminated with animal faeces
• Do not eat or handle undercooked or raw poultry, egg or duck dishes
• Exercise good personal hygeine with frequent hand washing
• Do not attempt to bring back any live poultry products to the UK

More advice is available from:

http://www.nathnac.org/travel/index.htm

www.hpa.org.uk