Influenza
What is the flu?
Influenza is caused by orthomyxoviruses with three subtypes: A, B and C. The first two, A and B, are the two that are included in the vaccine each year and are the strains that cause the most symptomatic flu illnesses. Type C is not covered or tested for, as this subtype is most like the common cold and does not cause additional problems.
What Are Flu Symptoms?
Symptoms of the flu generally start with a sudden onset of fever with chills, headache, muscle pain, and non productive cough. As the flu progresses, we also see sore throat, congestion, runny nose, and cough. Eye redness, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are not generally seen, although they are often referred to as “stomach flu.” In young children, the flu virus can cause ear infections and in infants, can look like a severe blood infection, which can lead to wheezing and viral pneumonia in the very young and the elderly, or those with compromised immune systems. The flu can cause severe illness and lead to severe complications, even in healthy children. It can cause febrile seizures to encephalopathy or encephalitis, which is where it affects the lining of the brain and spinal cord, which can be serious and lead to long-term problems. More rarely, the flu can cause an infection in the lining around the heart, leading to death. Another major problem related to the flu is getting exposed to another illness at the same time and having a secondary infection from bacteria or another virus.
2023 Flu Clinic
Flu vaccines will be given by appointment ONLY.
Please contact our office to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Patients must be well (NO flu shots for patients exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms) to get the flu shot.
How Is The Flu Spread?
The flu is spread from person to person by droplets from the upper airway. The primary spread is by coughing and sneezing, which allows the germs to enter the next person. It can also be spread from the virus being present on a surface, a person getting it on their hands and then touching their own face, especially around the mouth, nose, and eyes. The peak time of influenza in the United States is from November to May, with the most common illness between January and March. In any given community, an outbreak will last from 4 to 8 weeks. It is most highly contagious in semi-enclosed populations, for example, an institution like school or daycare. People are contagious 24 hours prior to having symptoms and can spread it through their secretions at the highest levels during the first 3 days of illness. Normally, the shedding of the virus stops at the 7-10 day mark and is related to the fever. This means that while they have fever, they continue to be contagious.
Influenza in otherwise healthy children affects 10-40% of all kids each flu season. Children under age 2 and persons over age 65 are at greatest risk of being hospitalized due to the flu. The rates are even higher in children with other conditions including asthma, diabetes, heart disease, immune system issues, and neurologic or developmental disorders. Infants, especially those under a month of age, are at high risk for problems affecting the body as a whole, in addition to their lungs. Both A and B strains of the flu have been associated with death in children, though the majority of those children were younger than age 5. During the last pandemic with H1N1 (aka swine flu) the total death rate was 344 children in the US during the 2009-2010 season.
How Do You Test For The Flu?
There are two common ways to test for the flu. Both of them involve a nasal swab, high in the nasal cavity to obtain a specimen. There is a rapid test done in the office that can differentiate between the A and B strains, but not the subtypes (number code) of each virus. There is also a culture that can be grown (that can take 2 to 6 days to obtain results), but is more exact with relation to the code and is generally only recommended during pandemic problems to determine the exact strain. The in-office test is the recommended test for flu and the best way to determine treatment needed.
What Is The Best Treatment For The Flu?
The main treatment option is Tamiflu, which is an antiviral medication that makes the virus unable to duplicate itself and therefore shortening the course of the illness itself. For children being seen in the office setting for flu, if they are seen within the first 48 hours of illness, it will help decrease the length of time a child spends being sick. It may also be considered, by the provider, for the symptomatic siblings of the sick child. This is especially true for children with the underlying medical problems listed above. The major side effects are nausea, vomiting, headache, and changes in behavior that may be serious in some cases. Treatment of non symptomatic children is recommended during a close personal flu exposure only if the following apply:
- Children with high risk of complications for the flu or if they are unable to get the flu vaccine
- Children with high risk who have received the flu vaccine 2 weeks or less prior to exposure
- Family members of high risk children or unimmunized children that are going to be maintaining close contact with those children
- Control for extended care setting caring for children
- Supplemental to children who are at high risk who may not respond to the vaccine due to immunocompromised state
- Post exposure for family members of infected people that are at high risk for complication from the flu
- Children and family members or health care provides when the flu strain circulating in the community is not well covered by the flu vaccine for the season
Is there a way to prevent the flu?
Influenza vaccines are the recommendation for prevention of the flu. Based on expected strains to be seen each year, a new vaccine is formed annually. This is done by people who study the changes of viruses over time. There are two forms of flu vaccine, but currently the American Academy of Pediatrics only recommends use of the inactivated influenza vaccine, which is the injectable form of the vaccine. This is a quadrivalent vaccine, meaning that each season it covers 2 strains of the flu, the A virus and 2 strains of the B virus. These are non live vaccines, meaning that the vaccine is made by purifying the virus so the body can recognize the virus and make antibodies, but not cause them to present with symptoms of the flu. The flu vaccine can be given starting at age 6 months and older. The recommendations regarding administration change based on the vaccine itself but currently (2020) CDC special vaccination instructions states: Some children 6 months to 8 years old require two doses of flu vaccine for adequate protection from flu. Children in this age group getting vaccinated for the first time, and those who have only previously gotten one dose of vaccine, should get two doses of vaccine this season—spaced at least 4 weeks apart. Your child’s health care provider can tell you if your child needs two doses.. This rule is subject to change each time a different strain of vaccine is formed and is reviewed each year to ensure adequate coverage.
How effective is the flu vaccine?
Protection against influenza after the immunization is 50-95% depending on the closeness of the vaccine to the active strain in the community. It is generally effective 2 weeks after the dosing of the vaccine, which means the earlier in the season it is given, the more likely it is to be active when exposure to the flu occurs. It should be given until the end of the season, or when it expires as the flu can persist past the expected season. The vaccine can be given in combination with other regularly scheduled vaccines. Pregnant women are encouraged to get the flu vaccine during pregnancy, and should get the injection and not the nasal flu vaccine. Persons who care for children, elderly, or those with chronic medical conditions should also get the flu vaccine as it can help prevent the spread to the persons who are at most risk related to contracting the flu. The most common reactions to the flu vaccine are redness and swelling at the injection site, irritability, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, and joint pain.
Should I get the flu vaccine?
Children who have a specific set of medical conditions are urged to get the vaccine early in the season and on a yearly basis to prevent complications of the flu related to their medical conditions. These conditions include but are not limited to:
- Asthma or chronic lung disease like cystic fibrosis
- Significant cardiac disease
- Immunosuppressive disorders or therapy for those disorders
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Sick cell anemia and other major blood disorders
- Diseases that require long term therapy with aspirin like juvenile idiopathic arthritis or Kawasaki disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic metabolic disease like diabetes
- Any condition that puts the ability to handle secretions or lung function like developmental discords, spinal cord injury, seizure disorders, or neuromuscular abnormalities
Most flu vaccines are produced in eggs and contain some egg protein. Studies have shown that administration of a dose of flu vaccine is generally tolerated by those with a history of egg allergy. In our office, per the red book recommendations, we consult with an allergist for a history of more significant reactions. If okayed by the allergist, we will give the vaccine in office, with an observation period after the vaccine itself. This generally is 20-30 minutes in the office, so if an allergic reaction occurs, we have the emergency equipment and staff needed to help.
For more information on the flu and flu vaccines see healthychildren.org.
