Each winter, flu suddenly strikes.
It brings fever, aches, sore throat, dry cough and fatigue, typically lasting one to two weeks. A small percentage of people — especially the old, the young, and those with chronic ailments — may develop life-threatening complications such as pneumonia. In an average year, the flu causes 36,000 deaths and sends more than 200,000 to the hospital in the United States.
Fortunately, an effective therapy can prevent influenza and its complications. Take this quiz to find out how much you know about flu shots. More than one answer may be correct.
1.Flu vaccination is recommended only for the ill and weak. True or false?
2.Who does not need a flu vaccine?
A.Children age 6 months to 59 months
B.Adults aged 40 or older
C.Kids and teens taking aspirin regularly
D.Pregnant women
3.Adults and children with these chronic illnesses should get vaccinated:
A.Heart and lung diseases, including asthma
B.Suppressed immunity from medications or human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS)
C.Kidney, liver, blood or metabolic disorders
D.Diabetes mellitus type 1 but not type 2
4.People who live with, or care for, those at high risk for flu complications should receive a flu shot. True or false?
5.You should not get a flu shot if you have:
A.An illness with a fever
B.Caught the flu from a previous flu shot
C.Severe allergies to eggs
D.Allergies to previous flu shots
6.If you don’t get a flu shot in the fall, don’t bother getting one at all. True or false?
Answers
1.False.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a flu shot for any person who wishes to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with influenza. One well publicized study showed flu vaccination of healthy, working adults reduces sick leave by 43 percent.
2.B.
The CDC advises a shot for all adults aged 50 or older. Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season and young children older than 5 months should also receive a vaccine, according to government guidelines.
3.A, B, C.
Adults and children with any type of diabetes mellitus should receive a yearly flu shot. So should those who have received regular medical care or hospitalization during the past year for chronic illnesses or disorders that impair breathing or swallowing.
4.True.
This includes health professionals, caregivers and healthy household contacts of people with chronic illnesses. Household contacts and caregivers of children under five years also need a flu shot.
5.A, C, D.
You can’t contract influenza from a shot since the injections contain dead viruses. However, this could be an issue with the other option for healthy people aged 2 to 49: the nasal spray flu vaccine. Since it’s prepared from live, attenuated viruses, the spray is not recommended for people with weakened immunity.
6.False.
October through November is the best time to get your shot — but anytime until the end of flu season is OK. Your protection against influenza usually starts about two weeks after the injection.
You need a repeat immunization every year for several reasons. Each vaccine contains three types of influenza viruses that scientists predict will be most prevalent in the upcoming year. Since these viruses change constantly, the flu shot must be updated annually. Also, studies show the vaccine’s protective effect wanes after several months. So a good solution for winter viruses is to get a flu shot each fall.
For more information: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov.
Contact Dr. Elizabeth Smoots, a board-certified family physician and fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, at doctor@practicalprevention.com. Her columns are not intended as a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Before adhering to any recommendations in this column consult your health care provider.
&Copy; 2007 Elizabeth S. Smoots
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
