Doctor's Orders: What To Do If You Get The Flu

Its flu season. And as we all know too well, a particularly nasty flu season.
 But you don't have to take it lying down. Here are the facts about the flu, and-most importantly-what to do to minimize its impact on your family.  Unlike the common cold, the flu can come on quite suddenly, and with real impact...high fever, extreme fatigue, muscle pain, bone pain. All accompanied by a sore throat and headache more severe than a simple cold. (Note, cough and nasal congestion accompany both flu and the common cold, so they're not differentiating symptoms.)

The good news is...if you get the flu, most of us get better in 10 days to two weeks. But the elderly, children, healthcare workers and people with chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, COPD, cardiac problems and compromised immune systems are harder hit and are more vulnerable to complications like pneumonia.

By the way, the flu is a viral illness, so antibiotics will have NO effect. Don't take them, because if you do you may render them less effective for you against the bacterial infections like pneumonia and sinusitis that they do fight well.
Tamiflu is an antiviral, and if initiated in the first 48 hours of the flu, may lessen the severity of the subsequent course. 
For the general blah feeling and fever, take Tylenol or Advil. For nasal congestion and cough, take antihistamine-decongestant combinations. And drink lots of fluids.

If you do get the flu, you're contagious one day prior to exhibiting symptoms, and that lasts for the next 5 to 7 days (you are most contagious during the fever). Fortunately, the flu virus is easily killed by plain old soap and water...so wash your hands. A lot.
It's also killed by sunlight, detergents and disinfecting agents.

So, should you bother getting a flu shot?

The short answer is, YES. For some, it will mean a true home run...no illness at all. For most, the illness will be less severe even if you contract it. And anything that lowers your odds of getting a viral infection-which can be devastating-is worthwhile.

Remember, this year's vaccine is not next year's vaccine, so it's important to get a new shot every year. No one gets the flu from the shot!

Three times a century, the flu virus changes in a big way, and becomes a much more dangerous Pandemic. And while the typical flu results worldwide in 3 to 5 million severe cases and 500,000 deaths, Pandemics kill tens of millions due to a particularly nasty viral pneumonia and the shot gives you a hedge against that. Like the Asian Flu of 1957, the Hong Kong Flu of 1968...and the granddaddy of them all, the Spanish Flu of 1918. It killed somewhere between 50 to 80 million people worldwide.

But don't worry too much...Spring is around the corner and the flu will soon be long gone.
 Of course, then we can chat about allergies!

Dr. Wayne Eisman is an ENT Physician (Ear, Nose and Throat) at ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP located at 75 South Broadway, White Plains, NY. If interested in scheduling an appointment, please call 914-949-3888. Call us today, See us tomorrow.

It's not too late to get a flu shot if you haven't done so already:  The Westchester County Department of Health is offering free flu shots to residents at its White Plains District Office, 134 Court Street, on Thursday, January 31,3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday, February 1, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at its Yonkers District Office, 20 South Broadway, Thursday, February 7,10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Flu shots will be available for adults and children ages 9 and up. Residents are strongly encouraged to register in advance for the flu clinics at www.health. ny.gov/Go2Clinic. Those without internet access can call (914) 995-7425, weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.