As this article went to press, over 450 cases of H1N1 have been fatal. But in an average year, far more people than that—about 36,000 Americans—die from the seasonal flu. “This is going to be a double-barreled flu season,” says William Schaffner, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee, and liaison representative to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. “We’re not sure how bad H1N1 will be, which is why it’s crucial to do everything we know lowers the risk of catching any kind of flu.”
Even though the H1N1 story is a changing one, there’s plenty that experts are certain of. Here’s what you need to know to stay healthy:
Will the seasonal flu vaccine also protect me from H1N1?
No, but don't skip it. Experts say it's more importatnt than ever to get the flu shot this fall; otherwise, you could be putting yourself at risk for both seasonal flu and H1N1. "Keeping the 'regular' flu to a minimum will make it easier to focus on H1N1 if it does it badly," says Robert Bettiker, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia.
It's particularly important to get the seasonal vaccine if you're 50 or older, work in health care, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system or chronic condition (like heart disease or asthma). Kids 6 months to 18 years should also get the seasonal vaccine, as should anyone who's in close contact with a baby under 6 months.
Once the H1N1 vaccine becomes available, it will be offered separately. THe list of people who are urged to get it is similar to the one for the seasonal flu vaccine, with one notable expection: Older healthy people will fall to the bottom of the priority list for the H1N1 vaccine. (Children and adults ages 6 months to 24 years are considered more susceptible to this strain.)
Do I really need to keep reapplying hand santizer?
Yes, but alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be considered a backup for when a sink's nowhere in sight. It's better to wash with warm, soapy water as often as you can (particularly after you've touched germy things like a computer keyboard, phone, doorknobs or money). Part of what removes the germs is the physical action of rubbing your hands together, and with hand sanitizer, it's not as easy to do this for as long (or as thoroughly) as you should. Sudsing up the right way involves using lots of soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds (about the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday"), and really getting between your fingers.
Another good idea: Skip the hugs, kisses, even handshakes hellow. The two major ways germs spread are through touch (you shake the hand of someone who's sick) and the air (someone sneezes or coughs and then you breathe in the germs).
If I get sick, how do I know if it's seasonal flu or H1N1?
The symptoms of both are almost identical - fever, headache, body aches, cough, sore throat - except that H1N1 seems to cause some digestive problems as well, says Anne Gershon, MD, president of the Infectious Disease Society of America and a professor at Columbia University in New York City.
If you have flu symptoms, call your doctor. Depending on your health history, she may simply advise you to rest up and stay hydrated. But some people (usually those at greatest risk for complications) may need testing to determine if it's really the flu and if so, what kind. Your doctor may also prescribe antiviral drugs (Tamiflu, Relenza, Symmetrel or Flumadine), which can help shorten the duration and reduce the severity of the flu by stopping the virus from reproducing in your body.
How long should I stay home from work or school?
Don't be a martyr; it's better to err on the side of caution. In fact, the CDC says anyone with flulike symptoms should stay home for seven days after symptoms start or until you've been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.
DON'T BELIEVE IT
Three flu misconceptions to file under "myth" once and for all.
MYTH: You can get the flu from the flu vaccine
FACT: Experts say even some health care workers believe this one. The vaccine contains a killed virus, so it's impossible to get the flu from it. The only potential side effects are a slight fever and a sore arm from the injection. One reason people may thing they've gotten sick from the shot is that the virus can incubate for up to a week before you start showing symptoms. So if you were exposed to the flu right before you got vaccinated, it'll seem like the shot made you sick. Another possibility, says Dr. Bettiker, is that people often use "the flu" colloquially to mean a runny nose and fever, "and there are a ton of viruses that can cause that."
MYTH: The older you are, the greater your risk of developing complications from the flu.
FACT: When it comes to seasonal flu, that's still true, but so far H1N1 seems to be more dangerous for younger people. Experts say this may be beacause they lack the immunity that older people (born in the 1950s and earlier) developed when they were exposed to a similar strain years ago. Another theory, says Dr. Bettiker, is that younger people have stronger immune systems, so they respond more vigorously to H1N1. That sounds beneficial, but if the immune system goes into overdrive, it causes inflammation, which can lead to swelling and fluid in the lungs.
MYTH: Never get the flu vaccine if you're sick.
FACT: Unless you have a fever higher than 101 Degrees, it's fine to get immunized, says Dr. Schaffner. (If your fever's higher than that, it's better to wait until you recover.)
Source: Women's Day
