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Beating the flu bug
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This weeks feature
Are annual fears about flu epidemics really justified? Simon Evans reports
Influenza, which is commonly known as flu, is a virus that is passed on by people inhaling liquid droplets that have been sneezed or coughed into the air. We are all familiar with its symptoms, which include fever, headache, coughing, sore throat and muscle aches. |
Sneezes spread colds and flu. |
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Whereas a cold creeps up on you gently, gradually affecting the nasal passages, throat and upper chest, flu tends to strike suddenly, and will lay you low for about a week, though it may take several weeks to recover fully.
Flu can, however, also be deadly, since it may lead to more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and every winter the virus is directly, or indirectly, responsible for the deaths of around 4000 people in the UK.
Flu symptoms:
• Exhaustion
• Constant thirst
• Dry throat
• Headache
• Sore neck
• Aches all over the body
• Feeling cold |
Vaccines vary according to the flu strain. | Flu vaccine
Every year people who are considered to be at risk, should they go down with flu, are offered a free vaccination against the virus. Because the flu virus, which is monitored by the World Health Organisation, is constantly mutating, the annual flu jab has to be tailored to the particular strain of flu that is prevalent at the time. |
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Vaccines are ordered in from a variety of different sources and are normally available in GP's surgeries by the end of October. Most surgeries then contact patients who need to have a jab, asking them to come in for an inoculation at designated clinics. Flu jabs can also be administered by district nurses in people's homes if they are unable to attend a clinic. |
Those considered to be most at risk, and eligible for a free flu jab, include:
• everyone over the age of 65
• people of any age with lung disease, such as asthma, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes or lowered immunity
• anyone living in a residential or nursing home.
If you think you fall into one of these categories, you should consult your GP. In addition, anyone who acts as a carer should be inoculated. Not only could the carer pass on the virus to the person they are looking after, but that person would also inevitably suffer if their carer fell ill.
If you do not qualify for a free flu jab, but still feel you may benefit from having one, it's worth having a chat with your GP. If necessary, he or she may issue you with a prescription, which you would pick up, and pay for, at the chemist in the usual way, and then have it administered back at the surgery.
There is also the option of having the flu jab at a private clinic, but it is highly unlikely your GP would become involved should you opt for this. Except in years when there is a problem with supply - as there was in 2004 - you should be able to have the jab, even if you aren't eligible for a free inoculation.
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One of the most common myths is that having the flu vaccine can actually make you succumb to the virus. It can't, since the flu jab contains no live flu virus. If you experience the symptoms of a heavy cold around the time of your jab, this is just coincidence, as there are many types of cold virus circulating during the winter months. Since the flu vaccine only targets one particular type of virus, you are still just as likely - although not more likely - to go down with a cold. |
You are still likely to go down with a cold,,, |
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A flu jab for life?
A 'cure all' flu jab for life may be available in the next few years, making the annual jab a thing of the past. Biotechnology firm Acambis is working on a drug to target numerous mutations that presently allow flu to evade attack.
Current flu vaccines work by giving immunity against two proteins found on the surface of flu viruses, but these are constantly mutating, making an annual jab vital. The new vaccine would focus on a different protein, which does not mutate, making it possible to inoculate someone against all strains of the virus.
Human trials of the vaccine are, however, several years away, and scientists warn it may be ten years before it could be ready for widespread use. |
Eat plenty of fruit and veg... | Keeping flu at bay
While a vaccine is the most effective way of keeping flu at bay, there are several ways you can build up your immunity to the virus. Try and stick to a diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables, take plenty of exercise, but also take time out to rest and relax properly. You should also make sure you stay warm, aiming to keep the temperature in rooms you are using at around 21 C. |
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If you go down with flu, it is especially important to rest, as the body uses up a lot of energy fighting the infection. You should also keep warm, drink plenty of fluids, especially water and, if your throat is bothering you, take some hot water with lemon, ginger and honey. Paracetamol or ibuprofen will also help keep your temperature under control and relieve muscle aches. |
Keep your temperature at bay... |
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Antibiotics are no use in treating flu, but some medications can be prescribed to relieve the symptoms for those most at risk. Vitamin C, zinc and the herbal remedy echinacea may ease the physical effects and even shorten the period of infection, though recent research suggests echinacea's effect may be limited. |
If you are suffering with flu, try to avoid sneezing in public. Flu is highly infectious, and 100,000 particles of the virus can be projected into the air with just one sneeze - and those sneezes are more powerful than you might think. A single splutter can carry the virus up to 30 feet, travelling at 80 miles per hour. Within 12 hours, the flu virus can invade one million of your nose and throat cells. |
Pneumonia jabs
An inoculation against a particular strain of pneumonia - pneumococcal pneumonia - has been available for restricted categories of people for about ten years. In 2005, however, it was extended to all those over 65.
This strain is the most common form of pneumonia, and the most deadly. Currently around two in 1000 over-65s are admitted to hospital with pneumococcal pneumonia each year.
Patients can be inoculated at any time during the year and, unlike the flu jab, they do not need a new jab annually, though a second dose may be necessary for people with certain medical conditions, such as kidney problems. There are minimal side effects from the vaccine, and it can also prevent complications in other infections, such as septicaemia. |
Find out more
For information on flu vaccination and how to stay healthy, call NHS direct 0845 4647, or see the website www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Click here to find out more
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