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The Flu Has Arrived – What You Can Do

Noah Nesin, M.D. / Medical Director

Health Access Network
 

Maine and the communities of Northern Penobscot County are currently experiencing a significant outbreak of influenza A and B in all age groups.

There are three important interventions to protect yourself from the flu:

  1. If you have not yet received a flu shot it is not too late!  It is especially important for children ages 6 months to 5 years, adults over the age of 50, anyone with chronic health problems and pregnant women.
  2. Good hygiene is critical.  Avoid close contact with those who are sick, cover your own mouth when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  If you are sick, stay home!
  3. There are medicines available both for treatment of influenza if started within 48 hours of symptoms and to prevent illness if you have had close contact with someone who has influenza.  These days the most commonly used are oseltamavir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).  Older drugs (amantadine and rimantadine) may be less effective and the Centers for Disaease Control and Prevention now recommend the use of the newer drugs.  When treating the illness these medicines are usually taken for five days and when given to prevent the illness a ten day prescription is often used.

Influenza symptoms include:

·       Fever - low (99 F) to high (104 F), usually for 3 days, but may persist for 4 to 8 days,                 

     sometimes going away and returning a day later

·       Extreme fatigue

·       Muscle and body aches

·       Feeling very cold or having shaking chills

·       Joint aches

·       Headache (may be severe)

·       Eye pain

·       Sore throat

·       Stuffed nose or runny nose

·       Dry cough initially, may become a deep, hacking, and painful cough

·       No appetite for food or desire to drink fluids

If you have some of the above symptoms, stay home, rest, drink fluids and take fever reducers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. 

Call your health care provider if you:

·          Are unable to drink enough fluids (urine becomes dark; you may feel dizzy when standing)

·          Have the fever for more than 3 to 5 days

·          Feel better, then develop a fever again

Immediately seek health care if you:

·          Become short of breath, develop wheezing or breathing rapidly at rest

·          Cough up blood

·          Have pain in your chest with breathing

·          Have heart disease (like angina or congestive heart failure) and you develop chest pain

·          Become unable to walk or sit up, or function normally (others might be the ones to notice this - especially in elderly persons)

·          Develop dusky or bluish color skin

·        Become disoriented (“out of it”)

·        Become so dizzy or weak that standing is difficult

·        Have not urinated in 12 or more hours

Supplies to have on hand:

·       Thermometer

·       Acetaminophen or ibuprofen

·       Cough suppressants/cough syrup

·       Drinks - fruit juices, sports drinks, soda, tea

·       Light foods—clear soups, crackers, applesauce

·       Blankets; warm covers

If you have questions, you should call your primary care provider for advice.  Working together we can limit the impact of the flu on our communities this season.