Questions & Answers on Treating the Flu

Do I need to go to the emergency room if I am only a little sick?

No. The emergency room should be used for people who are very sick. You should not go to the emergency room if you are only mildly ill. If you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should go to the emergency room. If you get sick with flu symptoms and are at high risk of flu complications or you are concerned about your illness, call your health care provider for advice. If you go to the emergency room and you are not sick with the flu, you may catch it from people who do have it.

Are there medicines to treat the flu?

Yes. There are drugs your doctor may prescribe for treating the flu called "antivirals." These drugs can make you better faster and may also prevent serious complications. See Treatment (Antiviral Drugs) for more information.

How long should I stay home if I’m sick?

CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other things you have to do and no one else can do for you. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®.) You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.

What should I do while I’m sick?

Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making them sick. If you must leave home, for example to get medical care, wear a facemask if you have one, or cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. And wash your hands often to keep from spreading flu to others. Visit the Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home guide for more information.

What To Do If You Get Sick?

How do I know if I have the flu?

You may have the flu if you have some or all of these symptoms:

·         fever*

·         cough

·         sore throat

·         runny or stuffy nose

·         body aches

·         headache

·         chills

·         fatigue

·         sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

*It's important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

What should I do if I get sick?

If you get sick with flu-like symptoms, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. Most people with the flu have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs.

However, some people are more likely to get flu complications (for example young children, people 65 and older, people with asthma, diabetes or women who are pregnant) and they should talk to a health care provider about whether they need to be examined if they get flu symptoms. Also, it's possible for healthy people to develop severe illness from the flu so anyone concerned about their illness should consult a health care provider.

There are emergency warning signs. Anyone who has them should get medical care right away.

What are the emergency warning signs?

In children

·         Fast breathing or trouble breathing

·         Bluish skin color

·         Not drinking enough fluids

·         Not waking up or not interacting

·         Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

·         Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

·         Fever with a rash

In addition to the signs above, get medical help right away for any infant who has any of these signs:

·         Being unable to eat

·         Has trouble breathing

·         Has no tears when crying

·         Significantly fewer wet diapers than normal

In adults

·         Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

·         Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

·         Sudden dizziness

·         Confusion

·         Severe or persistent vomiting

·         Flu–like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough 

How Flu Spreads

Person to Person

People with flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. Most experts think that flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth or nose.

(To avoid this, people should wash their hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, they should use an alcohol-based hand rub to clean their hands. Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick should not be shared without washing thoroughly first. Eating utensils can be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap and do not need to be cleaned separately.)

The Flu Is Contagious

Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than seven days. Symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Some persons can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those persons may still spread the virus to others.

How to "Fight The Flu"!

Flu is a serious contagious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death. In 2009–2010, a new and very different flu virus (called 2009 H1N1) spread worldwide causing the first flu pandemic in more than 40 years. Flu is unpredictable, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects the 2009 H1N1 virus to spread this upcoming season along with other seasonal flu viruses.

CDC urges you to take the following actions to protect yourself and others from influenza (the flu):

1) Take time to get a flu vaccine.

·         CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.

·         While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three viruses that research suggests will be most common.

·         The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season.

·         Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated against the flu as soon as the 2010-2011 season vaccine is available.

·         People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.

·         Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.

·         Vaccination also is important for health care workers, and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to high risk people.

·         Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for them should be vaccinated instead.

2) Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs.

·         Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

·         Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.*

·         Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.

·         Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

·         If you are sick with flu–like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)

·         While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

3) Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.

·         If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can treat your illness.

·         Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. They are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) and are not available over-the-counter.

·         Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They may also prevent serious flu complications.

·         It’s very important that antiviral drugs be used early (within the first 2 days of symptoms) to treat people who are very sick (such as those who are hospitalized) or people who are sick with flu symptoms and who are at increased risk of severe flu illness, such as pregnant women, young children, people 65 and older and people with certain chronic health conditions.

·         Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.

Visit CDC’s website to find out what to do if you get sick with the flu and how to care for someone at home who is sick with the flu.

 

 

Questions & Answers on the Flu Shot

Are there new groups of people who are considered at higher risk of serious flu complications this season?

Yes. Morbid obesity is a newly recognized medical risk factor for influenza complications based on information from last flu season. Morbid obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) >40). Also, last flu season, American Indians and Alaskan Natives were found to be at greater risk of complications from the flu.

Where can I get the flu vaccine?

Flu vaccines have begun shipping from manufacturers and should be available in increasing quantities. Manufacturers project that there will be ample supplies of vaccine and that most vaccine will be distributed by November 2010. You can get the flu vaccine from your health care provider, as well as public clinics. For a list of public locations, please visit: Flu Vaccine Finder .

For additional information please contact 1-800-CDC-INFO or visit www.flu.gov .

More Information on the Flu Shot

What viruses will this season’s vaccine protect against?

The flu vaccine is updated every year to combat the flu viruses that research indicates are most likely to cause illness during the upcoming season. The 2010-2011 flu vaccine is being made in the same way as seasonal vaccines have been made for decades. It will protect against the 2009 H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season, and two other influenza viruses (an H3N2 virus and an influenza B virus). About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body.

Even people that got vaccinated with the 2009 H1N1 vaccine or last year’s seasonal vaccine need to be vaccinated with the flu seasonal vaccine this year. This season’s vaccine provides protection against other influenza strains that were not in either the seasonal or the 2009 H1N1 vaccine last season and besides, immunity from a vaccine gotten last year may decline over time.

Should I get the 2010-11 flu vaccine even if I received the 2009 H1N1 vaccine late in the 2009-2010 flu season?

Yes. You need to get the 2010-11 seasonal flu vaccine even if you got the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine late last season. The flu vaccine is updated each season to provide protection against the three flu viruses that research indicates will cause the most illness. The 2010-11 flu vaccine provides protection against the 2009 H1N1 virus, and 2 additional viruses (an influenza A H3N2 virus and an influenza B virus) that were not included in the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine. So if you don't get the 2010-11 flu vaccine, you will not be protected against two of the three main flu viruses expected to circulate this flu season. Additionally, immunity wanes over time, so even if you received the 2009 H1N1 vaccine late in the 2009-10 flu season, you may not be protected against the 2009 H1N1 virus for the 2010-11 flu season.

What’s new about the Flu Vaccine for the 2010-11 Flu Season?

Who should get a flu vaccine this season?

All people 6 months and older are now recommended to receive annual influenza vaccination. This is a new and expanded recommendation for this season. In February, 2010, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted in favor of "universal" influenza vaccination in the United States to protect as many people as possible against the flu.

Will I have to get two flu vaccines again this season?

No. Only one flu vaccine is being made this year and most people will only need to get vaccinated once. There is one exception to this: CDC recommends that children aged 6 months through 8 years of age who have never received a seasonal flu vaccine get two doses of vaccine spaced at least 4 weeks apart.

·         Two doses given at least 4 weeks apart are recommended for children aged 6 months through 8 years of age who are getting a flu vaccine for the first time. Children who only got 1 dose in their first year of vaccination should get 2 doses the following year.

·         All children 6 months up through 8 years of age getting a flu vaccine for the first time need two doses, at least 4 weeks apart, the first year they are vaccinated in order to develop immune protection. This includes children who received one or two doses of the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine, but who have never received a seasonal flu vaccine.

Just... be Cautious!

Be cautious using Topamax for WEIGHT LOSS ONLY… PLEASE!

Please, check with your Primary Care Physician before starting any "New" Medication.

One disheartening fact is... I DO NOT believe this medication has even been

Approved by the FDA!

If being treated with this medication for Weight Loss - ask a lot of Questions!

I found these COMMENTS below when I “Googled” the medication, Topamax, on the internet…

“I don't prefer Topamax for weight loss as I think it is very bad and terribly dangerous to take it for weight loss”. “I've been on Topamax  for 1 month (I also take Celexa for depression). No weight loss yet, darn it. But I have experienced the tingling in my fingertips and feet, forgetfulness and loss for words. Sometimes, I have to stop and think how to spell or pronounce a word”.

“The side effect I have that really worries me is the dizzy / off balance feeling. Sometimes when I turn my head,  I get really lightheaded. … or if I'm standing and I turn to walk or look at something I almost fall over. It's not the head rush feeling you get from standing up too fast either. It happens everyday more than 10 times a day. Has anyone else had this side effect”?
  

“It was first marketed as a diet pill (as told by my doctor), but women weren't losing enough weight on it. When I took it for 15 days, I lost 12 lbs. I advise everyone I know not to touch Topamax. I personally believe it does more harm than good”.

Again - a lot of "Positive Reviews" on it's Original Intent for... Seizures, Epilepsy, and Migraines.

Topamax for Weight Loss

Topamax seems to work FANTASTIC for Seizures, Epilepsy, and Migraines –

be CAUTIOUS when taking this medication for Only Weight Loss.

This drug may cause Severe Drowsiness, Emotionless, Moodiness, Feeling Unfunctional and Sluggish. Plus, may make your Skin - scratchy and dull, making your Nails very brittle, and causing major Hair loss.

If you think about it… all the chemicals that; for example, calm an electrically excited brain - will go to work on your normally functioning brain. So, your body is looking at ways to calm parts of your body down – this is by taking it’s nutrients from your body creating issues; such as hair loss, brittle nails, and even dry, patchy skin.