A. Most people think the flu is the unavoidable seasonal cold that we must grin and bear. But for individuals with chronic illnesses, especially those 50 years and older, the flu can be a serious illness not to be overlooked. Commonly known as the flu, influenza is a serious infectious disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 36,000 Americans die from flu-related complications each year. On average, 200,000 Americans are hospitalized due to the flu. The CDC considers people 50 and older and those living with chronic illness such as kidney disease or diabetes to be at-risk for flu-related complications. If an annual flu vaccine is not part of your usual health routine, this should be a wake up call. Vaccinating yourself against the flu is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones.

 “Influenza is not a disease to be taken lightly,” says Dr. Anne Schuchat, Assistant Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service and CDC’s Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Because kidney patients can be especially prone to infection due to related conditions such as diabetes, inadequate calorie and protein intake due to poor appetite, individuals with kidney disease or renal failure should be proactive and get their annual vaccination. Vaccination is also important for healthcare workers and anyone living with or caring for people in at-risk groups, Schuchat adds.

In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness and dry cough are common and more intense. Flu complications can include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions. This year, more than 130 million doses of vaccine are expected to be available, says Schuchat, which represents the largest supply of flu vaccine in U.S. history. A common misconception is that the flu vaccine will make people sick with the flu. It’s important to know the flu vaccine is safe and effective and cannot cause the flu. The flu vaccine helps individuals build immunity to the virus. As soon as you get a vaccination, it takes about two weeks to build up a full immunity to the flu.

If you haven’t already gotten your flu vaccine this season, don’t worry! While vaccination is recommended in the early fall, vaccination is still effective anytime from September through January or later. Because different influenza viruses circulate each season, a new flu vaccine must be made each year to fight these viruses. That’s why it’s critical to get a flu vaccine every year.

Just the Facts

Time-tested facts about the flu and the vaccine are these:

• The flu vaccine is safe and effective and cannot cause influenza.

• No one is immune to influenza, especially people who work around sick people every day.

• Because influenza viruses are constantly changing, past exposure to influenza will not provide protection against newly emerged strains.

• The most serious side effect of the flu vaccine is an allergic reaction in people who have a severe allergy to eggs (the vaccine viruses are grown in eggs). For this reason, influenza vaccination is contraindicated for persons with an egg allergy.

• The most common side effects are redness at the injection site and a sore arm. These symptoms are mild and resolve in one to two days.

• Even if the vaccine does not prevent all individuals from getting influenza, they are still likely to be far less sick than they would have been without the shot. The vaccine also greatly reduces the chance of hospitalization and death.

• People at greatest risk for influenza-related complications include: people 65 years and older; residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities; people with chronic pulmonary or cardiovascular conditions, cancer or diabetes mellitus; pregnant women; and children ages six months to five years.

• For participating seniors, it’s important to know your Medicare Part B covers the flu shot in full.

Influenza 101

Although influenza is primarily spread by droplet transmission, the virus can also live on objects such as doorknobs, telephone receivers, utensils and food trays, beds and medical equipment for possibly up to one day. Some people infected with influenza may not develop symptoms at all, but may be infectious to others. For infected persons who do develop symptoms, they can be contagious the day before they get symptoms. People can transmit the virus even before they realize they are infected. The period of greatest contagion is during the first three days of illness, and can last for five to seven days in otherwise healthy adults. Influenza usually starts suddenly and may include the following symptoms:

• Fever (usually high)

• Headache

• Tiredness (can be extreme)

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Runny or stuffy nose

• Body aches

• Diarrhea and vomiting also can occur infrequently but are more common in children.

General treatment for influenza includes bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids and taking over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen. Children suspected of having influenza should not be given aspirin as this may increase the risk of a complication known as Reye Syndrome. In addition, there are several prescription antiviral medicines (such as amantadine, rimantadine and oseltamivir) that can help to prevent influenza infection and, when used within the first 48 hours of illness, can reduce duration and severity of the influenza illness. Some persons infected with influenza may also need antibiotics if their healthcare provider suspects a secondary or concomitant bacterial infection. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking any medication for the flu.

To find out when or where to get a vaccine, contact your doctor or local health department. To learn more, call CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO or visit www.cdc.gov/flu.

Answers provided by the Center for Health Communication Academy for Educational Development.

This article originally appeared in the December 2007 edition of Kidney Beginnings: The Magazine.

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