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Information Center
2007 Copyright Germ Free Solutions
Influenza, commonly known as "the flu," is a highly contagious viral infection of the
respiratory tract. Although the flu affects both sexes and all age groups, kids tend to
get it more often than adults. The illness even has its own season — from November
to April, with most cases occurring between late December and early March.
Signs and Symptoms
The flu is often confused with the common cold, but flu symptoms tend to develop quickly (usually 1 to 4
days after a person is exposed to the flu virus) and are usually more severe than the typical sneezing and
stuffiness of a cold.
Symptoms of the flu may include:
fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, dizziness, loss of appetite, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny
nose, nausea or vomiting, weakness, ear infection and diarrhead.
Infants with the flu may simply seem sick all of a sudden or "just don't look right." The flu that people get
is not the same strain of virus as the avian flu.
Duration
After 5 days, fever and other symptoms have usually disappeared, but a cough and weakness may
continue. All symptoms are usually gone within a week or two. However, it's important to treat the flu
seriously because it can lead to pneumonia and other life-threatening complications, particularly in
infants, senior citizens, and people with long-term health problems.
Contagiousness
Spread by virus-infected droplets that are coughed or sneezed into the air, the flu is contagious. People
infected with the flu are contagious from a day before they feel sick until their symptoms have resolved
(usually about 1 week for adults, but up to 2 weeks for kids).
The flu usually occurs in small outbreaks, but epidemics tend to occur every few years. Epidemics (when
the illness spreads rapidly and affects many people in an area at the same time) peak within 2 or 3 weeks
after the first cases occur and then begin to decrease.
About the Flu Vaccine
The flu vaccine usually is offered between September and mid-November, although it may be given at
other times of the year. It reduces the average person's chances of catching the flu by up to 80% during
flu season. Because the vaccine prevents infection with only a few of the viruses that can cause flu-like
symptoms, it isn't a guarantee against getting sick. But even if someone who's gotten the shot gets the
flu, symptoms usually will be fewer and milder.
Given as one injection in the upper arm, the vaccine contains killed flu viruses that will not cause the flu,
but will prepare the body to fight off infection by the live flu virus. Getting a shot of the killed virus means a
person is protected against that particular type of live flu virus if he or she comes into contact with it.
People who got the vaccine last year aren't protected from getting the flu this year because the protection
wears off and flu viruses constantly change. That's why the vaccine is updated each year to include the
most current strains of the virus.
Kids under 9 who get a flu shot for the first time will receive two separate shots a month apart. It can take
up to 1 or 2 weeks after the shot for the body to build up protection to the flu.
Getting the shot before the flu season is in full force gives the body a chance to build up immunity to, or
protection from, the virus. Although you can get a flu shot well into flu season, it's best to try to get it
earlier rather than later. However, even as late as January there are still 2 or 3 months left in the flu
season, so it's still a good idea to get protection.
Who Is Considered High Risk?
In times when the vaccine is in short supply, certain people need it more than others. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) often will recommend that certain high-risk groups be given priority
when flu shot supplies are limited. The CDC does not anticipate a shortage this year, but it's difficult to
predict how many doses will be used. Call your doctor or local public health department about vaccine
availability in your area.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the
CDC currently recommend that these high-risk groups be given the flu shot:
kids 6–59 months old
anyone 50 years and older
women who will be pregnant during the flu season
anyone who lives or works with infants under 6 months old
residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes
any adult or child with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma
health-care personnel who have direct contact with patients
kids ages 6 months to 18 years on long-term aspirin therapy
out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of anyone in any of the high-risk groups
People who should not get the flu shot include:
infants under 6 months old, anyone who's severely allergic to eggs and egg products (ingredients for flu
shots are grown inside eggs, so tell your doctor if your child is allergic to eggs or egg products before he
or she gets a flu shot), anyone who's ever had a severe reaction to a flu vaccination
anyone with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare condition that affects the immune system and nerves,
anyone with a high fever (the shot can be given after the fever goes away).
A non-shot option, the nasal mist vaccine, came on the market in 2003 and is now approved for use in 5-
to 49-year-olds. But it isn't for everyone and can't be used on high-risk kids and adults. Check with your
doctor to see if your child can — or should — get this type of flu vaccine.
Flu Shot Side Effects
A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions.
The risk of a vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Serious problems from Flu
vaccine are very rare. The viruses in inactivated Flu vaccine have been killed, so you cannot get Flu from
the vaccine.
Mild flu shot side effects:
Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given, fever, aches
If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days.
Severe flu shot side effects:
Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very rare. If they do occur, it is within a few minutes
to a few hours after the shot.
In 1976, a certain type of Flu (swine flu) vaccine was associated with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).
Since then, flu vaccines have not been clearly linked to GBS. However, if there is a risk of GBS from
current flu vaccines, it would be no more than 1 or 2 cases per million people vaccinated. This is much
lower than the risk of severe Flu, which can be prevented by vaccination.
What if there is a severe reaction to a flu shot?
What should I look for? - Any unusual condition, such as a high fever or behavior changes.
Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include:
Difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness.
What should I do? - Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right away.
Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given.
Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to report the reaction by filing a Vaccine Adverse Event
Reporting System (VAERS) form.
Or you can file this report through the VAERS web site at www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 1-800-822-
7967. VAERS does not provide medical advice.
Preventing the Flu From Spreading
There's no guaranteed way — including the vaccine — to prevent anyone from getting the flu. Avoiding
large crowds can help, but it's often impossible to keep kids cooped up.
Here are some practical ways to help prevent the spread of the flu:
Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
Never pick up used tissues.
Never share cups and eating utensils until you're better.
Stay home from work or school when you're sick with the flu.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Treatment
Cases of the flu rarely require specific medical treatment. But some kids with chronic medical conditions
may become sicker with the flu and need to be hospitalized, and flu in a newborn can be dangerous. For a
severely ill child or one with other special circumstances, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine
that can ease flu symptoms, but only if it's given within 48 hours of the onset of the flu.
These at-home tips can help most otherwise healthy kids cope with the flu. Have them:
drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration
get plenty of sleep and take it easy
take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve fever and aches (but do not give aspirin unless your doctor
instructs you to do so)
wear layers, since the flu often makes them cold one minute and hot the next (wearing layers — like a T-
shirt, sweatshirt, and robe — makes it easy to add or subtract clothes as needed)
When to Call the Doctor
Call the doctor if your child:
has flu symptoms or the symptoms get worse
has a high temperature for more than a few days
seems to get better, but then feels worse than before
For the most part, though, the flu is usually gone in a week or two with a little rest and tender loving care.
respiratory tract. Although the flu affects both sexes and all age groups, kids tend to
get it more often than adults. The illness even has its own season — from November
to April, with most cases occurring between late December and early March.
Signs and Symptoms
The flu is often confused with the common cold, but flu symptoms tend to develop quickly (usually 1 to 4
days after a person is exposed to the flu virus) and are usually more severe than the typical sneezing and
stuffiness of a cold.
Symptoms of the flu may include:
fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, dizziness, loss of appetite, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny
nose, nausea or vomiting, weakness, ear infection and diarrhead.
Infants with the flu may simply seem sick all of a sudden or "just don't look right." The flu that people get
is not the same strain of virus as the avian flu.
Duration
After 5 days, fever and other symptoms have usually disappeared, but a cough and weakness may
continue. All symptoms are usually gone within a week or two. However, it's important to treat the flu
seriously because it can lead to pneumonia and other life-threatening complications, particularly in
infants, senior citizens, and people with long-term health problems.
Contagiousness
Spread by virus-infected droplets that are coughed or sneezed into the air, the flu is contagious. People
infected with the flu are contagious from a day before they feel sick until their symptoms have resolved
(usually about 1 week for adults, but up to 2 weeks for kids).
The flu usually occurs in small outbreaks, but epidemics tend to occur every few years. Epidemics (when
the illness spreads rapidly and affects many people in an area at the same time) peak within 2 or 3 weeks
after the first cases occur and then begin to decrease.
About the Flu Vaccine
The flu vaccine usually is offered between September and mid-November, although it may be given at
other times of the year. It reduces the average person's chances of catching the flu by up to 80% during
flu season. Because the vaccine prevents infection with only a few of the viruses that can cause flu-like
symptoms, it isn't a guarantee against getting sick. But even if someone who's gotten the shot gets the
flu, symptoms usually will be fewer and milder.
Given as one injection in the upper arm, the vaccine contains killed flu viruses that will not cause the flu,
but will prepare the body to fight off infection by the live flu virus. Getting a shot of the killed virus means a
person is protected against that particular type of live flu virus if he or she comes into contact with it.
People who got the vaccine last year aren't protected from getting the flu this year because the protection
wears off and flu viruses constantly change. That's why the vaccine is updated each year to include the
most current strains of the virus.
Kids under 9 who get a flu shot for the first time will receive two separate shots a month apart. It can take
up to 1 or 2 weeks after the shot for the body to build up protection to the flu.
Getting the shot before the flu season is in full force gives the body a chance to build up immunity to, or
protection from, the virus. Although you can get a flu shot well into flu season, it's best to try to get it
earlier rather than later. However, even as late as January there are still 2 or 3 months left in the flu
season, so it's still a good idea to get protection.
Who Is Considered High Risk?
In times when the vaccine is in short supply, certain people need it more than others. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) often will recommend that certain high-risk groups be given priority
when flu shot supplies are limited. The CDC does not anticipate a shortage this year, but it's difficult to
predict how many doses will be used. Call your doctor or local public health department about vaccine
availability in your area.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the
CDC currently recommend that these high-risk groups be given the flu shot:
kids 6–59 months old
anyone 50 years and older
women who will be pregnant during the flu season
anyone who lives or works with infants under 6 months old
residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes
any adult or child with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma
health-care personnel who have direct contact with patients
kids ages 6 months to 18 years on long-term aspirin therapy
out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of anyone in any of the high-risk groups
People who should not get the flu shot include:
infants under 6 months old, anyone who's severely allergic to eggs and egg products (ingredients for flu
shots are grown inside eggs, so tell your doctor if your child is allergic to eggs or egg products before he
or she gets a flu shot), anyone who's ever had a severe reaction to a flu vaccination
anyone with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare condition that affects the immune system and nerves,
anyone with a high fever (the shot can be given after the fever goes away).
A non-shot option, the nasal mist vaccine, came on the market in 2003 and is now approved for use in 5-
to 49-year-olds. But it isn't for everyone and can't be used on high-risk kids and adults. Check with your
doctor to see if your child can — or should — get this type of flu vaccine.
Flu Shot Side Effects
A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions.
The risk of a vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Serious problems from Flu
vaccine are very rare. The viruses in inactivated Flu vaccine have been killed, so you cannot get Flu from
the vaccine.
Mild flu shot side effects:
Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given, fever, aches
If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days.
Severe flu shot side effects:
Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very rare. If they do occur, it is within a few minutes
to a few hours after the shot.
In 1976, a certain type of Flu (swine flu) vaccine was associated with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).
Since then, flu vaccines have not been clearly linked to GBS. However, if there is a risk of GBS from
current flu vaccines, it would be no more than 1 or 2 cases per million people vaccinated. This is much
lower than the risk of severe Flu, which can be prevented by vaccination.
What if there is a severe reaction to a flu shot?
What should I look for? - Any unusual condition, such as a high fever or behavior changes.
Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include:
Difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness.
What should I do? - Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right away.
Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given.
Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to report the reaction by filing a Vaccine Adverse Event
Reporting System (VAERS) form.
Or you can file this report through the VAERS web site at www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 1-800-822-
7967. VAERS does not provide medical advice.
Preventing the Flu From Spreading
There's no guaranteed way — including the vaccine — to prevent anyone from getting the flu. Avoiding
large crowds can help, but it's often impossible to keep kids cooped up.
Here are some practical ways to help prevent the spread of the flu:
Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
Never pick up used tissues.
Never share cups and eating utensils until you're better.
Stay home from work or school when you're sick with the flu.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Treatment
Cases of the flu rarely require specific medical treatment. But some kids with chronic medical conditions
may become sicker with the flu and need to be hospitalized, and flu in a newborn can be dangerous. For a
severely ill child or one with other special circumstances, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine
that can ease flu symptoms, but only if it's given within 48 hours of the onset of the flu.
These at-home tips can help most otherwise healthy kids cope with the flu. Have them:
drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration
get plenty of sleep and take it easy
take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve fever and aches (but do not give aspirin unless your doctor
instructs you to do so)
wear layers, since the flu often makes them cold one minute and hot the next (wearing layers — like a T-
shirt, sweatshirt, and robe — makes it easy to add or subtract clothes as needed)
When to Call the Doctor
Call the doctor if your child:
has flu symptoms or the symptoms get worse
has a high temperature for more than a few days
seems to get better, but then feels worse than before
For the most part, though, the flu is usually gone in a week or two with a little rest and tender loving care.
about the flu - influenza
