According to Dr. Jim Wilde, Medical Director for Pediatric Emergency Services and a flu specialist at MCG Health System, even during a severe flu season, only about 20 percent of the population actually gets the flu. The danger is when a patient in a high-risk category-including babies ages 6 to 23 months, seniors ages 65 and older, those with chronic illnesses or women who are pregnant-gets the flu because they are more likely to suffer complications, even death from the disease. “But because there is so much focus this year on ensuring that high-risk populations receive the vaccine, the result may be that we will vaccinate more high-risk patients than in a typical year,” said Dr. Wilde. “There is not enough vaccine this year for healthy patients who do not fall into the high-risk category, so the emphasis for them should be on ways to help prevent the flu.”

These include common sense steps such as frequent handwashing at home, school and work; avoiding close contact with those who are ill (or avoiding contact when you are ill); staying at home from work or school if you have the flu; and covering your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.

If someone in your household does get the flu, there is another way for you to be protected from contracting it. For high-risk patients living in a home where someone has active flu, physicians can prescribe antiviral medications (such as Amantadine, Rimantadine or Tamiflu) that can prevent flu onset. It is also advised that healthy persons living in a home where someone has active flu contact their physicians to discuss how antivirals can help protect them from contracting flu from the household contact.

While protection from last year’s flu shot has already waned, those who actually had the flu last year can rest assured that the antibodies from their illness still offer protection. “Because this year’s flu strain is the same as last year’s, those who had the flu in 2003 have antibodies that will protect them from contracting flu this season,” said Dr. Wilde.

Typical flu symptoms include a fever of 103 to 105 that lasts three to six days, cough, sore throat, headache, runny nose and muscle aches. Vomiting and diarrhea are other flu symptoms that are common only in children. “Healthy persons with typical flu symptoms may feel like they’ve been hit by a truck but after about a week of supportive care at home, they should be on the road to recovery,” said Dr. Wilde.

Antiviral medications are a treatment for active flu, available by prescription. However, consumers should note that these medications must be given within 48 hours of onset of flu symptoms or they are ineffective. Antivirals also only shorten the duration of flu by about one day, are expensive and can have side effects. “It is important to ask your doctor to fully explain the risks and benefits of antiviral medications for treatment of the flu,” said Dr. Wilde.

For otherwise healthy persons, a doctor’s visit is warranted only if there is:

• fever that lasts more than five or six days
• rapid breathing
• severe vomiting or inability to pass fluids (signs of dehydration)
• severe headache combined with sensitivity to light and a stiff neck (signs of meningitis)
• disorientation or confusion

Patients in high-risk categories should see their doctor as soon as they suspect they have flu.

According to Dr. Wilde, once flu strikes a region, it will remain for about eight to 12 weeks. The Centers for Disease Control offers a website that tracks the incidence of flu across the country, www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivity.htm.

MCG Health System is composed of three separate organizations -- MCG Health, Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the Physicians Practice Group. The physicians of MCG Health System are community physicians and faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia and the Physicians Practice Group, not employees of MCG Health Inc. MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Medical Center, MCG Children’s Medical Center, the MCG Sports Medicine Center, MCG Ambulatory Care Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services. MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by providing an environment for faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia and the Physicians Practice Group and community physicians to deliver the highest level of primary and specialty health care. For more information, please visit www.MCGHealth.org.