The flu or not the flu?

The truth behind the seasonal virus that bugs us

CROWN POINT What you don’t know about the influenza virus can hurt you.
And what you think you know might not be so.

Chris Shakula, nurse epidemiologist at Saint Anthony Medical Center for nine years, knows the differences.

Some misnomers, or myths about influenza, include:

• The flu vaccine can give you the virus.
• There is such a thing as stomach flu.
• Just being in a room with an infected person means you’re going to get sick.
• Your pet can give you the flu and vice versa.
• You can’t get the flu from an inanimate object.

“The flu basically is spread by droplets. If someone coughs or sneezes and you are in close range to them, you can pick up the flu,’’ Shakula says, but adds that does not mean that every one in the room is susceptible – if they are careful.

“If that were the case and one kid in a classroom had it, the whole room would get it. And that’s not so. It’s the proximity to the affected person that makes the difference. Also, if you touch an object they have touched and then touch your mucous membranes without washing your hands first, you can get it,” Shakula says.

The virus enters the body through the nose and mouth.

Flu season runs from October through March and so far activity in the U.S. has not been of epidemic proportions, Shakula said. The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta to date has not projected the possible severity of the virus, which does not peak until January or February.

The flu causes fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle and body aches, headaches, even death in the worst cases. But it is not a stomach ailment, according to Shakula.

“It’s a misnomer to say there is a stomach flu. Nausea and diarrhea are probably caused by an intestinal virus, but not by the flu,’’ she says.

The best ways to prevent catching the bug are to get a vaccination and to wash your hands properly.

It is possible to get the flu, even if you have received a shot, but Shakula says the vaccine is not to blame.

“It takes the vaccination two weeks to be effective, so if you are infected before that time, you can get the flu,” Shakula points out. And while no vaccine is guaranteed 100 percent effective, you have a much better chance of not getting the flu if you get a shot, she adds.

If you get the flu, stay home to avoid infecting others, Shakula urges.

Talk to your doctor if you are unsure of how to treat the illness. If symptoms become severe, seek immediate attention.

HEALTHY ADVICE

If you don’t want the flu:

• Get a flu shot.
• Stay away from infected people.
• Wash your hands properly. Use soap, preferably the antibacterial variety, and warm running water. Lather the hands, rubbing them together vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds, scrubbing the front and back, between the fingers and under the fingernails. Rinse well, drying them with a clean or disposable towel and use a towel to turn off the faucet.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Apply about ½ teaspoon of the product to the palm of a hand. Rub the hands together, covering all surfaces, until they dry. If they are visibly dirty, use soap and water first.

If you get the flu:

• Stay home.
• Rest and drink plenty of liquids.
• Avoid using alcohol or tobacco.
• Use over-the-counter medications to treat symptoms (but do not give aspirin to children or teens who have flu-like symptoms, particularly fever).
• Remember, serious flu complications are more likely in people aged 65 and older, pregnant women, young children and people with certain chronic medical conditions.
• Consult a doctor for the best treatment. Seek immediate care if signs of severe symptoms arise.

Sources: Chris Shakula, nurse epidemiologist, Saint Anthony Medical Center; Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta.