Influenza (flu)
A real flu (influenza) is not just a common cold (flu-like infection) but a serious disease. There are about 50 different pathogens that can cause severe or less severe respiratory tract infections, but only the influenza virus will cause genuine influenza.
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The influenza virus is highly contagious and transmitted via aerosol or skin-to-skin contract as early as 24 hours before the first symptoms appear.
This means that shaking hands already bears a risk of infection, as does touching surfaces or objects on which the virus can survive for several hours. There are many ways to contract influenza during the flu season.
Influenza is not to be taken lightly. Especially in elderly patients and patients with chronic diseases or a weakened immune system it may cause life threatening complications.
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This means that shaking hands already bears a risk of infection, as does touching surfaces or objects on which the virus can survive for several hours. There are many ways to contract influenza during the flu season.
Influenza is not to be taken lightly. Especially in elderly patients and patients with chronic diseases or a weakened immune system it may cause life threatening complications.
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As the virus keeps mutating (ie the virus keeps changing its genetic make-up) annual refreshers to maintain the protection provided by flu vaccination are essential. The best time for refreshers is in October or November, before the beginning of the flu season. The vaccine needs about 2 weeks to develop its full protective action. Once the protection has fully developed, it will remain effective throughout the entire flu season.
The efficacy of influenza vaccination ranges from 70 to 90 %. In elderly patients, however, the achieved protection against the disease is lower than in younger adults. Still, flu vaccination in this age group does make sense, because it can reduce the number of life threatening complications.
Some people prefer not have a flu shot because they mistakenly fear it might give them the flu. Medically, this fear is unfounded. In Germany, exclusively dead vaccines (so-called sub-unit or split-protein vaccines) unable to cause an infection are used for influenza shots. The widely held belief that an influenza shot weakens the body’s immune system is also unfounded from a scientific point of view. In some cases, a flu shot can cause such a strong immune reaction that there may be a swelling or reddening and pain at the injection site. There may be symptoms like elevated body temperature and a slight discomfort, eg nausea, for one or two days. Influenza vaccination is not indicated in patients with an intolerance to the vaccine’s components, eg chicken egg protein which currently is the basic ingredient in most vaccines. However, in the near future when there will be cell-culture based vaccines that do not contain any chicken egg protein, meaning these vaccines will be safe for people with an allergy to chicken egg protein.
The following high-risk groups should be vaccinated against influenza:
All persons older than 60 years of age;
Persons with an immunodeficiency (eg organ transplant patients or patients with HIV infection)
Persons with a chronic illness (pulmonary, cardiovascular disease, diabetes)
Persons living in a nursing home
Persons with a high infection risk, eg policemen, teachers, physicians, and nursing staff
Nonetheless, flu shots are recommended for all healthy people as well!
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The efficacy of influenza vaccination ranges from 70 to 90 %. In elderly patients, however, the achieved protection against the disease is lower than in younger adults. Still, flu vaccination in this age group does make sense, because it can reduce the number of life threatening complications.
Some people prefer not have a flu shot because they mistakenly fear it might give them the flu. Medically, this fear is unfounded. In Germany, exclusively dead vaccines (so-called sub-unit or split-protein vaccines) unable to cause an infection are used for influenza shots. The widely held belief that an influenza shot weakens the body’s immune system is also unfounded from a scientific point of view. In some cases, a flu shot can cause such a strong immune reaction that there may be a swelling or reddening and pain at the injection site. There may be symptoms like elevated body temperature and a slight discomfort, eg nausea, for one or two days. Influenza vaccination is not indicated in patients with an intolerance to the vaccine’s components, eg chicken egg protein which currently is the basic ingredient in most vaccines. However, in the near future when there will be cell-culture based vaccines that do not contain any chicken egg protein, meaning these vaccines will be safe for people with an allergy to chicken egg protein.
The following high-risk groups should be vaccinated against influenza:
All persons older than 60 years of age;
Persons with an immunodeficiency (eg organ transplant patients or patients with HIV infection)
Persons with a chronic illness (pulmonary, cardiovascular disease, diabetes)
Persons living in a nursing home
Persons with a high infection risk, eg policemen, teachers, physicians, and nursing staff
Nonetheless, flu shots are recommended for all healthy people as well!
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- sudden onset of high fever
- coughing
- body aches
- severe general discomfort
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Influenza is diagnosed on the basis of its typical symptoms and differentiated from other infections. Frequently, however, it is not possible to establish a clear diagnosis so that the term “flu-like infection” is used for the illness in question.
In the first three to four days after onset of the disease, a quick test analysing the secretions from the nose and throat can show which pathogen is involed. Breeding viruses in a cell culture is also possible, although this is an expensive procedure whose chances of success are limited to the first few days following the onset of the disease.
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In the first three to four days after onset of the disease, a quick test analysing the secretions from the nose and throat can show which pathogen is involed. Breeding viruses in a cell culture is also possible, although this is an expensive procedure whose chances of success are limited to the first few days following the onset of the disease.
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Makes sense when the above symptoms appear, because the physician can effectively treat influenza with specific drugs if it is recognised early.
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