Influenza is the most common disease in the U.S. that can be prevented by vaccination. Yet, 5-20% of the population (about 15-60 million people) come down with this potentially life threatening respiratory illness. Annually, there are approximately 36,00 deaths related to influenza.

Serious complication due to the flu can occur at any age. However, children, people over 65 years of age, and those with chronic medical conditions are at the highest risk. The symptoms of the flu include: fever, headache, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, runny and stuffy nose, and body aches. These symptoms usually occur suddenly, and those affected report feeling as if they were “hit by a truck.” Although symptoms of a regular cold are similar, they develop gradually over a few days and are not as intense as the symptoms of the flu.

The influenza virus multiplies in the lungs and it spreads from one person to another via droplets from coughing and sneezing. That’s why it is very important to cover your mouth (preferably with your sleeve, not the hand) when coughing or sneezing. Washing your hands is also crucial to prevent the spread of the virus.

What to do when the virus strikes?

Two of the most important things that you can do for yourself or your family members when they get the flu is to rest and drink plenty of clear fluids. Warm tea with honey and lemon for older children and adults, as well as chicken soup (homemade is the best, but canned counts too) will help to thin out secretions. Scientists confirmed what moms and grandmas knew all along: chicken soup helps in upper respiratory illnesses by loosening up mucus. Therefore, a daily dose of chicken soup daily during the illness will help you feel better and may speed up the recovery. If you are a vegetarian, vegetable broth or warm tea with honey will do.

Do not be afraid of the fever. Fever simply means that the body is trying to fight off the infection. Since it stimulates the immune system, reducing the fever may not be necessarily beneficial. I use general rules of thumb when counseling patients about the fever treatment:

If the fever is less than 102 and the patient is comfortable, I suggest fluids and cool compresses to the neck, armpits, and the groin area. The skin in those areas is thinner than anywhere else and blood vessels are closer to the surface. Cool compresses will help to cool the blood, thus reducing the fever. But do not let the feverish person shiver as shivering, which is caused by contracting muscles, increases the body’s temperature.

If the fever gets to 102 or above, or for any fever that causes discomfort, I suggest acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol), or ibuprofen (i.e. Motrin, or Advil) in addition to fluids, rest, and compresses.

Viral illnesses, such as the influenza, may produce fever lasting for 3-4 days. At any time the fever persists beyond 3 days, or it cannot be controlled with fever reducing medicines like Tylenol or Motrin, you should seek evaluation of your health care provider.

Most people recover from the influenza in about 1-2 weeks. However, a significant number of people infected with the flu will develop complications, such as an ear or sinus infection, pneumonia, or encephalitis. In addition, the flu may exacerbate chronic illnesses, such as asthma, heart diseases, or COPD. Furthermore, a significant fatigue that accompanies the influenza may persist for 3-4 weeks.

One of the most effective ways to prevent getting sick with the flu is through vaccination. Young children 6 months of age or older, adults over 65 years of age, people with chronic illnesses, especially those affecting the respiratory and cardiac system, should get vaccinated against the influenza annually

When the flu strikes, the following will help you get better:

Rest
Warm clear fluids (no milk as it thickens mucus and worsens symptoms)
Chicken soup (loosens up mucus)
Expectorant (i.e. Robitussin, Mucinex)*
Fever reducing agents (i.e. Tylenol, Motrin, or Advil)*
Saline nasal drops (relieve congestion)
Antiviral medications prescribed by your health care provider
Possibly antibiotics

*Contact your health care provider to get safe dosing instructions for children

Why do I need to get the flu shot every year?

The influenza virus is very adaptable and is constantly changing. Different strains of the virus may exchange their genes or simply mutate leading to the birth of new influenza strains. The influenza vaccine available to us every fall is a result of scientific predications as to which influenza strain will predominate in the up-coming season. Since no prediction is ever exact, the available vaccine may not necessarily be 100% effective if the prediction for the season turns out inaccurate. In addition, since the virus has the ability to change rapidly from season to season, the flu vaccine that will be available to us this year probably would not be effective in the next flu season. Thus we should get vaccinated against the influenza every fall.

American Academy of Pediatrics and FDA agreed that there is not enough scientific evidence regarding safety and efficacy of cold and cough medications in children. Therefore, most of the over-the counter products were taken off your super market’s shelf. You might wonder about what else is out there to treat cold symptoms of your child.

What to expect when your child has a cold

Statistically speaking, cold symptoms are the worse on days 3 and 4. After day 5, you should expect to see some improvement daily. It is not unusual to have a fever even with a plain cold. However, fever should resolve after 3 days.

Cold Treatment in Infants

Water down her formula to help decrease mucus. You can elevate her head of bed to help with breathing when the infant has nasal congestion. Small children should not use pillows. However, you may slide something under the mattress (i.e. pillow, rolled up blanket, or a telephone book) to keep her head elevated at night. A vaporizer by the bedside and saline nasal spray will help to battle nasal congestion. Saline solution is a salty water, thus it is very safe to use as many times as your infant’s nose needs it. Children younger than 3 months should be evaluated for fevers by your health care provider as soon as possible.

Cold Treatment in Older Children

Clear fluids are crucial, especially when the child runs a fever. Chicken soup daily will help with nasal congestion, will break up mucus in the respiratory system, and will decrease mucus production.

Children over 12 moths of age can be given honey for coughs, 1 teaspoon three times a day or at bedtime if cough control is desired at night time only. Research shows that honey has better cough suppressing qualities than dextromethorphan found in most over-the-couter cough suppressants. Extra pillow, vaporizer and saline nasal spray will work as well! For aches and pains or fever you can use Tylenol as needed.

If your efforts to make the cold better fail, your child gets worse, or you are concerned, talk to your health care provider right away!