 The best thing you can do for yourself right now is to press the delete key on everything you know – or think you know- about fighting the flu, and start all over again. That’s because rehashing the same old stuff about the virus is not going to work this year, when once again the flu’s headlines are tinged with panic.
But this time round it’s not the Swine Flu that’s got people running scared- it’s the lack of flu vaccines. And with winter now upon us – the flu’s breeding ground - it’s a waste of time pointing fingers and asking why. The fact is there’s been a dire shortage of flu vaccines in South Africa this year and what little stock we did have has now dried up. So it really doesn’t matter who got what and who didn’t- the bottom line is, they’re gone.
With so many more people now at risk having missed out on their annual flu jab, and with so many possible ‘bug carrying’ foreigners flocking to our shores with the Soccer World Cup this month, chances are that you, and the people around you, could well be in the firing line. Never before has your health- and that of your audience- been in your hands. This year it’s personal, which is why it’s time for a complete change of mindset and a radical re-think of what to do if you do get the flu. With Europe and America already embracing a whole new approach when it comes to modern medicine, the question remains: are you up to the challenge?
Three things everyone needs to understand about the flu right now:
• If you think you’ve got the flu and you’re still running around as usual- you haven’t. The flu isn’t just a ‘bad’ cold – it’s a very debilitating respiratory infection that can totally floor you. There’s a very big difference between the common cold and the flu. Not only are they caused by different viruses, but the severity and speed of the onset of symptoms clearly set them apart. Flu symptoms usually come on quickly (within 3-6 hours) and consist of a fever - frequently with chills-, headache, muscle pain and a dry, hacking cough. Cold symptoms develop slowly, are not as severe and include a stuffy nose, cough, slight tiredness, and limited body aches. The flu is highly contagious, spreads very quickly and you can deteriorate quite rapidly, which is why it should never be taken lightly no matter how tough you think you are. Flu in itself is not life-threatening, but many of its complications are. Left untreated it can lead to sinus and ear infections as well as bronchitis and pneumonia, which may result in hospitalization and, in some cases, even death.
• The flu vaccine is the first line of defence against this potentially lethal virus. Many people choose to go this route especially those who are at high risk of developing flu complications: anyone over 65, children under the age of 5 and people living with a chronic condition: respiratory disease e.g. asthma and COPD; cardiovascular disease e.g. high blood pressure, previous heart attacks and strokes; diabetes, kidney disease or conditions that compromise their immune systems like HIV/AIDS and cancer. The flu vaccine shortage means that many of these people are now at even higher risk of developing flu and its serious complications, which may result in a deterioration of their chronic condition, often with serious consequences.
• Once you have the flu there’s nothing you can do to stop its progression or to get rid of the virus. It’s there to stay until it’s run its course- the duration depending on the severity of symptoms and whether you develop any complications.
So now what?
Prevention is always better than cure, so practicing good hygiene is a given. Because the flu is passed from person to person via airborne droplets (coughing or sneezing) or from contaminated surfaces, regular hand washing, coughing and sneezing into a tissue and throwing it away etc, should become routine. Then, especially if you fall into the high risk group mentioned above, you should consider having the pneumoccocal vaccine. Although it offers no protection against the flu virus, it will protect you from about 90% of the bacteria strains that cause the flu’s major complications- bronchitis and/or pneumonia. If you haven’t had a pneumococcal shot in the last few years now’s the time to chat to your doctor or pharmacist about having one. It’s the ideal route to go for anyone who falls into the ‘high risk’ category, as it will certainly reduce your chances of becoming seriously ill this winter. If you do happen to get pneumonia/bronchitis after having this vaccine, it’s likely to be one of the lesser strains so your illness will be far shorter and far less severe.
Treat the symptoms
There’s no magic cure for the flu – once you get it you’ve simply got to see it through. What’s important is bed rest- while you take the time to recover you won’t be infecting others-, staying well hydrated, and giving your usual exercise routine a miss (exercising will compromise your immune system even further and put your body under more stress). You should also treat the symptoms and try to limit the virus’ debilitating effects.
Look out for Part 2 of this article next week.
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