According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seasonal influenza sidelines millions of Americans each year. In some cases, it produces more serious sickness: approximately 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths are linked to the influenza virus each year. In its "Take Three" campaign, the CDC recommends three basic precautions you can take against influenza.
Take Time to Get a Flu Vaccine
The CDC recommends taking time to get the influenza vaccine as your first precaution against influenza. Unfortunately, explains the CDC, the influenza virus mutates constantly, so you must get vaccinated every year. The vaccine is available as an intramuscular injection (shot) or an intranasal spray. In either form, the vaccine can reduce your risk of getting influenza by up to 90 percent.
Take Everyday Preventive Actions
Your second-best defense against influenza is to take everyday preventive actions. According to the CDC, these consist of doing things like covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and discarding the tissue afterward. If a tissue is not available, cover your nose and mouth with your hands and wash your hands immediately afterward. In fact, you should wash your hands whenever you touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Soap and water is best, but alcohol-based hand rubs will do in a pinch (see Resources).
Take Flu Antiviral Drugs (If Your Doctor Recommends Them)
Antiviral drugs are a precaution appropriate for some people. Two prescription antiviral drugs FDA-approved for the prevention and treatment of influenza are oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir inhalation (Relenza). According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," most people with influenza recover with no treatment at all. However, some people---including pregnant women, children under five, the elderly and people with certain kinds of medical problems---need antiviral drugs to help them get better. These drugs, started before the onset of symptoms, can prevent you from getting sick in the first place.
References
- CDC: Seasonal Flu Symptoms and Severity
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," 17th ed.; A. S. Fauci, E. Braunwald, D. L. Kasper, S. L. Hauser, D. L. Longer, J. L. Jameson and J. Loscalzo, eds.; 2008
