Transcript Influenza - CenterPoint Energy

Influenza
Puja A. Sehgal, MD
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic
Seasonal Flu
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Influenza (Flu) is an acute respiratory illness
caused by Influenza A or B viruses that occurs in
outbreaks or epidemics worldwide, mainly in
winter season.
It is a highly contagious viral illness that can
occur in children or adults of any age.
Transmission is through large respiratory droplets
while coughing, sneezing, talking. Each year in
the United States on average, 5% to 20% of the
population gets the flu; on average, more than
200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related
complications, and; about 36,000 people die from
flu-related causes.
The Flu Is Contagious
Most healthy adults may be able to infect
others beginning 1 day before symptoms
develop and up to 5-7 days after
becoming sick . Children may be able to
pass the virus for more than seven days.
 Symptoms start one to four days after the
virus enters the body .
 Some persons can be infected with the flu
virus but have no symptoms
 Anyone Can Get the Flu, But the Disease
Is More Severe for Some People
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Symptoms
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Can vary from mild to severe and can even lead
to death
Fever (usually high)
Headache
Extreme tiredness
Dry cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle aches
Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting,
and diarrhea, also can occur but are more
common in children than adults
Complications
 Pneumonia
 Acute
sinusitis
 Ear Infection
 Myositis/Muscle inflammation
 Central nervous system involvement
 Death
Prevention of FLU
 “Take
3” Actions To Fight The Flu
Flu vaccine is the first and most important
step in protecting against seasonal
influenza.
 Vaccination is especially important for
people at high risk of serious flu
complications, including young children,
pregnant women, people with chronic
health conditions like asthma, diabetes or
heart and lung disease and people 65
years and older.
 Health care workers, and other people
who live with or care for high risk people.
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Everyday prevention
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Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when
you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the
trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If
soap and water are not available, use an alcoholbased hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you are sick with flu-like illness, you should
stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever
is gone except to get medical care or for other
necessities. (Your fever should be gone without
the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
While sick, limit contact with others as much as
possible to keep from infecting them.
Take FLU ANTIVIRAL MEDICINES
AS RECOMMENDED
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Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills,
liquid or an inhaled powder) that fight against the
flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in
your body.
Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and
shorten the time you are sick. They may also
prevent serious flu complications.
Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter and
are different from antibiotics.
For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started
within the first 2 days of symptoms.
SWINE/H1N1 FLU
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H1N1 is a new influenza virus, first detected in
the United States in April 2009.
This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu”
because laboratory testing showed that many of
the genes in this new virus were very similar to
influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs
(swine) in North America .
This is, in fact, a "quadruple reassortant"
virus. It has two genes from flu viruses that
normally circulate in pigs and bird (avian) genes
and human genes. It has two genes from flu
viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe
and Asia and bird (avian) genes and human
genes.
Symptoms
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2009 H1N1 virus is contagious and is spreading
from human to human.
Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat,
runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache,
chills , fatigue, nausea/vomiting and diarrhea.
People may be infected with the flu, including
2009 H1N1 and have respiratory symptoms
without a fever .
While most people who have been sick have
recovered without needing medical treatment,
hospitalizations and deaths from infection with
this virus have occurred.
“Emergency warning signs”
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In children:
Fast breathing or trouble
breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not
interacting
Being irritable
Flu-like symptoms improve
but then RETURN WITH
WORSENING FEVER AND
COUGH
Fever with a rash
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In adults:
Difficulty breathing or
shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the
chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent
vomiting
Contamination & Cleaning
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Influenza virus can survive on environmental
surfaces and can infect a person for 2 to 8 hours
after being deposited on the surface.
Influenza virus is destroyed by heat (167-212°F
[75-100°C]), chemical germicides, including
chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents (soap),
iodophors (iodine-based antiseptics), and
alcohols .
Germs can be spread when a person touches
something that is contaminated with germs and
then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth
2009 H1N1 viruses are not spread by
eating pork or pork products.
2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has approved the use of one dose
of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine for persons 10
years of age and older.
 Seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to
protect against the 2009 H1N1 flu.
 People who are allergic to eggs might be
at risk for allergic reactions from receiving
influenza vaccines, including the 2009
H1N1 vaccine.
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TARGET GROUPS for H1N1
VACCINE
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pregnant women,
persons who live with or provide care for infants
aged <6 months (e.g., parents, siblings, and
daycare providers),
health-care and emergency medical services
personnel who have direct contact with patients
or infectious material,
children aged 6 months--4 years, and
children and adolescents aged 5--18 years who
have medical conditions that put them at higher
risk for influenza-related complications
(These 5 groups comprise approximately 42
million persons in the United States)
Two types of vaccines
Both seasonal and 2009 H1N1 vaccines
are available as inactivated and live
attenuated (LAIV) formulations.
 Seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 vaccines may
be administered on the same day. Two
shots can be given, each in a different
place on the body, or a shot and a nasal
spray vaccine can be given.
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Who should not get nasal H1N1
vaccine?
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People younger than 2 years of age;
Pregnant women;
People 50 years of age and older;
People with a medical condition that places them at higher
risk for complications from influenza.
Children younger than 5 years old with a history of
recurrent wheezing;
Children or adolescents receiving aspirin therapy;
People who have had Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare
disorder of the nervous system, within 6 weeks of getting a
flu vaccine,
People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or who
are allergic to any of the nasal spray vaccine components
Diagnostic testing
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Most patients with clinical illness consistent with
uncomplicated influenza who reside in an area
where influenza viruses are circulating do not
require diagnostic influenza testing for clinical
management.
Patients who should be considered for influenza
diagnostic testing include:
Hospitalized patients with suspected influenza
Patients for whom a diagnosis of influenza will
inform decisions regarding clinical care, infection
control, or management of close contacts.
Patients who died of an acute illness in which
influenza was suspected
TREATMENT
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Antiviral medicines : started within first 48 hours
if symptoms are severe or risk of complications is
high. Most healthy persons who develop an
illness consistent with uncomplicated
influenza, or persons who appear to be
recovering from influenza, do not need
antiviral medications for treatment or
prophylaxis.
Rest
Adequate Fluid Intake.
Hand Hygiene measures
Cough suppressants are usually not helpful.
QUESTIONS ???