Transcript What is Influenza?

The Flu and You
Influenza Annual Training
2015-2016
To every patient, every time, we will provide the care that we
would want for our own loved ones.
Objectives
This module will cover the following content:
•What is Influenza?
•Signs and Symptoms
•Complications of Influenza
•Vaccination
•Respiratory Etiquette
•Treatment
•Patient Care
What is Influenza?
Influenza is also known as the “flu” is a contagious
respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. It can cause mild
to severe illness and sometimes lead to death.
The flu is NOT a stomach virus.
Symptoms of Influenza
People who have the flu often feel some or all of these
symptoms:
•Fever, or feeling feverish/chills
•Cough
•Sore throat
•Runny or stuffy nose
•Muscle or body aches
•Headaches
•Fatigue (very tired)
•Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is
more common in children than adults.
*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.
How Does the Flu Spread?
Person to Person
According to the Centers for Disease Control (2014), flu
viruses are mainly spread by droplets made when people with
the flu cough, sneeze, or talk. People with Influenza can spread
it to others for up to 6 feet away. In addition, a person may
contract the virus by touching a surface that has been
contaminated with the flu. This happens when a person touches
a surface that has been contaminated, then touches their nose or
mouth.
Coughing and sneezing generates the droplets that carry the
virus. Please use a tissue and wash hands frequently.
How Long is Someone Contagious?
According to the CDC (2014), most healthy adults may be
able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms
develop and up to 5-7 days after symptoms develop.
Symptoms start 1-4 days after the virus enters the body
Children and people with weakened immune systems, are
able to infect others for an even longer time.
You may be able to pass the virus to someone else before you know
that you are sick.
You can have the virus before you know that you are sick
What are Complications of the
Flu?
Most people who get Influenza recover within a few days, but
some people will develop complications as a result of
Influenza such as:
•Pneumonia
•Bronchitis
•Sinus infection
•Ear infection
Influenza can make chronic condition worsen. For example, a
person with asthma may experience asthma attacks or someone
with congestive heart failure (CHF) may experience worsening
of symptoms when getting Influenza
How Severe is Influenza Every Year?
Influenza is unpredictable and it’s severity can vary widely from
one season to the next depending on:
•What viruses are spreading
•How much vaccine is available
•When the vaccine is available
•How many people get vaccinated
•How well the vaccine matches the virus that it circulating
Over the 2013-2014 Flu season, there were approximately 53,470
positive flu cases worldwide (CDC, 2014).
How Do I Prevent Influenza?
Get vaccinated
The CDC recommends getting an annual flu vaccine as the first
and most important step in preventing Influenza
Take everyday preventative actions
Avoid close contact with sick people
Wash your hands often with soap and water
If you are sick, limit contact with others as much as possible as
to limit their exposure
Who Should Get Vaccinated?
Everyone 6 months and over is recommended for
vaccination. All GBMC staff members, contractors, and
volunteers are required to receive the vaccination.
There are special groups that are at higher risk for
complications of Influenza and should receive the
vaccination as soon as it is available:
•People with asthma
•People with diabetes
•People with heart disease or who have had a stroke
•Adults 65 years or older
•Pregnant women
•People with HIV or AIDS
•People who have Cancer
•Children younger than 5 years old
When Should I Be Vaccinated?
•Yearly flu vaccination should begin as soon as the vaccine is
available.
•It should continue throughout the flu season which can last
as late as May.
•This is because the timing and duration of the flu season
varies. While the flu season can begin as early as October,
most of the time seasonal flu activity peaks in January or
later.
What are the Contraindications to
Vaccination?
•People who have a severe (anaphylactic) allergy to chicken
eggs.
•People who have had a severe (anaphylactic) reaction to an
influenza vaccination in the past.
•People who develop Guillian-Barré syndrome (GBS) within
six weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
•Children younger that 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not
approved for use in this age group).
•People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever
should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.
High Risk Groups that Should Be
Vaccinated
•Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated against
the flu as soon as the 2015-2016 season vaccine is available.
•People at high risk of serious flu complications include young
children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like
asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and
older.
•Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease
their risk of severe flu illness.
•Vaccination is also important for health care workers, and other
people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from
spreading flu to high risk people.
•Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu
illness, but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for
them should be vaccinated instead.
Influenza Prevention Respiratory
Etiquette
•Other ways you can prevent Influenza include good respiratory
hygiene.
○Cover your cough/sneeze with your elbow (not your hands).
○Wash your hands frequently.
○Discard your tissues quickly into the appropriate trash
receptacles.
○Keep 3 feet distance between someone coughing and
sneezing.
Treatment for Influenza
•If you or a family member get the flu, the CDC recommends
the following:
○Stay home from work and keep your children home
from school.
○Drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest.
○Usually over-the-counter anti-fever medications help
with the symptoms.
○Antiviral medications may sometimes be prescribed to
help lessen the duration of the infection.
Emergency Warning Signs
In Children:
•Fast breathing or trouble
breathing
•Bluish skin color
•Not drinking enough fluids
•Not waking up or not
interacting
•Being so irritable that the
child does not want to be held
•Flu-like symptoms improve
but then return with fever and
worse cough
•Fever with a rash
In Adults
•Difficulty breathing or
shortness of breath
•Pain or pressure in the chest
or abdomen
•Sudden dizziness
•Confusion
•Severe or persistent vomiting
•Flu-like symptoms that
improve but then return with
fever and worse cough
Flu Patients at GBMC
•Seasonal Influenza patients are maintained on “droplet precautions.”
•Droplet precautions requires wearing a mask/visor when
working within 3 feet of the patient.
•A droplet precautions sign will hang on the patient’s door,
notifying you of the need to wear a mask/visor.
Patient Placement: Private room or
cohorting mandatory
You must wear a MASK/VISOR
when working within 3 feet of
patient (or upon entering room).