| When encouraging patients to receive the flu vaccine | | | | virus isnot capable of causing illness), which causes |
| everyfall, I always find it amazing that so many | | | | the body torespond by developing antibodies to |
| people havemisconceptions about the flu and the flu | | | | protect against the flu. |
| shot. If I were toask a group of patients what the | | | | It is this response that causes common side effects |
| flu is, I would get manydifferent answers, including | | | | of thevaccine, such as a slight fever, chills, headache, |
| descriptions of symptoms of aviral gastrointestinal | | | | andfatigue, for the first 24 hours after the vaccine is |
| syndrome (nausea, vomiting,diarrhea), a sinus | | | | given. |
| infection, the common cold, or of trueinfluenza (flu) | | | | Remember, this is not the flu. |
| infection. | | | | Some people should not be vaccinated; they include: |
| Influenza (referred to as flu in this article) is a | | | | peoplewith a severe allergy to eggs, people who |
| seriousand extremely contagious viral respiratory | | | | have had a severereaction to the flu shot in the |
| illness. | | | | past, children less than 6months of age, and people |
| Complications of the flu can lead to hospitalization | | | | with a history of Guillain-Barresyndrome (a paralyzing |
| anddeath. According to the Centers for Disease | | | | neuromuscular disorder). If you havea moderate or |
| Control (CDC): | | | | severe illness with a fever, you should waituntil those |
| Every year in the United States, 5% - 20% of the | | | | symptoms resolve before getting vaccinated. |
| populationgets the flu, approximately 200,000 people | | | | If you are HIV positive, most healthcare providers |
| are hospitalizedfrom flu complications, and | | | | willrecommend that you receive the flu vaccine each |
| approximately 36,000 people diefrom the flu. | | | | year. |
| The symptoms of the flu include fever (usually | | | | Although there has been some debate and |
| >102F),headache, extreme fatigue, sore throat, | | | | controversy overthis issue, it is generally thought that |
| dry cough, runny orstuffy nose, and muscle aches. | | | | vaccination offerssignificant benefits to the HIV |
| Nausea, vomiting, anddiarrhea are uncommon with | | | | positive person, includingthe prevention of serious |
| the flu. Although some flusymptoms resemble those | | | | complications of the flu such asbacterial pneumonia |
| of the common cold, flu symptomshave a much | | | | and activation of HIV replication |
| more abrupt onset and are more severe than | | | | (leading to an increase in HIV viral load and a |
| thoseof a cold. Possible complications of the flu | | | | decrease inthe CD4 cell count). In addition, the flu |
| includebacterial or viral pneumonia, sinus infections, | | | | may resemblesymptoms of an HIV or AIDS related |
| earinfections, dehydration, and worsening of other | | | | opportunistic infection;thus, avoiding the flu will avoid |
| medicalconditions such as diabetes, asthma, or chronic | | | | an unnecessary workup. Thevaccine itself is well |
| lungdisease. These complications can prolong the | | | | tolerated by most people, includingthose who are HIV |
| illness and maylead to hospitalization. | | | | infected. There may be a very slight andtemporary |
| The flu virus spreads from person to person through | | | | rise in the HIV viral load, but this will quicklyresolve |
| coughingor sneezing. You may get infected by | | | | after vaccination. Studies have shown that thebody's |
| touching something | | | | ability to respond to any vaccine and to build |
| (such as a doorknob or telephone) that has flu virus | | | | upprotective antibodies may be decreased when the |
| on itand then touching your mouth or nose. The best | | | | CD4 cellcount is below 2oo, but it is still |
| way toprevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each | | | | recommended to vaccinatethese people, as there |
| yearbetween October and December. The flu shot | | | | may still be some protectivebenefit. |
| can be offered toall healthy people who want to | | | | You may hear about the Nasal-Spray Flu Vaccine, and |
| decrease their risk ofgetting the flu. Certain people | | | | thinkthat this would be a great alternative to getting |
| are at high risk for flucomplications and should be | | | | anotherinjection. Sorry, but if you are HIV positive |
| strongly encouraged to receivethe vaccine. These | | | | you cannotreceive this vaccine. The nasal spray |
| groups are: children (6 months-5 yearsold), pregnant | | | | vaccine is a livevaccine, which contains weakened live |
| women, people over age 50, people withchronic | | | | virus (instead ofkilled virus in the injection), and is |
| medical conditions such as diabetes, | | | | capable of producingsevere illness in anyone with a |
| asthma,emphysema, HIV infection, aids, heart | | | | weakened immune system. Ifyou are HIV positive, |
| disease), and peopleliving in long term care facilities | | | | you should never receive any livevaccines for this |
| such as nursing homesand prisons. In addition, all | | | | reason. |
| healthcare workers andhousehold contacts of people | | | | In conclusion, the flu vaccine is the best |
| in the high risk groups, aswell as household contacts | | | | protectionagainst getting the flu. However, you may |
| of infants less than 6 months ofage, should be | | | | still get otherviral respiratory illnesses or even a strain |
| vaccinated to prevent the spread of the virusto | | | | of the flu thatwas not included in the flu shot. |
| those people. | | | | Besides vaccination, thenext best defense against |
| Let's clear up another very common misconception: | | | | viral illness is frequent andthorough hand-washing and |
| The flushot does not give you the flu, and does not | | | | the use of antibacterial hand gelswhich can be carried |
| make you sick! | | | | in your pocket, purse, or car. Thiswill help to prevent |
| I can't even count the number of times that patients | | | | you from transferring virus you comeinto contact |
| havetold me that they received the shot and got the | | | | with to your mouth and nose. |
| flu. Thevaccine consists of killed influenza virus (killed | | | | |