Influenza Season

Posted on: 09/17/2008

Influenza Season

By M. Scott Applegate, M.D., F.A.A.P.

As Fall draws near and the days grow shorter pediatricians in Lincoln make note of several things. Husker football is in the air, the sun sets about the time we get home, and 'Influenza Season' is just around the corner.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), influenza in the United States accounts for roughly 1765 Deaths, 95 million cases, 346 million restricted-activity days, and 70 million work-loss days annually. In fact, in 1996 approximately 36% of the U.S. population contracted influenza. In contrast, West Nile Virus resulted in 263 deaths in the year 2002. It’s readily apparent that influenza is a major public health problem. Luckily for us there is a vaccine to help prevent illness from influenza.

Influenza virus occurs in different types or "strains" and each year a different set of strains infect our population. The vaccine is designed to protect against only a few of those strains and each year is modified to protect against those strains we think will likely infect the population that year. This is one of the reasons why you have to get a flu shot every year.

This year, we have two flu vaccines. One is the traditional injection, and the other is a nasal spray that has the advantage of avoiding a shot in the arm. Don't jump too fast at that nasal spray though. It is indicated for only certain people, and should not be given to children with chronic illness, more about that below.

Vaccine Guidelines

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises the following regarding receipt of influenza vaccine:

• Annual influenza immunization should be encouraged, to the extent feasible, in healthy children ages 6-59 months and their household contacts. Children, adolescents, and adults can be immunized to decrease the impact of influenza. Priority should be given to targeted high-risk groups.
• Targeted High-Risk Children and Adolescents (greater than 6 months old): Those with asthma, cardiac disease, immunosuppressive disorders, HIV infection, Sickle Cell disease, diseases requiring aspirin therapy, kidney disease, diabetes, and others.
• Pregnant Women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during influenza season should receive the vaccine.
• Immunization of people who are in close contact with high-risk children and children younger than 24 months of age is an important means of protecting them. This includes health care professionals, household contacts, and providers of home care.
• Inactivated influenza virus vaccine (the shot) does not adversely affect the safety of breastfeeding for mothers or infants.

Shot or Spray?

A flu vaccine called FluMist is available. This is a nasal spray, not a shot. However, it should only be used for healthy children ages 2 or older. It should not be given to younger children or to children in the above high-risk groups. High-risk children should receive the injection.

In either case the flu vaccine is administered yearly at the beginning of flu season, which is generally October or November through December. The flu season may extend into April. If you are under 9 years old and this is the first year that you have ever gotten flu vaccine, then you will need two doses separated by at least one month.

Summary

In summary, influenza is a serious public hazard killing more people every year than SARS, West Nile Virus, and Anthrax combined. The vaccine prevents disease in approximately 70-95% of the people who receive it. Immunization is indicated for all children from 6 months to 59 months old and for older children with high-risk medical problems. It is also indicated for adults and older kids who have contact with these children. Healthy children over the age of 59 months may also receive the vaccine, either shot or nasal spray.

Perhaps if we work hard on immunizing ourselves and our children against influenza, next Fall I could spend my drives home thinking about Saturday afternoons and sunsets rather than our children who are sick with the flu.

Click here for information about our Influenza Immunization Clinic.