Influenza seems to be at its best this last couple of weeks, which means many of us are feeling at our worst. Influenza A and B have both been prevalent in our community for several weeks now, but we have seen a steep increase recently. Reportedly about 1/3 of the students in the grade school were out sick last week and those numbers are expected to linger.
Influenza A and/or B is commonly referred to as “the flu.” It is important to note that influenza is not a typical “stomach bug” and is usually not associated with nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Influenza is a respiratory infection caused by a virus that is easily spread through human contact. Being that it is a viral infection and not a bacterial infection, antibiotics are not effective treatment. Typical symptoms include fever and chills, headache, body aches, fatigue, cough, runny nose and/or sore throat. You may have some or all of these symptoms when infected. Most people will carry the virus and spread it to others for about two weeks before their symptoms present. This is a partly why it is spread so easily. Once symptoms present, it takes about another one-two weeks before you begin feeling better.
Flu prevention methods are simple, but they make a huge impact in your wellbeing. First and foremost, wash your hands often. Secondly, stay home if you are ill. It is better for you to miss a day of school/work for being ill than it is to cause your whole staff or class to miss school because EVERYONE got sick. The flu shot can also help protect you and they are still available at the Big Sandy Medical Center. However, it does take two weeks to develop the protective antibodies from the flu shot and it is not 100% effective, so your first line of defense is still washing your hands. Antivirals, such as Tamiflu, have not been proven to be effective in preventing the flu. For those who are confirmed positive, it is less than 50% effective at shortening flu symptoms. IF it does shorten symptoms, it is only by one day. Side effects of Tamiflu include, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains (all of which are not usually associated with influenza), dizziness and headaches. BSMC supports good hand hygiene, covering your cough, and avoiding those who are sick as the most effective prevention methods.
If you do end up finding yourself getting TOO acquainted with influenza, the goal of treatment is to manage your symptoms. Staying well hydrated must be a priority. Drinking plenty of water, juice, Gatorade/Powerade, broth, or eating popsicles and Jello are all ways you can get this done. Your body will “use” more fluid with a fever, so drinking more than you think you need is vital to preventing dehydration. Taking medications to prevent/treat the fever, cough, and sinus congestion are helpful and may prevent a secondary infection like pneumonia or sinus infections. Rest! Your body is working hard to fight this virus under the surface, allow yourself to rest often when you’re sick. Finally wash your hands, cover your cough, and disinfect your home. Frequently touched surfaces like light switches, door knobs, faucets, remotes, and cell phones should be sanitized. There are many options for disinfecting: Bleach, Vinegar or Peroxide dilutions are useful. Make sure each product is safe for the surfaces you plan to clean with it. There are also many household sanitizing wipes/sprays that can be effective. Just be sure to check the bottle to be sure your products kill influenza A and B. The goal is to allow the cleaning solution to dry on the surface; in other words, don’t rinse or follow with a dry towel. It is in the extended contact that the germs are killed. The virus can live on hard surfaces in your home for about 24 hours. You also want to replace toothbrushes, use disposable cups in the bathroom and sanitize any breathing equipment such as nebulizers, inhalers, and BIPAP/CPAP masks.
Many of you also use a specific travel mug, tumbler or water bottle daily. The seal or gasket in these tumbler cups is nested tightly into the lid, helping it to stay well insulated. However, it is also a place to harbor germs and even mold. Even placing the lids in the dishwasher is not enough to get under the seal. In order to clean the cup properly, you must remove the seal from the lid and wash them separately. If you have never done this, please do it now. You’d be surprised at how dirty it is under there! Please clean your cups (and your child’s sippy-cups) in their entirety to prevent becoming re-infected with the flu, or any other bug that happens to have moved in there. Daily mold exposure can also be threatening to your health so don’t just clean under the seal during cold/flu season!
We have seen cases of both Influenza A and B in the Big Sandy community. People that did receive the flu vaccine are among those testing positive. The most at-risk populations for severe complications from the flu are young children, those with weakened immune systems, and the Elderly. That being said, in order to protect the residents of the Big Sandy Medical Center, we are restricting visitors to those 18 and older. We are also asking that anyone who hasn’t been feeling well stay home or wear a mask while in the building. These restrictions will be lifted after we have been seven days “flu-free” in the facility.
We hope you stay well; if you don’t, we are here for you. You can make an appointment at the clinic by calling 378-2189 M-F, 9-5, or come to the Emergency Room 24 hours a day. As always, thanks for being the heart of BSMC.
