Flu Shot Facts - Battling Influenza

by Charlie Cory

Before we discuss the facts surrounding flu shots, perhaps we ought to be clear what flu (influenza) actually is? The flu is an infection of the air waves. Typical symptoms range from fever, sore throat, aching muscles and a cough. Any combination of these symptoms can last for a week or more. Whilst the flu is a manageable disease for most people in society, some people are particularly vulnerable. Those particularly at risk are the elderly and people with weak immune systems. Diabetes sufferers, those with kidney problems and heart disease sufferers are also high on the risk list. Many people die from flu each year; mostly from within the high risk groups.

So, what is the flu vaccine? The flu vaccine is usually prepared from chick embryos, which have been inoculated with a flu virus. Formaldehyde is used to deactivate the flu virus, which is then preserved with a mercury derivative called thimerosal.

In the States, the health authorities try and guess which three flu strains are most likely to cause problems in the coming year (it doesn't sound very scientific, does it!). Those flu strains deemed to be likely to cause problems are those that are included in the flu vaccine. If the guess is good, the vaccine is thought to be between 70% and 80% effective in preventing the flu in healthy people outside of the high risk groups; particularly the elderly (over 65). If however health officials do not predict which flu strains will be most prevalent, the effectiveness of the vaccine will be lower.

The annual flu shot is designed to counter one of the flu strains contained in the vaccine and nothing else. Any malady's that are not part of the flu strains will not be effected by the vaccine. So a sore throat, for example, which is not caused by flu, will not be helped by a shot of the flu vaccine.

The question is often asked as to why flu shots are necessary every year. One of the reasons for this is that the prevalent strains of flu change every year, so the vaccine will need to change. To stand a chance of being safe from the most likely suspects of flue virus, you would need to get a shot every year.

Many people are concerned about reactions to flu vaccine. The most common reactions, which begin within 12 hours or so of the vaccination, are symptoms of the flu itself, such as fever, tiredness, headaches etc. However, there are more serious reactions, which are known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). These usually occur within two to four weeks of the shot. GBS is an nerve disorder, with symptoms such as muscle weakness, unsteadiness, numbness, tingling and pain. In extreme cases, paralysis of a limb or of the face can occur. It can take several months to recover, but it is not uncommon for some disability to remain. Having said that, less than 5 percent of GBS cases end in death.

The flu vaccine has never been recommended for healthy children. Some flu vaccine contain mercury as a preservative (as mentioned earlier). In the summer of 1999, the FDA, CDC and EPA directed the vaccine manufacturers to remove mercury (which is known as a neuro toxin) as a preservative in childhood vaccines, so no flu vaccine containing mercury should ever be used with children.

About the Author
Charlie Cory is a computer consultant and an online entrepreneur. He divides his time between his family and his online activities. If you want to know more about the flu, then visit this site which is full of information relating to influenza.

Generic Tamiflu: The Sure Shot Treatment for Flu

by Susan Brown

Flu is one of the most dangerous maladies across the globe. Since it spreads very rapidly that makes it even more difficult to control. However, you need not to worry about. There is a sure shot treatment for flu- Generic Tamiflu. It's the medicine sold over 100 countries worldwide.

Generic Tamiflu is one of the most effective medications that are used to treat influenza or flu virus. The medicine is available in tablet as well as suspension form and suitable for adults and children over 1-year of age. Though it is considered very effective, Generic Tamiflu work best when taken within two days of infection or commencement of flu symptoms. You can take Generic Tamiflu to prevent flu as well.

How Generic Tamiflu works?

Basically Generic Tamiflu works in two ways:

First, it can help you minimize symptoms of flu such as weakness, headache, cough, and fever etc. Second, it helps you to prevent infection from flu. Generic Tamiflu has a substance that inhibits neuraminidase enzyme. The medication prevents spread of the flu-virus to other parts of the body.

Though there very few side effects and its safe for humans including children and women, in certain conditions, it's advised that you need to take precaution. You can take Generic Tamiflu if you who do not have history of heart problems, kidney disease, liver disease, lung problems among other serious problems.

If you are pregnant, it's better to avoid Generic Tamiflu. Though it's not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk, if you are a breast feeding mother, you should not use this medicine. Don't use Generic Tamiflu on infants below the age of one year.

The medicine is available in 30mg to 75 mg capsules. Usually, a dose of 75mg is taken twice a day. Since dosage differ person to person and situation to situation, before you begin Generic Tamiflu, it's advisable that you consult your doctor.

About the Author
Susan Brown is an associated editor to the website: www.genericmedix.co.uk - The Generic Drugs Portal. GenericMedix is committed to provide visitors with complete information on Generic Drugs, Latest News and its related topics. Your Feedback & comments will be highly appreciated at generic.medix@gmail.com.

Amantadine To Prevent Influenza

by Olivia Andrews

Amantadine is a synthetic anti-viral drug. Amantadine is useful in the treatment of parkinson's syndrome. It is useful as an adjunct in patients who do not tolerate optimal doses of levodopa alone.

By improving muscle control and reducing stiffness, this medicine allows more normal movements of the body as the disease symptoms are reduced. In most of the case, it is also used to treat stiffness and shaking caused by certain medicines used to treat nervous, mental, and emotional conditions. Amantadine may be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Amantadine is available only with your doctor prescription in any medical store. It is the in the forms of Capsules, Syrup and Tablets. The following are the precautions should be taken:

1) While taking Amantadine drinking alcohol may cause in increasing side effect such as circulation problem, fainting or confusing. Doctors suggest to not taking alcohol while taking this medication.

2) Amantadine may cause some side effect like dryness of mouth and throat. If this is case then check with your physician.

3) This medication may cause some people to become dizzy, confused, or lightheaded or trouble concentrating.

4) Amantadine may cause some skin problem mostly in women's and usually occur on the legs and feet after amontadine has been taken regularly for a month or more.

5) Study on effect of Amantadine in pregnant women's has not done. However, there have been reports of birth defects of the heart, when women took amantadine during the first trimester of pregnancy.

6) Amantadine passes into breast milk. However, the effect of amantadine in newborn babies and infants are not knows.

Serious side effects accompanied with Amantadine are:
1. Vision disturbances
2. Swelling in the ankles or feet
3. Uncomman fatigue
4. Difficlulty while urination
5. Mood changes or state of severe depression
6. Muscle stiffness
7. Uncontrolled muscular movements

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About Olivia Andrews
Olivia Andrews, writing http://www.benzer11.com/amantadine.html is a freelance journalist and has written many reviews on subjects such as finance, education, health, entertainment, music, gifts, crafts, travel, apparels, and mobile phones.

About Common Cold and Influenza - What is the Difference (II)

By Knut Holt


THE CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND COMPLICATIONS OF INFLUENZA

Like cold, influenza is caused by virus strains that mutate frequently, but there tend to be one main virus strain each year that spread throughout the globe.

The transmission of the disease occurs by secretions from sick persons. These secretions can be carried as drops through the air, contaminate surfaces people touch, or get into the food. Symptoms start one to four days after the virus has entered the body.

Flu often begins as a diffuse lack of wellness that persists for some hours, and sometimes for a couple of days. Sometimes the flu does not progress past this stage. However, after some time the symptoms often suddenly get worse with a great degree of general discomfort. By flu the symptoms from the windpipe are the same as by common cold, but they are weaker:
- The throat or nose feels sore, but usually mildly.
- There can be some increased secretions from the nose and throat.
- There will be swelling in the nose and throat.
- Cough and sneezing are symptoms.

Symptoms from the rest of the body are the strongest by flu. The symptoms can be distributed throughout the whole body:

- Flu often gives high fever. High fever is the most important symptom to separate influenza from common cold.
- In spite of the fever, there is often a feeling of coldness in some parts of the body or of general coldness.
- There will be nausea, often severe, and often vomiting. Severe nausea and vomiting are also good indications of influenza, especially by children and teens.
- There is often a marked feeling of tiredness and general weakness.
- Mild to severe headache is common.
- Stomach ache and digestive disturbances often occur by flu.
- Aching around in the body, for example in muscles and around joints is common.
- Some persons experience a little neck stiffness and pain in the neck when trying to flex it, but this symptom must not be great. If these symptoms are distinct, the disease can be meningitis.
- The eyes can be read and irritated.
- Also skin redness can occur.

Having flu decreases the resistance against other viral and bacterial diseases substantially, especially if one does not get enough rest and comfort when having flu. Lung infection and throat infection by bacteria are common complications by flu.

Various forms of Influenza Viruses

by Subhash

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). In people, common symptoms are fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, and weakness and fatigue. In more serious cases, influenza causes pneumonia, which can be fatal particularly in young children and the elderly.

Sometimes confused with the common cold, influenza is a much more severe disease and caused by a different type of virus. Similarly, the unrelated gastroenteritis is sometimes called "stomach flu" or "24-hour flu".

Types of influenza virusThe influenza virus is an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae, which comprises the influenzaviruses, Isavirus and Thogotovirus. There are three types of influenza virus: Influenzavirus A, Influenzavirus B or Influenzavirus C. Influenza A and C infect multiple species, while influenza B almost exclusively infects humans.

The type A viruses are the most virulent human pathogens among the three influenza types and cause the most severe disease. The Influenza A virus can be subdivided into different serotypes based on the antibody response to these viruses.

Influenza B virus is almost exclusively a human pathogen, and is less common than influenza A. The only other animal known to be susceptible to influenza B infection is the seal. This type of influenza mutates at a rate 2-3 times lower than type A and consequently is less genetically diverse, with only one influenza B serotype. As a result of this lack of antigenic diversity, a degree of immunity to influenza B is usually acquired at an early age.

The influenza C virus infects humans and pigs, and can cause severe illness and local epidemics. However, influenza C is less common than the other types and usually seems to cause mild disease in children.

PATHOGENESIS AND DISEASE

SpreadThe virus is spread person to person via small particle aerosols (less than 10¼m diameter) that can get into respiratory tract. It can also survive for a short time on surfaces and can be spread by this route if the virus is introduced into the nasal mucosa before it loses infectivity. The incubation period is short, about 18 to 72 hours.Virus concentration in nasal and tracheal secretions remains high for 24 to 48 hours after symptoms start and may last longer in children. Titers are usually high and so there are enough infectious virions in a small droplet to start a new infection.

Site of infectionInfluenza virus infects the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract. The cells die, in part due to the direct effects of the virus on the cell, and also possibly due to the effects of interferon. Cell death at later times may also result from the actions of cytotoxic T-cells. As a result, the efficiency of ciliary clearance is reduced, leading to impaired function of the mucus elevator; thus there is reduced clearance of infectious agents from the respiratory tract. Gaps in the protective epithelium provide other pathogens with access to other cells; however, viremia is very rare.

Recovery Interferon may play a role by decreasing virus production. Many of the symptoms of uncomplicated influenza (muscle aches, fatigue, fever) are associated with the efficient induction of interferon. The cell-mediated immune response is important in viral clearance. The antibody response is usually not significant until after virus has been cleared. Repair of the respiratory epithelium begins rapidly, but may take some time to complete.

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How To Lower Your Risk Of Catching Flu (Including Bird Flu)

by Sarah K. Jenkins

Influenza is in no way a new ailment to plague the people of the world. However, a new deadly strand of the virus has everyone running for cover. How do you avoid catching flu, including the dangerous bird flu that threatens so many?

First, it should be explained that bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a virus much like the regular flu we are accustomed to. It is transmitted in much the same way, through droplets of saliva and mucus. However, bird flu is currently only transmitted from infected birds to humans and can not be passed from human to human like the regular flu. The main concern arises with bird flu as it is expected to mutate and at some point be transmitted by humans as well. Until this takes place, bird flu is only passed from infected birds to humans by way of direct contact with the animal or its feces.

The current outbreak of bird flu is taking place in Asia; therefore, there is little concern of catching the virus unless you are in that region and handling fowl. However, once the virus mutates it will be transmitted much like the standard flu and may be avoided in much the same way.

The obvious first step in lowering your risk of catching the virus is being administered a vaccine. There is currently not a vaccine for the dangerous strand of influenza, but one is being developed. With any luck one will be produced prior to any widespread contamination of the virus.

Another option is one utilized in most regular flu cases - taking antiviral medication, such as Tamiflu. These are expected to be effective on the dangerous strand of influenza as well as the regular flu virus. However, for this treatment to be useful, it must be administered early in the virus, typically within two days of showing symptoms. This and other drugs do not cure the virus, but instead lessen the effects of the symptoms. They may, however, prevent the virus from becoming severe.

The most effective way to avoid catching the flu, the regular flu as well as the bird flu, is prevention. Proper hygiene reduces the risk of the spread of influenza. Simple things, like washing your hands and avoiding close contact with sick people, may be your best technique in lowering your risk of becoming infected. Utilizing hand sanitizer is also a useful option.

About the Author
Sarah is an acclaimed writer on medical matters, and has written extensively on the subjects of Attention Deficit Disorder, Bird Flu and Crohn’s Disease. For more of her articles, go to http://www.imedicalvillage.com now. Click here now and re

Relenza - Approved Prevention For Influenza

Relenza is an anti viral medication. It is an approved medication for treating influenza-virus A, influenza-virus B and prophylaxis. Relenza is the type of Zanamivir. It the first neuraminidase inhibitor chemically developed to treat influenza-virus in children above 7 years of age and adults.

Influenza is a commonly found disease especially during the time of seasonal flu. The general symptoms of flu are fever, muscle pain, body ache, fatigue, headache and chill etc. the primary symptoms of flu which normally go unnoticed are soar throat, cold and cough. The symptoms of influenza flu are very similar to the symptoms of common cold and fever. However, the effects of influenza are much drastic on the health of the patient than the common cold.

A variety of medications are available in the market these days to prevent influenza. Relenza is one the effective medications prescribed by the doctors. It is referred to treat the uncomplicated cases of influenza. The studies have shown that relenza is effective for those cases which includes the fever in the symptoms. Without fever cases are referred to go through some other kind of treatment. Relenza is a kind of preventive measure that reduces the risk of expanding the illness. The patient should start taking relenza with in two days of seeing symptoms of influenza.

Relenza is a kind of powder which is to be taken through a diskhaler device. It is taken twice a day for five days with the help of breath-activated plastic device i.e. diskhaler in the cases of influenza. If you are taking relenza for preventive use inhale it one time in a day for 10 to 28 days as per the directions of the doctor. Consult your doctor first before starting taking the medication by yourself. He should have all the information about your allergies and medical record. After taking the medical consultation from the doctor, one can acquire the cheap relenza from online drug stores.

Several online drug stores are providing cheap relenza at your doorstep. You just need to search out the best offer available online for buying relenza. Though it is an approved medication for treating the influenza virus but it also has some side effects. One should stop taking this medicine if any allergic reactions like skin rashes, anaphylaxis or any other adverse reactions have been reported.

Apart from medical treatments, some supported home remedies are suggested in the cases of influenza flu. The patient should avoid taking bath in cold water and take a teaspoon full of unadulterated raw mustard oil. Use of cold ointments on the backside of the body, under the feet, and around the nostrils will help in relieving from the illness.

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