Influenza Spreads Readily In Winter Conditions

Low temperatures and relative humidities have been linked to the rapid spread of influenza in a new study by researchers, led by Dr. Peter Palese, from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. The study, published in PLoS Pathogens, supports the theory of the seasonal flu.

Influenza has long been considered a seasonal virus. Factors including indoor crowding during cold weather, seasonal fluctuations in host immune responses, relative humidity, temperature, and UV radiation have all been suggested to account for this phenomenon, but none of these hypotheses had previously been tested directly.

The researchers tested the effects of temperature and relative humidity on infected and naive guinea pigs. The study found that low relative humidities of 20%-30% induced the rapid spread of the virus, with the opposite effect at 80% or above. Also, results showed that the virus spread more easily at 5 °C than at 20 °C, with no transmission at 30 °C.

The data implicates that low relative humidities produced by indoor heating and winter temperatures favor the spread of influenza. This study should serve as the basis for understanding the seasonality of other viral infections.

The Scary Truth About Influenza (II)

By SALLY H. HOUSTON, M.D.

How Can I Prevent Flu?

Vaccination is safe and effective. There are two kinds of vaccine: an injection and a new nasal vaccine.
The injection is made with killed flu virus and is safe for people 6 months old and older. The nasal vaccine is administered directly into the nose and is for healthy people between the ages of 5 and 49 years.

You cannot get flu from the injected vaccine. There is a small risk that people with weakened immune systems could become sick from the nasal vaccine, which is made with a weakened form of the flu virus.
Some people still get flu after vaccination, but they are much less likely to become seriously ill than those who have not been vaccinated.
There may not be adequate supplies of flu vaccine to vaccinate everyone against flu every year. In that case, vaccine manufacturers and public health authorities will work together to assure those at greatest risk receive vaccines first.
Priorities for flu vaccination include individuals at high risk for complications and their caregivers. This includes children 6 months to 5 years old, pregnant women, those over 50 years old, people who live in nursing homes and those with chronic illnesses.
Complications associated with flu vaccine are very rare and include pain and swelling at the injection site, fever and aches (more common in children), and allergic reactions to components of the vaccine.
Medicines used to treat flu can also be used to prevent flu, but these work best when used in addition to the vaccine. Otherwise, they must be taken for the whole flu season, which spans fall and winter.
Some people cannot take vaccine and may need to take these medications to prevent flu. Check with your doctor if you have questions about flu prevention.

Keeping sick people at home, washing hands frequently, covering nose and mouth with tissue when coughing or sneezing will prevent flu, as well as ward off other germs that cause colds, vomiting or diarrhea.

Dr. Sally Houston is an associate professor at the University of South Florida College of Medicine and chief of staff at Tampa General Hospital.

The Scary Truth About Influenza (I)

By SALLY H. HOUSTON, M.D.

The Flu Kills More Than 36,000 People Each Year -- Here's How to Protect Yourself

Flu has been one of the most devastating infections in human history. In 1918 and 1919, the flu killed 50 million people worldwide in just a few months.

Fortunately, flu seasons this dangerous are rare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 to 20 percent of Americans get the flu each year. That is 15 to 60 million people in the United States alone.
Approximately 200,000 are hospitalized because of flu complications, and 36,000 die. Many of these deaths could be prevented if people got their flu vaccine in the fall each year.
There are hundreds of possible strains of flu virus, and getting the flu once does not protect you from getting it again.
Each year scientists determine which strains of flu are the most likely for the next flu season. Then they make a vaccine to protect against those strains.

Even if you get infected with a different strain, the flu vaccine will help your body fight off the infection more quickly, and you will not get as sick.

What Is Flu?

The flu is caused by the influenza virus, a potentially life-threatening respiratory tract infection that can be prevented by getting vaccinated and avoiding exposure. Preventing the spread of influenza is everyone's responsibility.
Flu symptoms include sudden onset of high fever, dry cough, sore throat, stuffy nose and severe muscle pains in the legs and low back. People with the flu usually do not experience a runny nose, vomiting or diarrhea.
Most people with flu will feel terrible for five to seven days and then recover completely. However, the very young, elderly or those with chronic illnesses are at greater risk of developing complications that may lead to hospitalization or even death. These patients develop life-threatening complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure or heart failure.

What Do I Do If I Get the Flu?

The most important thing any flu victim can do is to stay at home. This will help prevent spread of flu to others.
A quick call to your doctor is also important because there are medicines that will shorten the course and decrease the severity of flu symptoms, but they must be started within 48 hours of the first symptoms.

Rest, drink plenty of fluids and take acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin to help with the fever and muscle aches. But never give aspirin to children with the flu because serious and deadly complications can develop.
Tylenol is a very safe medication for treating fever and pain, but high doses or even normal doses taken with alcohol can cause liver failure. Check over-the-counter medication labels to be sure that you do not take more than 4000 mg of acetaminophen in 24 hours. Ibuprofen should be taken with plenty of liquids and some food to prevent stomach upset.

Dr. Sally Houston is an associate professor at the University of South Florida College of Medicine and chief of staff at Tampa General Hospital.

to be continued

How to get rid of flu (II)

by blogger

Use of Antibiotics It's not effective to use antibiotics when suffering from flu and cough, because antibiotics are effective only against and have no effect on the viruses that causes flu.

Some Useful Home Remedies for controlling COUGH

* Add turmeric, a little ginger juice and a pinch of crushed black pepper in milk and drink. Apply balm on chest and go to sleep. * In a cup of hot water, add 2-3 tbsp apple vinegar and honey (as required) and drink.

* A tsp lemon juice, mixed with 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp ginger juice, will reduce cough considerably.

* Dry pomegranate skin, break into small pieces, and chew these now and then to reduce coughing Spasms.

* Keep a large black cardamom in the mouth, for relief from persistent cough. When it eventually softens, chew and swallow.

* Adding a drop or two of eucalyptus oil to water for steam inhalation, gives excellent relief in common colds.

* Dissolve a 1/2 tsp. of turmeric powder in half a cup of hot sweetened milk and drink for relief from cough and cold. Repeat morning and night for a week.

* A tsp. each of ginger juice and honey to be warmed and taken just before sleeping, to bring relief from severe cough. Repeat every night for a week.

* If you have a severe cough problem, take 5 sultanas in the night and place a black pepper on each sultanas and stir fry on griddle and eat. (Eat for three days and after eating this don’t eat anything else) you will feel better.

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How to get rid of flu (I)

by blogger

Did You Know? There are 200 types of viruses that cause flu and cough. They spread due to the cough and sneeze of the affected person. If you touch the place where there are affected person's viruses present, and then you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with those hands, the other person gets affected.
Change in Weather: Winter is not the only reason for flu but change in weather, less moisture in air, cold breezes in winter and autumn, helps the virus to grow.

Suffering from Flu:Usually children suffer from flu 6-10 times a year, adults 2-4 times a year. Women ranging from the age of 20-30, catch cold more easily as compared to men.

Symptoms and signs of Flu: The first indication for flu and cough is having phlegm and itchy sensation in throat. These indicate that the body is fighting against the infection. The white blood cells in the body excrete such chemicals in order to stop the increasing number of virus. It is better to do something about nose, throat, chest pain, throat irritation. Many people believe that milk and other dairy products increase the phlegm, although it is not true.

Duration of the diseases: Flu usually lasts for 3 days to 2 weeks.2/4 of the flu patients get better in a week, but dry cough can last for about 2 weeks.

Body Aches If flu and cough leads to body aches, tiredness and weakness, consult your doctor.

Precautions Stay at a distance of at least 3 feet from the affected person, or you might catch it as well.

Influenza While making tea add a little bit of ginger and sugar in it and use it twice a day. It’s good prevention against influenza.

Sore Throat Take seven almond pulp and seven black peppers and grind in little water. Add a tsp of sugar and eat. Your voice will be ok.

To get rid of Cough and Flu: Wash and dry fennel and stir fry till it is half cooked. Eat twice a day you will get rid of flu and cough.

Or If you have a severe cough problem, take 5 sultanas, place a black pepper on each sultanas and stir fry on griddle and eat at night for three days consecutively you will feel better. (It is important that you don't eat or drink anything after this)

Or For continuous cough, fry raw guavas on direct heat, apply salt and eat. It will relieve some pain

Eat a Balanced Diet A lot of people think that the cure for flu and cough is hidden in the everyday meal like fruits, vegetables, garlic, vinegar and black pepper. It also strengthens the immune system.

Take lot of Vitamin C Vitamin C, sunlight and sharp onion's smell is a good cure for cough and flu,

Uses of Onion Cut onion and massage your sole with it; it helps in controlling cough and flu.

Chicken Soup Since the ancient times it is a popular belief that chicken soup is good for prevention of flu, cough and cold. It also helps in nose and throat irritation. This helps the white blood cells to fight and eliminate the diseases. Modern researches have proven that chicken stock/soup has extra nutrients that helps the white blood cells grow and become stronger.

Prevention is better then cure Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands, many people ignore this regular advice. If you are suffering from flu, cough or cold, rest as much as you can, take liquids but avoid caffeine.

Gargle with Salt Water Use a medicine that helps throat and nose and reduces the cough also. To gargle with salt water is good for your throat; in the same way for dry nose petroleum jelly is the best.