Influenza

Seasonal Influenza

Seasonal Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. The two main types of human influenza (flu) viruses are types A and B. These viruses are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year, which can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent seasonal flu is by getting a seasonal flu vaccination each year. Call 715-479-3656 to schedule an appointment for a seasonal flu shot.

Every year in the United States, on average:

• 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications; and
• about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes.

Some people, such as older people, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at increased risk for serious complications from seasonal influenza illness.

What are the symptoms of influenza?

The symptoms of influenza include:

• Fever
• Cough
  
• Sore throat
  
• Body aches
  
• Headache
  
• Chills
  
• Fatigue

In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with influenza infection in people, and may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How serious is influenza infection?

Influenza can vary in severity from mild to severe. If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
  
• Bluish skin color
  
• Not drinking enough fluids
  
• Not waking up or not interacting
  
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
  
• Influenza-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
  
• Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
  
• Sudden dizziness
  
• Confusion
  
• Severe or persistent vomiting

For more information on influenza visit the following websites:

2-1-1 Wisconsin

Prevention of Influenza

Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

The Difference Between Influenza, a Cold and Pertussis

The Myth of the "Stomach Flu"

Many people use the term "stomach flu" to describe illnesses with nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. These symptoms can be caused by many different viruses, bacteria, or even parasites. The "flu" is a term that generally refers to influenza. While vomiting, diarrhea, and being nauseous or "sick to your stomach" can sometimes be related to the flu - particularly in children - these problems are rarely the main symptoms of influenza. The flu is a respiratory disease and not a stomach or intestinal disease.

Is it a Cold, Flu or Pertussis?

Colds, flu and Pertussis are highly contagious and, in the initial stages, might seem alike. Check the following table for a comparison of the symptoms for each illness.

Rapid Reference: Flu versus Cold versus Pertussis

Symptom		Influenza ("Flu")	Cold (Viral URI)	Pertussis
Fever		Usually present & high (102-104°F or 39-40°C); typically lasts 3-4 days	Uncommon	Uncommon If present, typically low-grade
Headache		Very common	Uncommon	Uncommon
Aches and pains, muscle aches, chest discomfort		Common, Often severe	Slight to Moderate	Uncommon
Fatigue and weakness		Moderate - severe; can last up to 14-21 days	Mild	Mild to moderate
Extreme exhaustion		Very common early in illness	Extremely Rare	Rare
Stuffy or runny nose		Sometimes	Common	Common, early in the disease
Sneezing		Sometimes	Common	Common, early in the disease
Sore throat		Sometimes	Common	Uncommon
C O U G H	Character	Non-productive ("dry") cough is typical; nocturnal cough rare	Hacking cough, often productive; nocturnal cough rare; usually responds to cough medications	Variable character; fits / paroxysms and nocturnal cough are common; generally not responsive to cough medications
	Severity	Moderate	Mild to Moderate	Variable; can be mild in adults and very severe in infants and young children
	Duration	Typically 3-7 days; occasionally to 14 days	Typically 3-7 days	Persistent cough, almost always >1week, usually 2-6 weeks, sometimes 10+ weeks
	Paroxysms	Uncommon	Rare	Common
Infectious Period		1-2 days before symptom onset to 5-10 days after	Variable; typically 4-7 days after symptom onset; can be longer	From start of catarrhal phase (before cough) to 21 days after cough onset*

*or until taking 5 days of appropriate anti-pertussis antibiotics, or until a nasopharyngeal pertussis PCR is negative, whichever occurs first
Source:  Milwaukee PHD 12/10

 

Vilas County Public Health Department
Courthouse, 330 Court Street
Eagle River, WI 54521
Phone: 715-479-3656; Fax: 715-479-3741