The Power of Parent Prevention !!!

One of the most commonly experienced illnesses is influenza or the “flu”. It is a serious disease of the nose, throat, and lungs. You can experience symptoms such as coughing, fever, aching and more. It can lead to pneumonia and make other chronic illnesses worse.

Each year approximately 200,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized with flu related illnesses and last year 36,000 people died because of the flu. It is a leading, yet preventable, cause of death in the United States. We are lucky though, to be living in a time period when a simple vaccine can significantly reduce the risks of contracting this serious virus.

It is important to remember that you can’t get the flu from the flu vaccine. It is a killed virus vaccine. The most commonly experienced side effect is a sore arm. Also, it takes approximately two weeks to boost protective antibodies, therefore, it is important to plan ahead when to get your flu shot. The ability of the flu vaccine to protect a person also depends on the age and health status of the person getting the vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that healthy children aged 6 months up through their 5th birthday, their close contact (people who live with them), and out-of-home caregivers (nannies, daycare providers, etc. ) should get a flu vaccine. This expands last year’s recommendation to now include vaccination for children 2 years old up to their 5th birthday this flu season. In addition, CDC also recommends influenza vaccination for any child from 6 months to 18 years of age with chronic health problems, including:
• asthma or other problems of the lungs;
• Immune suppression
• chronic kidney disease
• heart disease
• HIV/AIDS
• diabetes
• sickle cell anemia
• long-term aspirin therapy
• any condition that can compromise respiratory function.

Good health habits can also help protect against the flu. Remember to cover your hands and mouth when coughing and sneezing. Wash your hands at least six times a day and after coughing and sneezing .The availability of the antibacterial hand sanitizers makes this very easy to do. Getting plenty of sleep, eating nutritious food, physical activity, and managing stress, are all good health habits to practice.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2007). Flu vaccine facts & myths.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professional/flugallery/2007-08/fluers.htm#ffact