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HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL Flu season is here Special to the Journal It’s that dreaded time of year again. Flu season! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year in the United States at least five to 20 percent of the population contracts the flu and more than 200,000 people require hospitalization from flu com plications. Approximately 36,000 peo ple die from the flu each year. Some people, such as older adults, young chil dren, and people with cer tain health conditions are at higher risk for serious flu complications. But what exactly is the “flu” and how can you protect yourself and your family from getting sick with it this winter? Influenza, also called the “flu”, is a contagious respira tory illness caused by influ enza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best protection against this illness is having a flu vacci nation each fall. “The influ enza viruses spread through respiratory droplets caused by coughing and sneez ing,” explains Lisa Harris, RN, CIC , Infection Control Practitioner for Houston Healthcare. “They usually spread from person to per son; however, people can become infected by touching something that has flu virus es on it and then touching their mouth or nose.” The typical incubation period for influenza is one to four days. Most healthy adults can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. Children can be infec tious for 10 or more days before developing symp toms. Symptoms of the flu include a high fever, head ache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches. Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, can also occur but are more common in children than adults. The single best way to pre vent the flu is to get a flu Cans for Kids now through Dec. 10 Special to the Journal Houston Healthcare and its Emergency Medical Services helps support the annual Region V EMS Cans for Kids Campaign each year by collecting canned goods for families in need in the Houston County community. This year’s campaign will continue through Dec. 10. Canned goods can be placed in collection boxes at all Houston Healthcare facilities as well as all local fire depart ments. “This holiday season, we hope that everyone in Houston County can partici pate in this state-wide effort to provide meals to families in need,” says Brenda Dale, EMT-E Houston Healthcare EMS. Houston Healthcare placed second in the 2006 campaign collecting more than 3,500 cans for the Bonaire, Centerville and Perry Community Outreach Centers. They also placed third in 2005 collecting more than 4,000 cans. Houston Healthcare’s EMS will also be sponsoring a county-wide food drive with the help of some area churches and schools with all of the dona tions benefiting those in need in Houston County. For more information, con tact Dale at 478-396-7539. vaccination each fall. There are two types of vaccines. The “flu shot” is an inac tivated vaccine containing dead influenza viruses that is given with a needle. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than six months of age, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions. The nasal-spray flu vaccine is a vaccine made with live, but weakened influenza viruses that do not cause the flu. Sometimes called LATV for “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine,” this vac cine is approved for use in healthy people five years to 49 years of age who are not pregnant. Approximately two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect a person against infection from the influenza viruses. Flu vac cines will not protect against influenza-like illnesses caused by other viruses. “We recommend a person get a flu vaccination in October or November,” states Harris. “However, getting a vaccina tion in December or even later can still be beneficial. Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May. Generally, anyone who wants to reduce his or her chances of contracting the flu can get a vaccina tion. However, there are cer tain people who should get a vaccination each year. These are people who are at .high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious compli cations.” People who should get an influenza vaccination each year include: ■ All people who are 65 years of age or older ■ People with chronic or long-term health problems ■ Women who will be preg nant during flu season ■ People 50 to 64 years of age ■ People who can transmit the flu to others at high risk for complications ■ All children age 6-23 months .„ ■ *flh v - •>• Jjljjja TJ JL JLouston Healthcare’s Med-Stops offer care for your family’s minor illnesses and injuries on a walk-in basis when your regular doctor’s office is closed or when you don’t need the technical services of the Emergency Room. The Med-Stops are staffed by Board Certified Family Practice and Internal Medicine physicians working with nurses and medical technicians. Lab and x-ray services are available on-site. ♦ Houston Lake Med-Stop Hwy. 127 and Moody Road 9884865 Open Mon - Sat 7 am - 6:30 pm Take action against the flu □ Avoid close contact with people who are sick. □ Stay home when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. □ Wash or sanitize hands often, especially after you have been out in public or touched things that other people have touched. □ Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. □ Teach your children to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when ever they cough or sneeze. Make sure your children don't share drink ing glasses or eating utensils. □ If you suspect you have the flu, contact your family doctor immediately or visit one of the Houston Healthcare Med-Stop locations. ■ Healthcare workers ■ People with any con dition that can compro mise respiratory function or handling of respiratory secretions (that is, a con dition that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, such as brain injury or disease, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other nerve or muscle disorders.) ■ People who live in nurs ing homes and other long term care facilities that house those with long-term illnesses “The ability of the flu vac cine to protect a person from contracting the flu depends on the person’s age and health, and the similarity between the virus strains in the vaccine and those virus strains present in the com munity during that partic ular flu season,” explains Harris. “Testing has shown that both vaccine types are very effective at preventing the flu.” As with any vaccine or medication, the influenza vaccines can produce minor side effects in some people. “After receiving the flu shot, a person may experience soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given, a low grade fever, and aches,” states Harris. “In children, side effects from the nasal spray vaccine can include runny nose, headache, vomit Urgent Care*.* when you need it. MIND ■ RODY ing, muscle aches, and fever. In adults, the nasal vac cine may cause runny nose, headaches, sore throat, and cough. If these problems do occur, they begin soon after the vaccination and usually last one to two days. Rarely does anyone experience any serious problems after get ting the influenza vaccine, but the vaccine can cause severe allergic reactions in some individuals. But, again, this is very rare.” There are some people who should not get an influ enza vaccination without first consulting a physician. These include: ■ People who are severely allergic to chicken eggs. ■ People who have had a severe reaction to an influ enza vaccination in the past. ■ People who developed Guillain-Barre syndrome within six weeks of getting a previous influenza vaccine. ■ Children younger than six months of age because the influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this age group. ■ People who have a mod erate or severe illness with a fever should wait until they are healthy again before get ting the flu vaccination. For more information about the influenza virus or the influenza vaccines, con tact your family physician or local health department. ♦ Pavilion Med-Stop N. Houston Road at Houston Mall 923-2843 Qpen Daily 8 am - 7:30 pm Somerftingf r du ran feci good abon/ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2007 ♦ I I 9 HHk JMH iHr / J f§H - SBnasg£l& Contributed Houston Healthcare Relay for Life team captains, from left, were: Cindy Ireland, Perry Hospital Respiratory; Jerry West, Quality Resource Management; Marilyn Peterson, Medical Affairs; and Thaina Brown-Brake, Community Education and Services. HHC recognized by ACS Special to the Journal Houston Healthcare’s Relay for Life team was one of four recognized by the American Cancer Society for raising more than $50,000 over the past five years for the Houston County Relay for Life event. Including the 2007 Relay, Jingle Jog set for Dec. 1 Special to the Journal As part of the Christmas at the Crossroads festivi ties, Houston Healthcare’s Human Motion Institute and the Perry Exchange Club are sponsoring the Second Annual Jingle Jog 5K Fun Run/Walk and One Mile Health Walk Dec.r 1 in Downtown Perry at The New Perry Hotel. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by the race at 10 a.m. Pre-registration fee for the event is $10; however, the registration fee will be Hilary Kate Ellwood, MD Board Certified, American Academy of Family Medicine Kimberley R. Ham, MD Board Certified, American Academy of Family Medicine Cynthia M. Jones, MD Board Certified, American Board of Family Medicine Gayatri Kamat, MD Board Certified, American Board of Internal Medicine HHC’s Relay for Life team has raised more than SIOO,OOO for the ACS. Other teams recognized included the Houston County Board of Education, which raised more than $272,000; The Bank of Perry, more than $66,000; and Robins Federal Credit Union, more than $61,000. sls the day of the race. Both the 5K and the One Mile Health Walk follow the same routes as the Dogwood SK. Trophies will be award ed to the overall male and female winners of the SK, and to the top three boy and girl finishers ages 10 and under and ages 11 to 17. Long sleeve event T shirts are guaranteed for those who pre-register. Race applications are available online at www. hhc.org or by calling 478- 988-1827. Barbara A. Matthews, MD Board Certified, American Board of Family Medicine Jodie Velie, MD Board Eligible, American Board of Family Practice Ferial Walid,MD Board Certified, American Board of Family Medicine 7A 50626