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Dr. C. Shaalini, MD (Ped), DNB (Ped), (MRCPCH), Pediatrician at Diha Clinic, Nanganallur, Chennai, explains everything you wanted to know about seasonal flu (Influenza), vaccination and protection for your child and you.
What is flu?
Influenza, commonly known as seasonal flu, is a contagious acute respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus.
Three types of influenza viruses
Signs & Symptoms of flu.
#1 Running nose.
#2 Cough.
#3 Fever.
#4 Congested eyes.
#5 Headache.
#5 Body pain.
#6 Occasionally, diarrhea, vomiting.
#7 Fast breathing – can progress to the lower respiratory tract causing fast breathing.
Complications of flu
Children <2 yrs have higher risk of complications.
<5 years have 12-fold increase in hospital admission.
Complications
#1 Pneumonia.
#2 Bronchitis.
#3 Bronchiolitis.
#4 Exacerbations of chronic respiratory conditions like asthma.
#5 Ear infections.
#6 Children – more susceptible than adults due to naive immune system.
How is diagnosis of flu done?
Through a viral PCR of throat swab.
Treatment
#1 Antipyretics and antihistamines.
Oseltamivir is the antiviral drug used in treating flu.
Prevention
#1 Personal hygiene.
#2 Frequent hand washing.
#3 Personal safety measures – wearing a mask and social distancing.
Vaccination – Potentially life-saving in children.
Inactivated Influenza Quadrivalent vaccine (split virion)
What’s the Flu dose to take: 0.5 ml
How is it administered?
Intramuscular. It protects against all types of Influenza viruses.
Added advantages
Offers protection against
What’s the schedule of vaccination for flu?
6 months – Flu I
7 months – Flu II (after 4 weeks)
Annual flu booster thereafter at 2 yrs, 3 yrs, 4 years, 5 years.
CDC recommends annual flu booster in children up to 9 years of age.
What are the benefits of flu vaccination?
#1 Reduces Influenza related hospitalisation by 41%.
#2 Reduces life-threatening severe infection by 75%.
#3 Reduces out-patient visits by 50%.
Who should take the flu vaccine?
All children between 6 months to 5 years of age.
Above 5 years:
#1 Those who have chronic cardiac, pulmonary, hematological and renal conditions, chronic liver disease and diabetes mellitus must take the flu shot.
#2 Lab personnel.
#3 Health care workers.
#4 Elders >65 years.
#5 Adults with chronic medical conditions. Immunodeficiencies.
#6 College and school students residing in hostel/ dormitories.
#7 Pregnant women.
What’s the right time to vaccinate children in India?
Just before the peak monsoon sets in June- August!
However, it can be done anytime. Better late than never!
What are the common myths about flu?
#1 Flu vaccine gave me a flu
Flu vaccine contains the inactivated influenza virus which can cause fever. This is normal immune response to the vaccine and it does not relate to influenza disease.
#2 I have taken flu vaccine last year. Is it necessary to take one again this year.
Yes, you have to take. It is because of antigenic shift and antigenic drift of the virus.
In short, it means that the virus changes its form every year by mutations to evade the vaccine and cause a disease. Hence, based on the changes made by the virus, a new vaccine is manufactured and released for that year’s strain
#3 Is flu vaccination really necessary? Flu is just a common cold.
Common cold has a runny nose, nasal stuffiness and milder symptoms.
Flu is usually more severe with cold, cough, fever accompanied by body aches, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea. It can be severe to cause hospitalization of a child.
#4 If it is really important, why is it not a compulsory vaccine?
As of today, influenza vaccine is an optional vaccine due to the country’s population and logistics. Very soon, it could be introduced into the Government schedule.
It’d be good if you can give your child the gift of immunity!
#5 In spite of taking the vaccine, I got the disease after 2 weeks?
It takes about 3-4 weeks for the vaccine to give protection to the body by antibody production.
No 6, 6th Main Road, Opp.Indian Bank. Nanganallur, Chennai - 600061
About Diha Clinic
Diha is a multi-speciality clinic that brings high-quality healthcare at a reasonable cost to Nanganallur, Chennai, and the surrounding areas. It is a not-for-profit clinic, set up by the Diha Trust.
It’s an outpatient facility that offers quality healthcare across General Medicine, Diabetology, Orthopaedics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Cardiology, Dermatology, ENT & Physiotherapy. It has an NABL accredited Lab and also offers ECG, Echo, TMT, X-Ray and Ultrasound inhouse.
Places we serve: Our customers mostly come from Nanganallur, Adambakkam, Madipakkam, Alandur, Medavakkam, Pazhavanthangal, Keelkattalai, Puzhuthivakkam, Ullagaram, Guindy, St. Thomas Mount, Meenambakkam, Velacherry & more.
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