Flu activity remains high in North Texas. Dallas County has reported five flu-related deaths this season. There have been two in Tarrant County.
With Texas and 45 other states reporting widespread flu activity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared a flu epidemic. Part of the blame goes to the current flu vaccine. It's less effective against Influenza A or H3N2 - the more severe strain causing the majority of cases.
However, Dr. Glenn Hardesty says get the shot, if you haven鈥檛 already. The emergency room physician at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital talked about the vaccine and the flu season in this edition of 四虎影院鈥檚 consumer health series, Vital Signs.
From Dr. Hardesty鈥檚 interview鈥�
What kind of flu activity are seeing at the emergency room: You see the very young and the very old, as in most disease processes, those are the two groups that are affected the most. We鈥檝e also seen people who have gotten vaccinated who have gotten the flu, but a much more mild form of the flu tan those who have not gotten the vaccine.
Why you should still get the flu vaccine, even though it鈥檚 less effective this season: It does help some in preventing the more severe form of the disease. It鈥檚 probably close enough (to the H3N2 virus, which mutated) to help the body mount an immune response. I鈥檝e seen this clinically with patients. The ones who have gotten sick with very bad cases of the flu this year are the ones that were not vaccinated. The ones that come in with milder symptoms, they鈥檙e the ones who were vaccinated.
Reminder about the flu shot: The flu shot has to be given ever season. One mistake I鈥檝e seen patients make is 鈥淒id you get your flu shot?鈥� 鈥淲ell, yes.鈥� Well, when did you get it?鈥� 鈥淚 got it back in January.鈥� Well, no, it鈥檚 only for that flu season this year. And it comes out for August to October. The vaccine is kind of geared toward that predicted flu season. Also, the vaccines fade over time. That鈥檚 why we have to give boosters with most of our vaccines.
Should you go to the E.R. if you think you have the flu? Typically not, unless you have severe cases of people not being able to breathe. It鈥檚 often better served at a different environment - a doctor鈥檚 office, convenience care clinics.
Best treatment for the flu: Prevention of the flu - getting the flu immunization. If you鈥檙e sick, stay from people who are not sick. If you do come down with the flu, there are some medications that can help shorten the course of the disease: Motrin or Tylenol to help keep the fever down. Tamiflu? If you get it within the first day or so of the disease, yes, it鈥檚 recommended and can help. But it鈥檚 not a treatment to where you can take the pill and feel great the next day. It鈥檚 a virus and has to run its course.
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