Seniors and Flu

Millions of people get the flu each year. For otherwise healthy individuals, it means temporarily feeling achy and miserable, but then it goes away. (Read more in "Influenza") But according to the National Institutes of Health, flu can be life threatening in older adults and in people of any age with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, as well as heart, lung or kidney diseases. (Read about "Diabetes" "Coronary Heart Disease" "Respiratory System" "Kidney Disease")

Flu or influenza is caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) says flu is very contagious, spreading from one person to another when the person with the flu coughs or sneezes.

Symptoms can include:

• fever
• chills
• dry cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose

In addition, there may be headache, muscle aches and often extreme fatigue. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can sometimes accompany the flu as well, although CDC says these are not the primary symptoms of the flu. (Read about "Diarrhea") What people may call the "stomach flu" is actually gastroenteritis. (Read about "Gastroenteritis")

The American Lung Association (ALA) says pneumonia (Read about "Pneumonia") is the most serious complication of flu and can be caused by the flu virus or by bacteria that get into the lungs when the body's defense system is weakened by the virus. (Read about "Microorganisms") Flu can also lead to bronchitis. (Read about "Acute Bronchitis")

Treatment and prevention

Because it's caused by a virus, not bacteria, AAFP says antibiotics are not effective against flu. (Read about "Antibiotics") However, your doctor may prescribe medications that can reduce the duration of fever and other symptoms. These drugs are only available by prescription.

In addition, a flu shot can lower your chances of getting the flu. (Read about "Immunizations") The National Institute on Aging, however, says that in older people and those with certain chronic illnesses, the flu shot often is less effective in preventing flu than in reducing symptoms and the risk of serious illness and death.

Who's at risk

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the following people are at risk for serious illness from the flu and should consider a flu shot every year:

• people 65 years of age and older
• residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• adults and children who have chronic heart or lung diseases (Read about "Coronary Heart Disease")
• adults and children with diabetes, kidney disease, or severe forms of anemia (Read about "Diabetes" "Kidney Disease" "Anemia")
• healthcare workers in contact with people in high-risk groups
• caregivers or people who live with someone in a high-risk group

Keep in mind that while the flu shot does not cause side effects in most people, it can cause problems in others. There may be some soreness, redness, or swelling on the arm where the shot is given. Some people may also experience headache or low-grade fever for about a day after vaccination.

If you are allergic to eggs, you should tell this to your doctor. (Read about "Food Allergies") The viruses for flu vaccines are grown in eggs and may cause serious reactions in people with an egg allergy. If you have any concerns about this, talk with your doctor.

For most adults who get the flu, AAFP says it's a good idea to rest in bed, drink plenty of fluids (Read about "Dehydration"), and take medication such as aspirin or acetaminophen to relieve fever and discomfort. But for all of us and for seniors in particular, it's also important to contact your doctor if you have any flu symptoms, especially if they seem to last. Flu can lead to other complications. And symptoms that seem like flu may in fact be something else, so always check with your doctor.