Emmitsburg Osteopathic Primary Care Center
121-123 West Main Street, Rear Entrance
P.O. Box 1219
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
301-447-3310

INFLUENZA

Each year, usually about mid-November through April, coming from Asia to your town, we are invaded by the Influenza virus.  We prepare for this invasion by stocking up on various respiratory remedies: the green tea, lemon, honey, vitamin C, cough and cold formulas.  Each of us has our favorite routines.  More important than all of these is getting the Influenza Vaccine!

Vaccines are provided by your doctor, by the local pharmacies, and some grocery stores and other places of public services, eg. senior citizen centers.  I encourage all who can come to make the effort to get immunized, get protected.  Those who are allergic to eggs, or are pregnant may not get an influenza vaccine.   

The benefits of the vaccine:  For all those who get the vaccine, their resistance to influenza is boosted.  Exposure to the virus may cause illness, but not as severe as without the vaccine.  Many will not even notice that the virus has come their way.  If a large group of folks are immune to the virus, then the virus will not impact the community as severely as if there were only a few healthy members.  It will be hard for the virus to take root and cause serious disease in the community.  Re-infection will also be much less.  It is not enough that we become infected by influenza, but, influenza, by sharing plasmids with bacteria, allows bacteria to become very invasive.  Usually Streptococcus and Staphyloccocus bacteria are very powerful during Flu season.  By not getting the virus infection, we limit how much Strep and Staph are allowed to create serious illness.  No one likes fever chills, cough, cold, congestion and generally not being able to function.

Influenza is a respiratory infection.  It is spread by water droplets in the air. A good cough leaves the lungs at 70 miles per hour and travels eight to twelve feet!  Needless to say anyone in that radius will be exposed to the virus.  Incubation: the multiplication phase of the virus in your body will last only one to four days before you can recognize the symptoms of the illness.  You may even feel especially well a day or so after the invasion as you body revs up with “cortisol and cytokines” to recruit your white cells to rescue you from Influenza Virus.  Then it will hit, body aches, fever, chest congestion, sinus and nasal congestion, headache and muscle aches.  If you suspect you are infected you can get tested for Influenza, and more importantly you can get treated for influenza and its related infections.  Seek help when you need it!    There are several medications that can help blunt the impact of Influenza if taken within the first two days of symptoms.

A rapid influenza test can help you decide if you need treatment.

Get eight hours of rest daily, drink lots of water, eat healthy foods, wash your hands many times through the day and keep your hands lotioned.  All of these interventions will help you stay well during the harsh winter season.