Influenza
Influenza is a viral disease that usually strikes between October and May. It lasts from three to five days and can be followed by fatigue for two or three weeks. It usually causes aching muscles and joints, headaches, cough and fever with a temperature of between 38o and 40oC. Although it can become a much more severe illness, leading to pneumonia, nerve and brain damage and even death, such complications are rare. Because it is a viral infection it cannot be treated with antibiotics. The best remedy is rest while drinking plenty of fluids.
Every winter we offer flu vaccination to all our patients who meet the at risk criteria defined by the Department of Health. These are people who:
- Are aged over 65 years old
- Suffer from diabetes (both types 1 and 2)
- Suffer from a chronic respiratory disease including: some forms of asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, cystic fibrosis, interstital lung fibrosis, pneumonicosis and BPD
- Suffer from a chronic heart disease including: congenital heart disease, hypertension with cardiac complications, chronic heart failure, angina, previous heart attack or other forms of IHD
- Suffer from a chronic renal disease including: nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal failure and renal transplantation
- Suffer from chronic liver disease including: cirrhosis of the liver
- Suffer from immunosupression including: those undergoing long term immunosupressant therapy, asplenia, splenic dysfunction, HIV and ongoing chemotherapy
The rules laid down by the Department of Health state that if you do not fall in to an at risk group, we are not permitted to provide vaccination under the NHS. However, you can obtain a private vaccination and many businesses now provide this facility for their staff.
If you fall within an at risk group, we will write to you to invite you to come in for a flu vaccination. If invited, we strongly recommend that you attend.
