Preventive measures Wash your
hands and get vaccinated
Given how easily influenza spreads, and the incidence of H1N1, doctors say that vaccination helps keep people safe
One sneeze is all it takes to
set off a panic-stricken reaction, thanks to the various reports of the H1N1
virus that seems to have spread across Tamil Nadu. Also called swine flu, the
initial symptoms are similar to that of the common flu — cough, fever, and
diarrhoea. Since both are viral in nature, it is not easy to differentiate in
the early stages, says Dr Ramesh Gopalswamy, Mobile Medical Officer at Anaikatti-Attapady
region and Quality Assurance Officer at the Government Tribal Speciality
Hospital, Kottathara, adding, “But if you also have vomiting, lethargy, and
loss of appetite, you need to see the doctor.”
Swine flu is highly contagious
and communicability begins from day one of onset of symptoms. Younger children
may potentially be contagious for longer periods. What can one do to stay safe?
The first step, says Dr Gopalswamy, is to wash one’s hands regularly and
properly. He lists other steps: Practise cough etiquette, don’t shake hands,
avoid close contact with people who have flu-like illnesses, stay away from
crowded places and, most important, stay at home if you have flu-like symptoms.
What about wearing a mask? No need, he says but adds sternly, “no self testing
or self medicating either.”
He suggests that everyone gets a
vaccine but recommends that this is done under medical supervision since some
vaccines are contraindicated for pregnant women. Children below eight years who
are being vaccinated for the first time must have repeat dose with a four-weeks
gap between the two. “Annual re-vaccination is mandatory,” emphasises Dr
Gopalswamy, “because a new strain emerges every year.”
In Coimbatore, for the first
time in their history, some paediatric hospitals have a waiting list for the
seasonal flu vaccine. Dr Saranya Manickaraj, consultant paediatrician and
neonatalogist, Womens Center by Motherhood, says that patients have to wait to
get the shot. The vaccine, according to her, is the best preventive measure
against seasonal flu.
“In India, the flu season is
from September to February. We advise children between six months and five
years be vaccinated two to four weeks before the season starts,” says Dr
Saranya, so that the vaccine gets sufficient time to kick in before the peak
season. Children in the high-risk category — such as those born pre-term, those
with underlying respiratory issues such as asthma, kidney, liver and heart
diseases — are advised to take the flu shot, available at any paediatric clinic
for ₹1000. With Coimbatore seeing several incidences of fever, Dr Saranya
advices parents to observe some precautionary measures.
Of which the first one is
hygiene. The virus spreads through air and through contact with contaminated
objects. Which is why washing hands thoroughly is important. Dr Saranya adds
that children should be taught to sneeze into their shirt sleeves or shoulder
instead of their palms as “most of them do not wash their hands after they
sneeze.”
She also advises parents to keep
children away from crowded or closed spaces — “including malls and indoor play
areas” — and to approach a doctor if the child has a temperature of over 102 or
103 degrees. “Look out for symptoms such as prolonged fever, extreme fatigue,
bad cough, vomiting and loose motion.”
When it comes to the care of
senior citizens, gerontologist Dr Rahul Padmanabhan, Medical Director, Grand
World Elder Care, suggests they take the flu shot “since the older people have
lower immunity and are vulnerable.”
Wash hands properly and regularly
How to wash hands
properly
1. Wet your hands and apply
enough soap; around a coin-sized blob of liquid soap
2. Rub palms together well
3. Rub the backs of each hand
4. Rub both hands together while
interlocking fingers
5. Rub the backs of the fingers
in each hand
6. Rub the tips of the fingers
7. Rub the thumbs and ends of
the wrists
8. Rub in between the fingers
9. Rinse and dry
10. If you’re using a hand
sanitiser, follow the above steps
Nine things to know
about the flu shot
Even as parents
grapple with whether to give their children the flu vaccine or not, considering
it’s not on the essential list, and its high yearly cost, Dr Pratik Patil,
Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Fortis Hospital, Bengaluru, helps us make an
informed decision. November 27, 2018 12:14 IST
1. They are to be given
annually, ideally two weeks before onset of monsoon or winter. The World Health
Organization collects data from all over the world to pick up the most common
strains and develop the vaccines.
2. The shot takes two weeks to
generate immunity. It does not lower our natural immunity.
3. The vaccines
are: Inactivated/Trivalent Vaccine that tackles three viruses HINI, H3N2,
Influenza B (Approximately Rs 800); Quadrivalent Vaccine : HINI, H3N2 and Two
strains of Influenza B (Approximately Rs 1, 500).
4. A Live Vaccine (nasal spray;
approximately Rs 800-900) has been approved this year. This
should not be used by those who are on steroid medication, pregnant women,
people with HIV, those who’ve had an organ transplant or their family members,
children with respiratory problems such as asthma, or those who are on aspirin
5. It’s near impossible to
develop a vaccine for the thousands of influenza strains. If there is a virus
that is different from those in the vaccine, then the vaccine won’t work on it.
Also, in the process of making the vaccine genetic changes may occur in the
viruses
6. Children from six months to
five years must take the shot. The flu shot is not contra-indicated in pregnant
women and it will, in fact, give the baby some immunity to flu. People over 50
years of age who have chronic illnesses, those on steroids, have had or are
going to have an organ transplant, are HIV positive, those who spend time in
hospitals and with the sick, and family members of all these vulnerable groups
are advised the shot.
7. It is 50-60% efficacious.
Techniques of vaccine making may have an effect on efficacy.
8. A person may get flu-like
symptoms, but it may not be flu at all
9. It’s fine to healthy people
to take the vaccine too, but soap and water and good hand hygiene are the most
important in protection against sickness. Dec 2018
