HEALTH Prevent flu with good defense

What you need to know about flu shots.
By LISA LIDDANE
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Flu season has officially begun and flu shots remain the best protection, according to the Orange County (Calif.) Health Care Agency. Here, questions and answers about the flu vaccine and flu season:
Q. What measures can I take to prevent getting or spreading the flu?
A. Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. Get plenty of rest. Eat a healthy diet. Dress appropriately for the weather. Minimize time in crowded areas. Avoid contact with others when you have the flu or are not feeling well. Get a flu shot.
Q. Who should not get a flu shot?
A. People who have allergic reactions to eggs or a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Those who have an illness accompanied by fever should wait until their symptoms have disappeared.
Q. Why should I get a flu shot?
A. The flu vaccine this year protects against three strains of influenza viruses that researchers expect will cause illness this winter: A/Moscow, A/New Caledonia and B/Hong Kong. Flu viruses change frequently, and protection declines within one year of vaccination. Influenza can be a serious and lethal disease and lead to complications, especially among older people and those with weakened respiratory health and immune problems.
Q. Why is it that in the past, I got the flu even though I had a flu shot?
A. It's possible that the flu strain you contracted was not among those covered by the flu shot. Also, unless your doctor diagnosed your condition as the flu, you may have had another upper respiratory infection that bore similarity to the flu.
Q. What are the symptoms of the flu?
A. They can include high fever, sore throat, cough and general aches and pains lasting three to five days.
Q. How is the flu treated?
A. Treatment includes acetaminophen for fever, drinking lots of clear liquids, eating light meals and bed rest. A physician can prescribe antiviral drugs to reduce severity and duration of uncomplicated flu. Emergency-room care should be considered only in the most severe cases. Older people and those with chronic diseases should see their doctor whenever illness is prolonged, they have a high fever or they experience difficulty breathing.
Q. What anti-viral drugs are used for the flu?
A. The following are flu anti-viral medications:
UAmantadine and rimantadine: approved as a preventive measure and treatment for influenza A only.
UOseltamivir: approved as a preventive measure and treatment for influenza A and B.
UZanamivir: approved as treatment for influenza A and B.
None of these has been demonstrated to be effective in preventing serious flu-related complications. Ask your doctor about side effects for each drug.