Flu Fables: 14 Flu Myths

FLU FABLES: 14 FLU MYTHS

It’s January, and we’re back into the height of flu season. If you’ve had the flu (influenza) as an adult you know how sick you can be. Heck, even for a kid it’s no picnic. You may have your theories on how to avoid the flu—and you may be 100% right. However, there’s also a huge amount of misinformation and bad advice out there on dealing with the flu and the flu shot.

Here are excerpts from the November 12, 2018 updated Harvard University article 10 Flu Myths

1. MYTH: You can catch the flu from the vaccine.
   The flu shot is made from an inactivated virus that can’t transmit infection. So people who get sick after receiving a flu vaccination were going to get sick anyway. It takes a week or two to get protection from the vaccine. But people assume that because they got sick after getting the vaccine, the flu shot caused their illness.
2. MYTH: Healthy people don’t need to be vaccinated.
   While it’s especially important for people who have a chronic illness to get the flu shot, anyone — even healthy folks — can benefit from being vaccinated. Current CDC guidelines recommend yearly vaccination against influenza for everyone older than 6 months of age, including pregnant women.
3. MYTH: Getting the flu vaccination is all you need to do to protect yourself from the flu.
   There are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself during flu season besides vaccination. Avoid contact with people who have the flu, wash your hands frequently, and consider taking anti-viral medications if you were exposed to the flu before being vaccinated.
4. MYTH: The flu is just a bad cold.
   Influenza may cause bad cold symptoms, like sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, hoarseness, and cough.   But in the United States alone, 36,000 people die and more than 200,000 are hospitalized each year because of the flu. It’s not too late to get a flu shot. Even if it doesn’t prevent you from getting the flu, it can decrease the chance of severe symptoms.
5. MYTH: You can’t spread the flu if you’re feeling well
   Actually, 20% to 30% of people carrying the influenza virus have no symptoms.
6. MYTH: You don’t need to get a flu shot every year.
   The influenza virus changes (mutates) each year. So getting vaccinated each year is important to make sure you have immunity to the strains most likely to cause an outbreak.
7. MYTH: You can catch the flu from going out in cold weather without a coat, with wet hair or by sitting near a drafty window.
   The only way to catch the flu is by being exposed to the influenza virus. Flu season coincides with the cold weather. So people often associate the flu with a cold, drafty environment. But, they are not related.
8. MYTH: Feed a cold, starve a fever.
   If you have the flu (or a cold) and a fever, you need more fluids. There’s little reason to increase or decrease how much you eat. Though you may have no appetite, “starving” yourself will accomplish little. And poor nutrition will not help you get better.
9. MYTH: Chicken soup will speed your recovery from the flu.
   Hot liquids can soothe a sore throat and provide much needed fluids. But chicken soup has no other specific qualities that can help fight the flu.                                                                                     
10. MYTH: If you have a high fever with the flu that lasts more than a day or two, antibiotics may be necessary.
    Antibiotics work well against bacteria, but they aren’t effective for a viral infection like the flu. Then again, some people develop a bacterial infection as a complication of the flu, so it may be a good idea to get checked out if your symptoms drag on or worsen.

 

Here are excerpts involving 2 additional flu myths from an article in Health.com titled 10 Biggest Myths About the Flu

The flu includes gastrointestinal symptoms  As miserable as symptoms of the flu are, digestive distress is rarely one of them. What’s politely called the “stomach flu” is a colloquial term that refers to a group of viruses that primarily cause vomiting and diarrhea. These viruses are not influenza. That’s not to say that the flu doesn’t occasionally lead to some gastrointestinal issues; some sufferers do experience nausea and even vomiting. But if you develop these symptoms without any of the classic flu tip-offs, you’re probably dealing with an entirely different germ.

Flu shots can cause Alzheimer’s  The flu shot doesn’t cause any illness or condition, and that includes Alzheimer’s disease. Why some people develop Alzheimer’s is not fully understood, and that opens the door to lots of speculation—which seems to be how the rumor linking the flu jab to Alzheimer’s got its start. The connection also has to do with the fact that senior citizens are strongly advised to get a flu shot every year, so people associate old age with flu shots, the way they associate old age with Alzheimer’s.

Finally, here are excerpts about 2 more myths from the MyFluVaccine.com article Dispel the Myths Surrounding the Flu Vaccine

“It’s too late to get vaccinated…”   While the end of October and November are the recommended months for vaccination, getting vaccinated later in the season (December-March) can still protect you because flu season often peaks after January and can last as late as May.

“There are no flu vaccines made just for seniors…”  There are two vaccines designed specifically for people 65 years of age and older. The high dose vaccine is tailored for adults over 65, and contains 4 times the amount of antigen as the regular flu shot. The adjuvanted flu vaccine has an adjuvant added to help enhance immune response in those 65 and older.

The flu is a good example of how medical myths can get in the way of good medical care. When it’s flu season, please take the necessary steps to stay healthy. That includes separating fact from myth.