Why all the fuss? Influenza.

LilgirlRN, ADN, RN · Dec 14, 2003

I too can understand where the original poster is coming from. I think that the media blows things out of proprtion too. Every year thousands and thousands of people die from influenza complications. Yes it's terrible that people die on a personal stand point. Since the media has gone wild about the flu, I see children being brought in to the ER because of a temp of 100 and a runny nose, their parents in a panic. Yes, information is paramount but the media often gives out miselading information. When all of this started with the media 6 kids in Colorado had died. I am not trying to trivialize their deaths at all, it's a tragedy, but statistically speaking 6 kids against the entired population of kids in the US... See what I am saying? It's like the media reporting shark attacks each time one occurs, or people being sturck by lightning etc.. I just see the panic of parents and when I don't panic because their child has a low grade temp, they get upset. They do not call the pediatrician, they've gotten their medical advice from Tom Brokaw. This is just wrong.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 14, 2003

Key Facts About the Flu

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm

Flu Activity

Reports & Surveillance Methods in the United States

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivity.htm

Patient Educational Material

http://www.cdc.gov/nip/flu/gallery.htm

MrsWampthang, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2003

In my opinion the non emergent patients that come to the ER represent one thing...Job security. We used to discuss this and what is the % of pts that come in that are true emergencys? 10%? 20%?. If you take away all of the URI pts, the UTI pts, the ones that use the ER as their primary, the drug seekers, the chest pains that are GI, the abdominal pains that are merely gas, the chronic aches and pains ..how much staff would the average ER require??? I mean in a 10 or 12 hour shift how many CVA, MI, MVA, GSW, ODs or other true emergencies does the average ER see? The ER I worked at put 52000 patients through it the lst year I worked there, if you looked at the stats I would be curious to see how many of those people would have been deemed to be appropriate to be there?? I know it is frustrating, I have been there, I have bi*&(& ed about it but it is something to think about. Erin

I worked a rare night shift last night and was beginning to wonder where my compassion went. We had person after person come in for themselves, or bring in their sick child for illness that as a nurse, I would treat at home. What made the evening even more frustrating was the fact that we were hit with the first big snow of the year and people were coming out in with minor things, in the middle of the night! Yeah, a majority of what we saw was the "good old flu." Thank goodness we had a doc on from 7 until 11p that went in, saw them, wrote whatever the instructions were and discharged them quickly, otherwise we would have be backed up all night. None of the kids that were brought in by parents for fever and coughing were admitted. Course, none of them had a fever higher than 103 I think. I explained to one mom that "fever is actually a good thing. It's the body's response to infection." Her child had a low grade fever, and was alert and playful.

You're absolutely right though Erin, if it wasn't for these type of patients they wouldn't need near as many staff and I could be out of a job. Cpurse I could be anyway someday due to how much the hospital writes off in uncompensated debt.

And to address the OP, I saw the national director of the CDC speak the other day on TV and she told the media the same thing we have been saying, drink plenty of fluids, rest and don't go to the ER, or even your doctor for that matter. Stay home when you're sick and don't spread it to other people!

I guess what I am losing compassion with is people who are on medicaid or with no insurance that are using the ER for their primary care doc. I understand why, but I wish these folks would use some common sense as often as they use the ER.

It isn't just the ER that gets abused, EMS was called out so many times last night for things that didn't need to come into the ER, let alone take an ambulance out of service in the middle of a snowstorm with icy roads to boot. I wish people realized that when they are calling the ambulance for something stupid they are taking that ambulance away from someone who might really need it. We had one guy die from a massive heart attack because there was no ambulance immediately available to go him; reason: they were tied up on stupid minor runs (an ankle injury that could have gone by car to the ER, and a minor PI that they patient was up walking at the scene and decided at the last minute to get checked at the ER so decided to take the ambulance out of service to take her.) Last night the local EMS was called for: not neccesarily in this order-to move a woman from her scooter chair to her bed and position the scooter so she could get into it the next morning, an old man who had phlegm in his throat and was afraid he would choke, a couple of people that were sick with the flu, etc, etc.

Sorry this is a thread hijack, but people abusing EMS is a bigger pet peeve of mine than ER abusers. At least we can make room some where for everyone, or they can sit for hours in the waiting room. People can't wait for ambulance when they need them. I guess that's why we see so many critical patients walk in the front door and so many stupid things come in by ambulance.

Let's see, back to the original topic....mouthy teens? Oh wait, that's not it is it? That's a thread in itself!

Anyway, just adding my two cents worth. sorry so long!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Pam;)

CCU NRS · Dec 14, 2003

Oh yeah they are really hyping the flu! In fact I think it is all propaganda perpetrated by the Media to make people hysterical and send them through the streets running in fear!

It doesn't matter that people are dying and yes there are a certain number of influenza related deaths every year but it also doesn't mean that this year the strain isn't just a little worse than run of the mill. The media is the media for a reason they are paid to sensationalize things and show them with a brilliant light to magnify the prospect of getting the public's attention.

The Flu is BAD mmmmkay! People need to understand that it is an exceptionally severe strain this year mmmmkay! The media when they have nothing else to report fall back on the old standbys mmmmkay!

Saddam has been captured look forward to seeing this in every media format near you today and for the unforseeable future!!!

just in case anyone missed the entire gist this was sarcasm!!!

Brownms46 · Dec 14, 2003

INFLUENZA
What is the flu?
Influenza, commonly called the flu, is a respiratory illness caused by a specific kind of virus. Compared to most viruses that cause upper respiratory illnesses (e.g., the common cold), influenza viruses usually cause a more severe illness that is more likely to lead to serious medical complications, such as pneumonia.
What kinds of viruses cause influenza?
Influenza viruses are divided into three types: A, B and C. Types A and B are responsible for the outbreaks of respiratory illness that occur almost every year and often are associated with increased rates of hospitalization and death. Currently there are three different influenza strains in worldwide circulation: two type A viruses and one type B. (Type C differs because it usually causes either a very mild respiratory illness or no symptoms at all.)
However, influenza viruses continually change over time (usually by mutation). This enables a virus to evade a person's immune system, making people susceptible to influenza infection throughout their lives.
Occasionally, type A viruses can change abruptly and a new subtype will suddenly emerge. When this occurs, large numbers of people--sometimes an entire population--have no antibody protection. This results in a worldwide epidemic, or pandemic. There have been three influenza pandemics this century. In 1918-19, the Spanish flu caused approximately 500,000 deaths in the United States and 20 million worldwide. The Asian flu resulted in 70,000 U.S. deaths in 1957-58, and the Hong Kong flu of 1968-69 claimed 34,000 lives in the United States However, these are rare events.
When is influenza most common?
The influenza season, when the illness is most common, usually occurs during the colder months of the year: late fall, winter and early spring.
What are the symptoms of influenza?
Typical symptoms include fever--often with chills and headache, muscle aches and fatigue. Respiratory symptoms are a cough, sore throat, and a runny or stuffy nose. Although nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can sometimes accompany an influenza infection, especially in children, gastrointestinal symptoms are rarely prominent. The term "stomach flu" is incorrectly used sometimes to describe gastrointestinal illnesses caused by other microorganisms.
How many people are affected by influenza each season?
During most years, between 10 percent and 20 percent of the population are infected with influenza viruses. Children get influenza more often than healthy adults. Older adults and people of any age with chronic illnesses are more apt to suffer from serious medical complications from influenza. In an average year, approximately 36,000 Americans die from influenza and its complications and many more are hospitalized.
What can be done to prevent influenza?
The best prevention is a flu shot. Because influenza viruses change frequently and because protection from the vaccine decreases with time, people should get a shot every year. The amount of vaccine manufactured in the United States has increased substantially in recent years. There were 68 million doses of vaccine available for the 1994-95 season, nearly double the number available for the 1991-92 season.
Two antiviral drugs also are effective in preventing and treating influenza type A infections: amantadine and rimantadine, both of which are available by prescription. They are not effective against influenza type B and must be administered within 48 hours of illness onset.
Who should get an influenza shot?
Anyone who wants to reduce his or her risk of getting influenza should get an annual flu shot. Flu shots are particularly important, though, for certain people at risk of complications from influenza:
persons 65 years of age and older, even if they are otherwise in good health;
residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities;
persons of all ages who have chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma;
persons with diabetes, renal disease, severe anemia or suppressed immune systems;
children who are on aspirin therapy; and
health care providers or household members of any of the above groups.
Are there any good reasons not to get a flu shot? Persons who have a severe allergy to eggs or who have had a previous allergic reaction to influenza vaccine should not get a flu shot without consulting a physician. But, other people avoid getting flu shots for the wrong reasons:
The vaccine causes unpleasant side effects or may even cause the flu. Influenza vaccine causes no side effects in most people. Less than one-third of those who get flu shots have some soreness at the vaccination site and about 5 percent to 10 percent experience mild side effects such as headache or low-grade fever for about a day after getting the shot.
Flu shots are not very effective. Overall vaccine effectiveness varies from year to year, depending on how similar the influenza virus strains included in the vaccine are to those that are circulating during the flu season. Because vaccine strains are chosen nine to 10 months before the flu season and because influenza viruses mutate over time, the circulating strains can change between the time the vaccine strains are chosen and the next flu season.

These changes in the virus(es) sometimes reduce the ability of the vaccine-induced antibodies to inhibit the newly mutated virus, thereby reducing the vaccine's effectiveness. Vaccine effectiveness also varies from one person to another.
Studies of healthy young adults have shown influenza vaccine to be 70 percent to 90 percent effective in preventing illness. In the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions, the vaccine is often less effective in preventing influenza than in reducing the severity of the illness and the risk of serious complications and death. Research has shown the vaccine to reduce hospitalization by about 70 percent and death by about 85 percent in independent seniors.
Among nursing home residents, vaccine can reduce the risk of hospitalization by about 50 percent, the risk of pneumonia by about 60 percent and the risk of death by 75 percent to 80 percent.
Flu shots are expensive for those on fixed incomes. Since May 1993 Medicare Part B has paid for flu shots for the elderly, the country's largest high-risk group. During the 1994-95 flu season, though, only 35 percent of eligible Medicare persons in Illinois got shots.
When is the best time to get a flu shot?
In the United States, influenza activity is typically very low until December; peak activity most often occurs between January and March. Influenza vaccine should be administered between September and mid-November. It takes about one to two weeks after vaccination for antibodies against influenza to develop and provide protection.

Agnus · Dec 14, 2003

I scanned the thread. Did not read every word. So I may have missed it but no where did I notice anyone mention that the flu season has started unusually early.

I believe the is the crux . When a flu season startes as early as this one (unusual for sure) That means the season will be longer than usual. With a longer season more people will be exposed and therefore more will become ill. Therefore those who are fragile are at greater risk too.

Now you might be exposed once and not get it but with a long season it is likely you will be exposed several times and will eventually get it. You spread it to grandma or baby. They are fragile and they die from it.

Even if people did not die it takes it's toll economically we don't work when we are with the flu and that is a hardsip on every one from your pay check to the employer who has people out sick to the production of goods and services that are slowed due to this, etc.

Strain A or B; vaccine or no. This is going to be a long season because it started early and we'll have more people sick. To top it off the current vaccine does not contain this particular bug. We do not know; we only hope that the vaccine will offer enough crossover immunity to at least lessen the severity for those who get the vaccine and are exposed.

Brownms46 · Dec 14, 2003

I believe there IS too much hype in the media, and that people are not only being unreasonably scared, but assaulted by the constant barage of doom, and gloom! I had my flu shot because it was free, but I have not in any other year ever had it, unless it was free. In my 23yrs of nursing, and being exposed to children, the elderly, visitors, and sick co-workers, I have never had the flu!

I do not feel that this season is any different than any other, just more hype!

1997-98
Vaccine components: A/Nanchang/933/95 (H3N2), A/Johannesburg/82/96 (H1N1), and B/Harbin/07/94
Influenza activity began to increase in early December 1997 and peaked during late January to early February 1998. The predominant virus was influenza A(H3N2); few influenza type B or influenza A(H1N1) isolates were reported.
At the peak of the influenza season, 29% of respiratory specimens tested were positive for influenza and 46 state epidemiologists reported regional or widespread influenza activity. P&I deaths were above the epidemic threshold for 10 consecutive weeks and peaked at 9%. The percentage of patient visits to sentinel physicians for ILI was elevated for 7 consecutive weeks, peaking at 5%. Noteworthy: In July 1998, CDC and Health Canada began investigating reports of respiratory illness with fever and associated pneumonia among persons traveling on land and sea (both independent and tour packages) in Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Laboratory evidence confirmed that influenza A(H3N2) infection was the cause of many of the illnesses. Approximately 40,000 tourists and tourism workers were affected by this outbreak.

I think it is hype when the news equate not getting the vaccine with dying, and panicing people. I had a social worker come to the clinic yesterday, and who also has panic attacks, and he was beside himself, and was willing to just about anything to get one of the few remaining flu shots, even though he didn't fall within the parameters to get one.

I feel the media has been irresponsible in their reporting, and that maybe it would be more productive to tell people how to use common sense prevention, rather than placing false hopes in vaccine, that may or may not help them! MO

1999-2000
Vaccine components: A/Sydney/05/97 (H3N2), A/Beijing/262/95 (H1N1), and B/Yamanashi/166/98
Influenza activity began to increase in November 1999 and peaked during late December 1999 and early January 2000.
During the 1999-2000 influenza season, influenza A (H3N2) viruses predominated in the United States and worldwide. This was the fourth consecutive season in which influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominated and the third in which the A/Sydney/05/97 (H3N2) strain predominated. At the end of December, 33% of respiratory specimens tested for influenza were positive.
State epidemiologists from 44 states reported regional or widespread influenza activity at the peak of the season. P&I mortality was above epidemic threshold for all but 2 weeks during the season peaking at 11.2% but this data must be interpreted with caution because changes were made in the case reporting definition that may have lead to higher estimates of P&I mortality than those reported in previous seasons.

tgibson3770 · Dec 15, 2003

Originally posted by navynurse29
Hey guys, have you noticed that once this guy drops his bomb by way of such a "interesting" thread starter, he almost never comes back to see the results of the bomb? Hmmmm, why is that do you think? I don't know about you all but I smell a big ol FAT troll! .....or at least he doesn't post a defense, anyway.

Your sense of smell has seemingly been impaired. Big fat troll? Sounds like your watching too many scifi movies. Nope. Sorry to disappoint you Ms. Navynurse. By the way, cheers for those that represent the great US of A.

I wish to exclaim that many Americans are living in self denial in many facets and we are indoctrinated with half truths from the general media. They tell us what they want us to hear and omit the rest. I served in the military in the Gulf War era and the discrepencies were vastly different then what actually took place. Take this same scenario into homeland issues and what do you get? Misinformation. I am saddened by the loss of human life and wish not to exploit human tragedy in a disrespectful way. But my post was aimed to put our minds to question the validity of media reportings. Question at hand.

I know that there are many of you that are facing firsthand the influenza outbreak of 2003. But take away all of the glitter and glamour of media spotlight and really evaluate and assess the reality of it all. It isn't as bad as it may seem. Clinics and healthcare facilities need to get so many patients in a year to gain GOVERNMENT healthcare subsidies. So always at the end of each year, the media spotlights a "new" viral strain to beef up healthcare usage. Sounds a little like a conspiracy theory, but year after year it proves itself time and time again.

In my own defense.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Dec 15, 2003

I think i'll take a few advil and return to this tomorrow.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2003

Originally posted by mjlrn97
I'm just surprised the OP isn't blaming the outbreak on us fatties.

OK, meow. ^..^ Just give me my milk in a saucer and I'll shut up now.

Come now!!

Everyone knows that vegetarians don't get the flu.

Their bodies are so detoxified that the flu cannot survive in their systems.

Flu needs meat and dairy to survive,

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Dec 15, 2003

"Clinics and healthcare facilities need to get so many patients in a year to gain GOVERNMENT healthcare subsidies. So always at the end of each year, the media spotlights a "new" viral strain to beef up healthcare usage."

Hey, we can't even get people to eat 5 servings of veggies a day with media hype, I doubt they would come in to a clinic unless they were actually sick.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2003

Originally posted by canoehead
"Clinics and healthcare facilities need to get so many patients in a year to gain GOVERNMENT healthcare subsidies. So always at the end of each year, the media spotlights a "new" viral strain to beef up healthcare usage."

Hey, we can't even get people to eat 5 servings of veggies a day with media hype, I doubt they would come in to a clinic unless they were actually sick.

Isn't all a KON-SPIR-ACEY by the pharmacy companies??:roll