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People with asthma can get seriously ill with 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (sometimes called swine flu). Learn how to protect yourself and your children with asthma and what to do if you or they have symptoms of the flu.
A person with asthma who gets any type of flu has a greater chance for developing serious health complications from the infection. Compared with people in general who get 2009 H1N1 flu, people with asthma with 2009 H1N1 flu are more likely to have serious illness, such as pneumonia, and even die from 2009 H1N1 flu. Getting a flu vaccine is the best way to prevent influenza. Anyone with asthma is recommended to get both the seasonal flu vaccine and 2009 H1N1 vaccine.
If you or your child with asthma has flu symptoms, call your doctor right away. Treatment should begin as soon as possible. Antiviral drug treatment works best when started early (within 48 hours after symptoms start).
Flu shots and people with asthma
People with asthma should get both the 2009 H1N1 flu shot and the seasonal flu shot because they can get seriously ill from any type of flu. People with asthma should get the "flu shot" — a vaccine made with inactivated (killed) flu virus. The flu shot is given with a needle, usually in the arm. Both 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu shots are "killed" vaccines, so you cannot catch the flu from getting these shots. Persons with asthma should not use the nasal spray "FluMist®" vaccine.
Protect Yourself and Others
Take these everyday steps to protect your health
What to do if you have Symptoms of Flu
Influenza, often called the "flu", is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. Flu is thought to spread mostly by the coughing and sneezing of people who are ill with influenza. If you or your child has asthma and you think you or your child has flu, call your doctor right away. If needed, he or she will prescribe an antiviral medicine, Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), that treats the flu. The medicine is most helpful if it is started soon (within the first 48 hours) after the person with asthma becomes sick. If lab testing for flu was done, treatment should not wait for test results to come back. Start treatment right away.
Talk with your doctor now about how to reach him or her quickly by telephone if you think you have the flu.
Symptoms of influenza can include:
**Not everyone with flu will have a fever.
Treatment of Flu for People with Asthma
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) is an antiviral drug that can be used to treat 2009 H1N1 flu. To get Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), a doctor needs to write a prescription. This medicine fights against the flu by keeping flu viruses from making more viruses in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious health problems that can result from flu illness. People with asthma should not use zanamivir (Relenza®), a different antiviral drug, because there is a risk it may cause wheezing in people that already have asthma or other lung problems.
Protect Yourself, Protect Your Family
Text courtesy: www.cdc.gov
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