Tag Archives: flu

Flu, Covid-19, RSV: Which vaccines do you need?

By: RAFEENA BACCHUS, M.D.

Each year, the influenza (flu) virus sickens millions of Americans. This fall we expect two other respiratory illnesses — Covid-19 and RSV — to surge around the same time.

Fortunately, safe and effective vaccines are available for the three viruses, and your doctor may recommend you get vaccinated against all three. Here’s what you need to know.

Flu

With symptoms like fever, chills, body aches and fatigue, the flu makes us feel lousy.  It can be very serious for older adults, young children and people with chronic illnesses. The flu virus continues to mutate new strains, so the vaccine typically protects against several types at once. The CDC recommends the vaccine for everyone 6 months and older, but it is especially important for adults 65+, children under 5, and those with weak immune systems.

Coronavirus

As we know, the coronavirus can mutate quickly, introducing new and risky variants. The dominant strain in the U.S. is currently EG.5, which spreads easily and causes symptoms similar to earlier versions, such as runny nose, fever, cough, headache, fatigue and sore throat. A new vaccine scheduled for release this fall will likely protect against EG.5 and other strains of the virus. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get the Covid-19 vaccine.

RSV

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) usually produces mild cold-like symptoms, but it is increasingly recognized as a threat for young children and seniors with certain chronic health conditions. The FDA recently approved the first RSV vaccines for adults 60+ and pregnant women 32-36 weeks pregnant (to give their unborn children immunity). There is also a long-acting antibody treatment for infants up to 8 months of age and up to 19 months of age that are at high risk for severe infection.

Can you test positive for 3 viruses at once?

Flu, coronavirus and RSV are all highly infectious viruses, and in past years we’ve seen cases of people infected by two of them at once. It is even possible to catch all three at the same time. Hospitalization is often required for those suffering from these co-infections due to their more serious cases of illness. As you would expect, this is especially risky for young children, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions.

Which vaccines should you get?

The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older to get the flu and Covid-19 shots as soon as possible this fall. The RSV vaccines are approved for people 60 years and older and the CDC suggests people 60+ with conditions such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, COPD, asthma, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, immunocompromised conditions, and those that are long-term care residents, consult with their doctors.

Most of us can safely get the flu and Covid-19 shots at the same time. Since the RSV vaccine is new, health experts recommend getting it separately, but older adults in poor health may be able to get all three shots at once.

To schedule vaccinations, or if you have questions about them, contact your MPCP healthcare provider.

Rafeena Bacchus, M.D.Dr. Rafeena Bacchus sees patients at MPCP’s Columbia office. She received her medical degree from SUNY at the Buffalo School of Medicine and completed her residency program in Internal Medicine at the University of Maryland. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Help! The ‘Bug’ Bit Me

By: Tywanna Hamilton, CRNP

You’re coughing, sneezing and running a fever. You’ve been bitten by “the bug.”

Colds and flu are caused by viruses. There’s no cure once you’ve been infected – antibiotics don’t work on viruses — but there are things you can do to reduce the misery and speed up your recovery.

Stay home

Once you’re sick, it’s best to go home and wait it out. Trying to push through illness can make it last longer and put others at risk for infection. At home, you should:

  • Get plenty of bed rest
  • Avoid physical exertion
  • Drink fluids to prevent dehydration. Avoid alcohol (it dehydrates you and may interact badly with medicine) and caffeine (it can keep you from resting)

Try home remedies

Some home remedies can help you feel better by clearing your nasal and throat passages, and easing headaches and sore throat:

  • Use a neti pot or similar device to rinse the nasal passages with saline
  • Drink hot green, black, or herbal tea
  • Gargle with hot salt water for a sore throat
  • Run a humidifier to moisten dry air
  • Take a hot shower to let steam loosen congestion
  • Put a hot compress on your forehead or nose for headache or sinus pain

Use over-the-counter medicine

Over-the-counter medicines can’t cure a cold or flu, but they can reduce your symptoms and make you feel better. There are dozens of options to reduce fever and pain, relieve congestion, quiet coughs, and ease a sore throat. Keep in mind, however, that some over-the-counter medicine may cause side effects, or they may react badly with other medication you’re taking. Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure they’re safe for you.

Take antiviral drugs for the flu

Antiviral drugs don’t cure the flu, but they can help prevent it, ease your symptoms and shorten the time you have it. For antivirals to treat the flu, they need to be started in the first two days after your symptoms appear. They are only available by prescription, so ask your doctor if an antiviral can help you.

These treatments can really help when you’ve been bitten by the bug. Your doctor may have other suggestions, so ask about ways you can get better faster.

 

Tywanna Hamilton, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and her Master of Science in Nursing degree from Prairie View A&M University. Ms. Hamilton is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She cares for patients at the Arundel Mills office.

Is it a Cold or Flu?

Q & A with Neil Padgett, M.D., MPH

Q:  How can I tell if I have a cold or the flu?

A:  While the common cold and flu can have similar symptoms, they are very different illnesses in terms of how long they last and how severe they are.

The first sign of a cold is often a sore throat. Symptoms that follow can include a runny nose, congestion or a cough. A cold usually lasts a few days to a week. Adults don’t often run a fever with a cold, but children may.

Flu symptoms are likely to come on suddenly and be more severe. Common signs of flu are a sore throat, fever, headache, muscle and body aches, congestion and cough. Some people get vomiting and diarrhea. While the flu can last a week or longer, it can also result in more serious illnesses like pneumonia, particularly in the elderly or very young.

Q: How can I treat a cold or flu?

A: First, get lots of rest and drink plenty of clear fluids — water, broth and sports drinks. Next, treat your symptoms with over-the-counter medications to ease fever and aches, congestion and coughs. For the flu, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medications such as Relenza® or Tamiflu®. They can make flu symptoms less severe and help you recover faster.

Q: Should I take antibiotics?

A: Antibiotics will not help because they fight bacterial infections, not viral illnesses like flu or the common cold. Taking an antibiotic will not make you feel better or help you get better faster.

Using antibiotics when you don’t need them contributes to a growing problem: antibiotic resistance. Due to over-use of antibiotics, some diseases that were once easily cured by antibiotics have become resistant to them. So, if you have a cold or flu, antibiotics are not a  treatment option.

Q:  When should I see a doctor?

A:  If you experience persistent coughing, fever, congestion, headache or painful swallowing (which may indicate strep throat), you should talk with your primary care provider. In general, if your symptoms aren’t getting better ‒ or start getting worse ─ call your doctor.

Q:  How can I prevent getting colds or the flu?

A:  Wash your hands often and avoid close contact with others who have a cold or flu.  A cold is contagious during the first three days, while a person with the flu can be contagious a day before feeling the symptoms and up to 5-7 days after getting sick.

The annual flu vaccine is your best defense against the flu.  After you get the shot, the vaccine takes 1-2 weeks to give you maximum protection, so the sooner you get vaccinated, the better.

Neil Padgett, M.D., MPHDr. Padgett is a Maryland Primary Care Physicians, LLC partner and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He received his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1984 and completed his residency program in Internal Medicine at University of Maryland Medical Center in 1987.