Got your flu shot yet?

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The Forecast Calls for Flu

Remember last February?

If it all seems rather fuzzy to you, perhaps its because you had the

flu. According to statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control in

collaboration with the World Health Organization and state and local health

departments, influenza cases in the United States began to increase in

mid-January and peaked during the last three weeks of February.

Most of the cases studied by the CDC last season were caused by

influenza strains similar to the one used for the 1998-99 vaccine good news

for the researchers who must decide which of the many flu strains to feature

in the vaccine each flu season, which generally stretches from November to

April in the United States. This year, those who choose to get the shot will

be protected against A/Sydney/5/97-like(H3N2), A/Beijing/262/95-like(H1N1),

and B/Beijing/184/93-like viruses. With names like those, you know its got to

be serious.

In mid-October, well find out just how serious. Thats when the CDC

issues its annual flu forecast for the upcoming season. Check back here for

an update then.

First, how do you know you've got the flu?

Here are the symptoms:

Fever usually between 101 F and 102 F, but occasionally as high as 106 F

sometimes alternating with chills

Sore throat

Dry, hacking cough

Aching muscles

General fatigue and weakness

Nasal congestion, sneezing

Headache

For more on flu, see influenza in OnHealth's Conditions A-Z.

Still not sure it's really the flu? Here's how to tell the flu from a

cold:

A Cold or the Flu, Which Is It?

Gastroenteritis, the illness commonly called stomach flu, is not the

same as influenza. But the sickness often does make an appearance around flu

season. Here's how to tell whether what ails you is stomach flu or food

poisoning:

What to Do When Youve Got the Flu

Once youve got the flu, the bad news is the disease will run its course

regardless of how you treat it. Because influenza is a viral disease, it does

not respond to antibiotics. If you are in good health, the illness will

probably pass in a week or so if you rest and take care of yourself,

including eating nourishing foods and drinking lots of liquids to avoid

dehydration. The flu can cause serious complications, however, in the elderly

and in people with chronic health conditions.

There are a number of over-the-counter medicines that may relieve flu

symptoms such as coughing, nasal congestion and sore throat. If you have a

fever and muscle aches, aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help you feel

better. But because its been linked to Reye's syndrome, remember not to give

aspirin to children.

If these remedies dont help a severe bout of flu, your physician may

give you amantadine or rimantadine, oral antiviral drugs that fight one type

of influenza.

Herbal remedies believed to help alleviate flu symptoms include rose

hips, honeysuckle flowers and boneset.