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Medicine Talk
Siletz
Community
Health
Clinic
What You Should Know About the Flu
What is the Flu?
The flu is a contagious respiratory
illness caused by influenza viruses. It can
cause mild to severe illness and at times
can lead to death. The best way to pre
vent it is to get a flu vaccine each fall.
Every year in the United States,
on average:
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5 percent to 20 percent of the popu
lation gets the flu
More than 200,000 people are hos
pitalized from flu complications
36,000 people die from the flu
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Muscle aches
Gastro-intestinal symptoms, such
as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea,
are much more common in children
than adults
What You Can Do
Stop the spread of germs that make
you and others sick. Serious respiratory
illnesses like influenza, respiratory syn
cytial virus (RSV), whooping cough,
and severe acute respiratory syndrome
(SARS) are spread by:
Symptoms, Complications
Symptoms of the flu include:
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flu include bacterial pneumonia, dehy
dration, and worsening of chronic medi
cal conditions, such as congestive heart
failure, asthma, or diabetes. Children may
get sinus problems and ear infections.
Coughing or sneezing
Unclean hands
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1.
The flu spreads in respiratory drop
lets caused by coughing and sneezing.
It usually spreads from person to person,
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although occasionally a person may be
come infected by touching something
with the virus on it and then touching
sick. This means that you can give
someone the flu before you know you
are sick as well as while you are sick.
2.
3.
To help stop the spread of germs,
you should:
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their mouth or nose.
Adults may be able to infect others
beginning one day before getting symp
toms and up to seven days after getting
Fever (usually high)
Headache
Extreme tiredness
Dry cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
We have received a limited sup
ply of flu vaccine. If you or your fam
ily members are high risk, please:
Some complications caused by the
How It Spreads
Some people are at high risk for
serious flu complications, such as older
people, young children, and people with
certain health conditions.
Siletz Clinic Flu Shots
Cover your mouth and nose with a
tissue when you cough or sneeze.
If you don’t have a tissue, cough or
sneeze into your upper sleeve, not
your hands.
Put your used tissue in the waste
basket.
Clean your hands after coughing or
sneezing by:
High-Risk Groups
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Washing with soap and water; or
Cleaning with alcohol-based hand
cleaner.
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Note: You may be asked to put on a
surgical mask to protect others.
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Schedule an appointment with
your provider
Schedule an appointment with
a nurse
Walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 11:30
a.m. or 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. only
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All children age 6 to 23 months
Adults age 65 and older
Persons age 2 to 64 with under
lying chronic medical condi
tions, i.e., heart/lung disease,
asthma, diabetes, cancer, hepa
titis on interferon
All women who will be preg
nant during the flu season
Residents of nursing homes and
long-term care facilities
Children age 6 months to 18 years
on chronic aspirin therapy
Health care workers with direct
patient care
Out-of-home caregivers and
household contacts of children
up to 6 months old
Having Guests Who Smoke?
Holiday celebrations are just
around the comer. Here are some sug
gestions to let your friends and family
know, without seeming rude or judg
mental, that you don’t allow smoking
in your home.
First, remember that you should not
be embarrassed about wanting to pro
tect your family. Second, keep in mind
that most smokers know that tobacco
is bad for health and if asked, will put
out their cigarette.
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A “Smoke Free Home'' decal at
your front door will let a smoker
know your feelings before they
even enter your home.
If a guest starts to light up or asks
for an ashtray, speak to them with
out causing a distraction. Letting
Siletz
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your guest know that you under
stand his or her feelings will go a
long way toward keeping everyone
from getting angry or upset. You
can say something like, “I know it’s
hard when you don't smoke, but I
know you care about our health. I’d
Free Quit Kits
Available at
Clinic
2005 New Year’s Resolution
to Quit Smoking?
like to ask you to smoke outside. I
don’t want to hurt your feelings, but
this is really important.”
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Let your guests know about your
smoke-free home policy when you
extend your invitations.
To get a “Take it Outside” or “We
Live in a Smoke-Free Home” decal for
your home or car, call DeAnna Pearl at
the Siletz Clinic, 541-444-9659 or
1-800-648-0449, ext. 1659.
Kits are available to those who
want to quit smoking in the new
year. The kits include mints, gum,
finger toys, stickers, stamps, and in
formation on how to quit and stay
smoke-free.
Ask a nurse or contact DeAnna
Pearl at 1-800-648-0449, ext. 1659,
or 541-444-9659; or e-mail
siletztobacco@ctsi.nsn.us for a free
Quit Kit.