Flu Prevention Medicines

By Leanne Coffman
Seasonal influenza affects up to 20 percent of the population each year, resulting in lost time from work and school, and typically up to a week of feeling simply miserable. Although most people recover on their own, influenza (or flu) can be a serious illness to reckon with. In the United States, as many as 200,000 flu-related hospitalizations occur. Thankfully, there are effective choices to keep flu away or to lessen its severity.
History
Seasonal flu is an annual illness, which spreads through North America in the winter to early spring. This virus slightly changes each year, so the body does not usually have adequate immunities to influenza. Serious flu episodes, called pandemics, occur about every four decades. These are a more highly contagious strain and last through several seasons. Swine flu, or H1N1, is considered a pandemic flu. Preventative medications exist for each of these flu strains.

Types
Two main methods are available to prevent or lessen flu duration. These are vaccines and prescription antiviral drugs. Each of these measures has benefits and side effects, along with varying degrees of effectiveness.

Features
Flu vaccines are the most successful medical means to prevent influenza. Each year, scientists study viruses they believe will be prevalent in the coming flu season to create vaccines. A seasonal flu shot contains three strains of viruses based on these findings. According to the CDC, when a close equivalent is made between vaccine and actual seasonal flu, vaccines prevent 70 to 90 percent of influenza cases for most people under 65.

Effects
The flu shot is less potent in adults over 65 or in those with compromised immune systems because these individuals create smaller quantities of necessary antibodies to the vaccine. Young children, under nine years of age, may need two flu vaccines to aid their body in producing enough antibodies. However, the vaccine is still the best method to prevent serious flu complications in older adults and children.

Considerations
Influenza vaccines are developed in chicken eggs, which may cause complications for those with egg allergies. Therefore, the CDC does not recommend vaccines for this group of people. Individuals who have experienced neurological responses to previous vaccines, (an extremely rare condition called Guillain-Barre Syndrome), also should not obtain influenza vaccines.

Function
Prescriptions antiviral medications, such as Tamiflu and Relenza, function well in flu prevention for those unable to receive vaccines or already exposed to influenza. Antiviral drugs shorten the duration of influenza in persons beginning to show symptoms and lessen life threatening complications. Taken within the first 12 to 48 hours of symptoms, they can be up to 90 percent effective at treating non-resistant viruses. However, this is considerably less effective if not taken within the recommended time or if anti-viral resistant strains of influenza have been identified.

Prevention/Solution
While flu vaccines and antiviral medications are very efficient at minimizing risk of contracting the flu or lessening the effects, they should be used in conjunction with good hygiene and other preventative measures. Eating healthy to build the immune system, frequent hand washing, and avoiding direct contact with sick people minimizes the spread of influenza greatly.