What to Expect from This Year’s Flu Season

By Shiva Tadakal, MD

Many assume this flu season will be mild because the 2021-2022 season had fewer cases than most recorded years before, but unfortunately, that assumption is wrong. Last year’s influenza cases were significantly less than in other years due to the stringent COVID-19 precautions most individuals took, such as wearing a mask, social distancing, and staying home if ill or exposed to the COVID virus.

I advise my patients not to be complacent, take precautions, and be prepared for a flu season that might likely have higher in cases due to more public interaction than that of the last two years, as well as many individuals not taking this flu season seriously enough and causing a widespread viral infection.

Who should be most concerned with the risk of getting the virus?
Everyone should be on alert and try to mitigate influenza transmission. Folks with chronic medical conditions, immunocompromised issues, and the elderly are at very high risk of not only catching the flu but also having more severe illnesses, which can potentially cause death. That’s one of the primary reasons influenzas should never be taken lightly.

Prevention as far as hygiene
If individuals would consider preventative guidelines similar to COVID precautions, that’s the optimal way to reduce the spread of the virus. These include, washing your hands often, wear a mask if you are immunocompromised or not in great health, and use sanitizers and disinfectants. Also, if patient’s have early symptoms, they should rest and isolate from school, work, or other crowded areas, and wear a mask if they must go out.

Getting vaccinated
Everyone aged, 6 months and older that can get the influenza vaccine should be vaccinated. Those who are allergic to eggs, with severe reactions such as anaphylactic shock should avoid the flu vaccine. If a patient is allergic to eggs, but only has a slight rash or stomach issues, they should be at minimal to no risk in getting the vaccination.

If it’s the first time you’ve ever had an influenza vaccination, you will need 2 doses within a few weeks of each other. If you’ve had the vaccine before, you only need one injection this season. The best time to get the vaccine is September or October, but it’s never too late. It only takes 1 to 2 weeks for the effect of the vaccine to take place. Getting vaccinated after October will still provide protection from the virus through the flu season.

COVID-19 and the Flu Vaccine
Patients can receive both the influenza and the COVID vaccine together. Getting a COVID booster with the flu vaccine is also acceptable.

Treatment
Currently, there are three antiviral drugs recommended for treating the flu: oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), zanamivir (Relenza®), and peramivir (Rapivab®). If you have symptoms, please talk to your healthcare provider immediately. The treatment for influenza must be started within 48hrs of symptom onset. Resting and drinking plenty of fluids is also important to allow the body to heal.

Staying healthy is about lifestyle choices. These can help prevent or reduce the severity of the flu virus. These lifestyle measures include:

Healthy diet
• Eat lean protein, fruits, vegetables, limit processed foods, saturated fats, and sugar.

Regular exercise
• Studies show that regular exercise at 20 minutes+ of cardiovascular exercise evokes less respiratory infections.

Quality sleep
• Getting 7 or more hours of uninterrupted sleep can help boost immunity.

Limit alcohol and smoking
• Along with multiple health risks, both substances are known to decrease immunity.

CDC estimates that flu has resulted in 9 million – 41 million illnesses, 140,000 – 710,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 – 52,000 deaths annually between 2010 and 2020.2 Influenza should not be taken lightly. If you or someone you know needs the flu vaccine, make an appointment, or stop by our multiple locations that offer the vaccine on a walk-in basis.

About Dr. Shiva Tadakal

Dr. Shiva Tadakal specializes in family medicine with BayCare Medical Group. He earned his medical degree from JSS Medical College in Mysore, Karnataka, India. Dr. Tadakal furthered his medical education by completing a family medicine residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. Tadakal is a dedicated and accomplished physician who serves the Wesley Chapel area. He looks forward to meeting with you and providing the best in care. He takes a thorough and precise approach to his consultations to ensure that he is consistently giving accurate diagnoses. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He also speaks Hindi, Telugu and Kannada.

References
1. CDC, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Disease Burden of Flu,
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html
2. CDC, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Frequently Asked
Influenza (Flu) Questions: 2022-2023 Season, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/
season/faq-flu-season-2022-2023.htm