Essex ● Ivoryton ● Centerbrook ● Deep River ● Chester

 

  

 

9 Wildwood Medical Center, Essex CT  06426  ● 860-767-9940 voice ●  860-767-9775 fax

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Topics/Links

 

General www.familydoctor.org
Heart Health

www.americanheart.org

www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd
Diabetes www.diabetes.org
Pediatrics www.aap.org/topics.html
Cancer www.cancer.org
Women’s Issues www.health.nih.gov
Travel information www.cdc.gov/travel/
Complimentary/Alternative Medicine www.nccam.nih.gov
Staph Infections

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mrsa.html

 

 

 

Key Facts to Prepare for the Flu season

 

Prevention

 

The best preparation is Prevention by receiving the Flu Vaccine. The “ flu shot “ is an inactivated vaccine which contains only killed virus.

 

It is strongly recommended that the following groups be immunized:

  1. All healthy Children aged aged 6 months to 5 years.

  2. All children > 6 months with chronic diseases such as Asthma, Diabetes, Congenital Heart disease, Immunocompromise

  3. All adults over age 50.

  4. All adults with chronic diseases such as Diabetes, Asthma, COPD

  5. All pregnant and breastfeeding women

  6. All health care workers, Day Care workers, Teachers, household contacts of persons in high risk groups

 

The following groups should not be immunized

  1. Anyone allergic to eggs

  2. Anyone who has had a severe reaction to vaccination in past

  3. Anyone with moderate or severe illness with fever should wait until symptoms lessen to receive vaccination

 

The Flu Vaccine is currently available in the office.

Call for an appointment.

 

The Flu

 

The “Flu” is a contagious respiratory illness caused by any number of flu viruses. The flu is different from a cold- usually more rapid onset, more severe symptoms and of longer duration. The flu usually comes on very suddenly and may include the following symptoms: 

  • Fever  (usually high)

  • Headache

  • Extreme tiredness

  • Dry cough

  • Sore throat

  • Runny or stuffy nose

  • Muscle aches

  • Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults

What You Should Do If You Get the Flu

 

  • Rest

  • Drink plenty of liquids

  • Avoid using alcohol and tobacco

  • Take medication to relieve the symptoms of flu  

    • Acetaminophen for fever

    • Pseudoephedrine for congestion

    • Dextromethorphan for cough

  • Antiviral Medication -Influenza is caused by a virus, so antibiotics (like penicillin) don't work against influenza. Antiviral medications are available by prescription. They must be started within 2 days of illness to be of any benefit.

  • Avoid spreading the disease – since symptoms start 1-4 days after the virus enters your body the disease can be spread before symptoms even develop. After symptoms develop the virus may be passed to someone else for up to 7 days. Stay home, limit contact with household members until symptoms have resolved.