Influenza

Influenza is a contagious illness caused by a virus.  It affects the lungs. Flu can be mild, or it ca be so severe it causes death. People with HIV have a higher risk of getting flu. They also have a higher risk of complications such as pneumonia.

Symptoms

The signs of flu are much like those of a cold. While a cold doesn’t cause fever and muscle aches, flu does. Other signs include:

• Dry cough
• Extreme tiredness
• Fever (usually over 100 degrees)
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat

Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may occur. These symptoms are more common in children than adults.

Most people who get the flu recover in one to two weeks.  But some people develop serious complications, like pneumonia.  This is especially true for people with HIV. 

Causes

Flu viruses spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people who have influenza. Touching something that has flu viruses on it and then touch the mouth or nose can also spread flu. A person can infect others a day before his or her symptoms develop and up to five days after.

Prevention

The best way to prevent influenza is to get a vaccination in October or November before the flu season starts. Because it can have such a serious effect on people with HIV, they are among the priority groups to be given flu shots.

There are two types of vaccines:

• The flu shot. This is given with a needle and has killed virus in it. The killed virus causes the body to react in a way that protects it when it meets live virus. Flu shots are approved people six months old or older.  Both healthy people and people with chronic medical condition can take flu shots.
• A nose spray vaccine. This vaccine is made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called live attenuated influenza vaccine or LAIV). This is approved only for healthy people between the ages of five and 49 who are not pregnant.  People with HIV infection should not take this form of flu vaccine.

People with HIV may get flu shots, unless:

• They have a history of severe allergy to hens’ eggs, or
• They have developed Guillain-Barre syndrome within six weeks of getting a flu shot in the past.

People with HIV who have a high risk of getting the flu, should get the flu shot.  This includes people who:

• Are likely to be exposed to other people with the flu, such as family members
• Living in an institution that has an outbreak of flu
• Have advanced HIV and a weak immune system

Anyone who has an illness with a fever should postpone getting a flu shot until his or her symptoms are better. People should consult their doctors before getting a flu shot if they have any questions.

Other steps that are helpful to protect against the flu are:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Wash hands often
• Keeping hands away from the eyes, nose or mouth.  This is often how the flu virus is spread.
• Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, don’t get stressed, drink plenty of fluids and eat healthy food

Diagnosis

Flu is diagnosed on the basis of its symptoms. 

Treatment

No antibiotics work against the flu virus.

Rest and getting lots of liquids can help. If you are on some anti-HIV drugs, it’s important to be careful about taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) for aches and pains. This can cause liver damage, if too much is taken.

No research is available about how anti-flu agents like amantidine and rimantidine interact with anti-HIV drugs. People with HIV who have mental conditions or kidney problems should be carefully watched for drug reactions if they take anti-flu agents.

Most people get over the flu in one to two weeks.  People with HIV may develop serious complications. To avoid this, people with HIV should get a flu shot. The most common side effect of a flu shot is soreness where the shot was given.  This goes away in a couple of days.

People who get signs of the flu after getting a flu shot, didn’t get the shot soon enough to prevent getting the flu.

Antibiotics do not work against the flu.