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CNN Saturday Morning News
Weekend House Call
Aired December 13, 2003 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Right now Weekend House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
Welcome to Weekend House Call, where you're hearing about everywhere about this flu virus. It's widespread in 24 states and every state in the nation now is reporting cases. Everyone has heard, as well, that the outbreak has hit earlier and harder than usual, and sometimes with some surprising severity.
The flu can be particularly concerning if you're in a high risk group. Now, that's those over 65 and people with chronic health problems; also, pregnant women in their second and third trimester and children six to 23 months old. Let's keep in mind, though, if you're a healthy person, not in those risk groups, then in most cases the flu may make you miserable for a few days, but you're going to probably recover just fine. Many people are still worried about that and those in the high risk groups are looking to get vaccinated.
So here's what you need to know about the flu vaccine. It's given to you in the form of a shot and contains dead flu virus. It's approved for anyone over the age of six months. Lots of questions about this, so give us a call with your flu related questions. That's 1-800-807-2620. or e-mail us at housecall@cnn.com.
And helping us work through this somewhat complicated issue today is Dr. William Schaffner.
He's the director of the infectious control program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
He's also an expert in this field.
Welcome back, doctor.
DR. WILLIAM SCHAFFNER, VANDERBILT MEDICAL CENTER: Hi, Sanjay.
Good morning.
GUPTA: Good to see you.
So many questions about this. One of the things that I just wanted to ask you, first of all, there almost seems to be a panic in some communities over the flu.
How worried should people really be about this? SCHAFFNER: Well, I think we need to keep it into perspective. Flu can put you into the bed, just as you said. It can make you miserable. But the vast majority of us will get over it just fine.
Now, the folks who have underlying heart disease or lung disease, if they get hit by the flu, it's probably a good idea for them to call their doctor. They might get some treatment for it.
GUPTA: And a lot of questions about the flu shot itself. We're getting a lot of questions. An e-mail I want to go to now, as well, from Sharon from Minnesota, who's asking, "Why can't people, why can't manufacturers start producing more flu vaccine now? Is there an expiration use on some of last year's vaccine?"
SCHAFFNER: And Sharon's right about that. Last year's flu vaccine is discarded because a new kind is made up each and every year and it takes, in a pinch, four months to make a new flu shot. So there's no chance that the manufacturers can start over.
GUPTA: OK. And there is an alternative to the shot, as well, which I want to talk about. It's FluMist, which is actually a nasal spray vaccine that, unlike the shot, has a live weakened virus, as well. It's only approved for people ages five to 17 and healthy adults, as well, ages 18 to 49. FluMist cannot be used if you're even on the fringes of a high risk group -- this is what we're reading here -- such as adults 50 and over, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses. Children under the age of five also not a candidate for this.
Lots of calls coming in. Let's go to our phone lines now, as well.
Barbara from Alabama.
Good morning.
Welcome to Weekend House Call.
BARBARA: Good morning.
My question was about the FluMist, if that was effective for teenagers or adults.
GUPTA: You know, doctor, this is interesting because you sort of think of the FluMist as sort of a no brainer. You don't have to get a shot. Most people think that that's a pretty good idea.
Why not just take the FluMist?
SCHAFFNER: Oh, I think it's a good idea and it's more widely available in many areas than the shot. And if those teenagers and adults that Barbara was talking about are healthy, they're candidates for FluMist.
Now, it does cost a little bit more, but the producer, the manufacturer is now giving a rebate, too. GUPTA: OK. It is a little bit more expensive, we should point that out, about three times more expensive, usually. Some insurance companies coming out now and saying that they're actually going to cover the FluMist given all the concern over the flu this year.
SCHAFFNER: Yes.
GUPTA: Let's go back to an e-mail now. Paula from Indiana writing, "When I want to get a flu shot, I already had a mild cold. The nurse told me that if I had the flu shot I would get a lot sicker and recommended that I not get it. Is this true, that if you're already sick, will the shot actually make you worse?"
A good point, doctor?
SCHAFFNER: Well, the shot won't make you worse, Sanjay. I'm actually a little bit surprised that the nurse said, if all he had was a mild cold, that he couldn't get the flu shot. A mild cold is not a contraindication. Now, if you're really sick, you wouldn't want to get the flu shot just then. Put it off.
GUPTA: And, doctor, one of the things, specifics, you know, as a doctor, you say when you're real sick you probably shouldn't get the flu shot.
What are the specifics? I mean do you have to have a certain fever level, certain symptoms? When do you know not to get the flu shot?
SCHAFFNER: Well, it's a matter of judgment. But usually if you're really feeling ill, barely well enough to get there and ask for the flu shot, high fever, cough, sputum production -- but if you've just got a little bit of a cold, you can go ahead and get that flu shot.
GUPTA: All right, lots of interest in this.
And, doctor, I'm sure you're getting inundated with questions, as well.
We have been talking a lot about this.
If you couldn't get the flu shot at home, how do you protect yourself?
Well, after the break we're going to find out how you can try and keep you and your family from feeling the aches and pains of the flu this season.
To get answers to more of your questions, as well, call us at 1- 800-807-2620 or e-mail us, housecall@cnn.com.
COMMERCIAL
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DR. JULIE GERBERDING, CDC DIRECTOR: There's some early information suggesting that possibly things may be leveling off in some of the states that were hardest hit. It's just too soon to say for sure whether or not that, indeed, is the case.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA: Welcome back to Weekend House Call.
We're talking with Dr. William Schaffner.
He's the chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt Medical Center.
Doctor, no surprise to you or me that we're getting lots of calls and e-mails from all over the country.
I want to try and get to as many of these as we can.
Let's go straight to our first e-mail. Lisa in Massachusetts asking, "If you did not get the flu shot, what is the best way to protect yourself and your family from catching the flu?"
And, Lisa, I just want to give some common sense steps, because we've been talking about this quite a bit, about getting sick any time of the year. Important things here, and we have some props, as well. Washing your hands, we talk about this so much, it almost seems a little bit silly to talk about these hand sanitizers being so important. Wash your hands as often as you can, a really important thing.
But if you're coughing or sneezing, try and keep it as far away from somebody else as possible. Use Kleenex, cough into a Kleenex. Also, these wipes that we have here, as well, wiping down certain surfaces, keyboards, things like that. Those are also always going to have a less chance of spreading your germs that way, as well. Also, try and avoid others who are sick. And if you're the one feeling under the weather, take a sick day. That way you can take care of yourself and don't get anyone else sick.
But regarding these wipes, as well, you know, an interesting statistic I heard was that a toilet seat, for example, has 400 times the number of bacteria -- I'm sorry, your keyboard has about 400 times the number of bacteria as a toilet seat. It's a little bit disgusting but important to keep in mind, as well.
Dr. Schaffner, I'm not sure if you have some added advice to that, as well.
What are you telling your patients if they can't get the flu shot or haven't gotten it in terms of staying healthy?
SCHAFFNER: Sanjay, you've said all the good things. I would just add one other thing. If you haven't had the flu shot and you do have underlying heart disease or lung disease and you're worried about the flu, talk to your doctor because you may get prescribed one of the anti-flu medications that you can take prophylactically. But that's only for folks who are really in the high risk group.
GUPTA: And let's talk a little bit about some of these medications known as anti-virals. Some of them can be used for prevention and treatment.
Do you advocate them? What do you tell patients about that?
SCHAFFNER: Well, we sure use them for treatment when people are very sick with influenza and get admitted to the hospital and have to go to the intensive care unit. For sure we do that. We also use them occasionally for prophylaxis. That is, they're given to people with serious underlying heart disease and lung disease and they take it while the flu vaccine is in the community. It helps prevent their getting the flu.
But these are really fragile people whom we're worried about.
GUPTA: OK. Lots of calls coming in on this.
Let's go to our phone lines now.
Wanda from Tennessee, good morning.
Welcome to Weekend House Call.
WANDA: Good morning.
How are you guys?
GUPTA: Doing well.
WANDA: OK. My question is what I think is on the minds of a lot of American people. First, we're being told to get the flu shot. Then many people we know have received the flu shot and have gotten the flu. Then we are also told you can receive the flu shot, but this strand or virus, this flu shot does not protect. So I just want a straight, truthful answer, because I think a lot of us are confused as to what's really going on. That's all.
GUPTA: Well, Wanda, a good question. And it is confusing, as well, because how do you -- and we've been trying to do this for a week now, doctor, telling people to get the flu shot, but at the same time telling them it's not going to be completely protective.
Does it offer protection? Should people get it?
SCHAFFNER: Sure. And here's the story for Wanda. If you lower your expectations, you won't be disappointed. The flu shot is not perfect, but the jar is half full. It provides partial protection. If often reduces the severity of an illness. It turns a more severe illness into a milder one and it protects against the complications of flu. And it reduces your chance of transmitting the virus to those around you, those whom you love.
So it's a pretty darned good vaccine, but it's not perfect. But it's the best we have. GUPTA: And let me just say, as well, doctor, are you surprised at all -- you know, obviously everyone's been saying go out and get your flu shot and we were telling everyone to do that, as well, on television. But then hearing it, as well, a few days later that there may not be enough for people in various parts of the country, did that surprise you in your position?
SCHAFFNER: It sure did surprise me. Beware of what you wish for because you may get it in spades. You know, flu started very early this year and because of the attention given to the sick children, I think more people have gotten energized and are coming out looking for the vaccine. And now the demand actually exceeds the supply in many areas of the country.
GUPTA: And we're going to talk a little bit more about that.
Let's keep it on this theme.
Marina from New York, good morning.
Welcome to Weekend House Call.
MARINA: Good morning.
My question is if a 12-year-old child has severe asthma and is allergic to eggs, so therefore cannot have the flu vaccine, what can be done for protection?
GUPTA: Good question. And as she points out, a couple of possible contraindications to getting the flu shot. Isn't that right, doctor?
SCHAFFNER: That's exactly right. And if anyone has a severe allergic reaction to eggs, they're not candidates for the flu vaccine. And then we get back to the things that you and I talked about just before, Sanjay, all those things you can do, hand washing, avoid crowds. And that child might ask their pediatrician if they're a candidate for prophylaxis.
GUPTA: Lots of good points there. And still some confusion out there about have you got a cold or the flu. People get those things confused often.
When we come back, we're going to give you some easy to catch differences between these two winter bugs.
Stay with us, Weekend House Call.
COMMERCIAL
GUPTA: Welcome back.
The average adult picks up at least one respiratory illness each year and children can get even more. If you're coughing and sneezing your way through this, through this winter and you're wondering what you've got, you're not the only one. We've got a phone caller, as well, coming in.
Patti from Kentucky, welcome to Weekend House Call.
Good morning.
PATTI: Well, good morning, and thank you for taking my call.
I'm one of those people who never gets sick. So when I had a chance to get the flu vaccine, I didn't do it. And now I have it in spades.
And I just wonder, you know, what can I, what can I do at home and how long does it last?
GUPTA: So you think you have the flu now.
What are you experiencing?
PATTI: Well, it started out with just a little bit of laryngitis on Thursday and then by Thursday evening I was coughing and I was -- I just, I was bone cold. And then my nose started, I got all congested in my nose and now my -- I mean my skin hurts. My eyelashes ache.
GUPTA: It sounds like you've got it. A little bit of on air diagnosis here.
Dr. William Schaffner joining us, as well.
What do you tell Patti here? Now, she's already -- it sounds like she's got it.
SCHAFFNER: Oh, Patti, I'm sorry.
Lots of fluids. Stay home. Cough into your arm. Don't give it to your friends. And it will take three or four days for you to get completely better. But in a day or two, you ought to be on the mend.
GUPTA: That's pretty optimistic there, Patti.
Thanks for sharing that with us.
A lot of people at home sometimes confused between the cold and the flu. So here's a basic guide to tell if you've got the cold or the flu.
Fever, muscle aches, exhaustion and headaches are common in the flu but rare with colds. But if you're sneezing, have some minor aches and pains and a sore throat, you've probably got a cold because those symptoms only occasionally appear with the flu.
Also, an important one, symptoms that come on suddenly with the flu, they usually take a couple of days to hit you with a cold. So sometimes it's important to distinguish those two things.
Let's go to another e-mail now. Ben from Utah writing, "If I've already had the flu this winter, will my body resist the virus if I come into contact with someone who has it, or could I get it again?"
Do you develop some immunity, doctor, if you've had it once?
SCHAFFNER: Yes, you usually don't get two episodes of flu in the same year, unless you're one of those really rare unlucky folks who encounters a different strain of the flu virus. Then you could still get a minor case the second time. But that's pretty unusual.
GUPTA: OK, let's keep going on the same theme here now.
Linda in Alabama asking, "If I get a really bad cold, is there any way I can prevent it from turning into the flu?"
Does one beget the other, doctor?
SCHAFFNER: They don't. A cold is different. It's caused by a different kind of virus. So the cold won't go into the flu.
GUPTA: OK. Well, we're not finished yet. Lots of important information still to come. Grab a pen, because when Weekend House Call continues, we're going to show you some Web sites where you can find the answers to any questions we haven't gotten to, which are a lot of them.
First, let's take a look at some of this week's medical headlines in today's For Your Health.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A new study says whopping cough is on the rise among children. The study in this week's "Journal of the American Medical Association" suggested that the current schedule for vaccinating children should be revised so that children start getting protection earlier.
Also, a new study suggests that people who feel stressed or depressed frequently are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's Disease later in life compared to less stressed people. Researchers say this is the first indication that stress is a risk factor for Alzheimer's, not an early sign of the disease.
Holly Firfer, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COMMERCIAL
GUPTA: All right, if you're feeling too sick to remember all the symptoms we've just talked about, point your browser at www.cdc.gov- flu. You're going to find tons of advice and information on treatment and prevention of the flu. We did. Also go to CNN's Web site, where you're going to find a flu special. That's at www.cnn.com/flu. There's lot of interactive explainers. There's maps of this year's outbreak if you want to keep up on that and link to a health library for even more information.
Dr. William Schaffner has been joining us.
So, can we -- we've got time for one more e-mail question, which is one that we've been getting quite a bit of. Mary in Alabama asking, "I've had a flu shot every year since 1959." Good for you. "Should this give me any cumulative value with the new strain?"
Doctor?
SCHAFFNER: Well, it does help a little bit because you'll get a boost in your antibodies and you'll be just a little bit more protected than the person who just gets one shot. So that's a good thing.
GUPTA: All right, good for her.
And one final question I wanted to ask you, as well, doctor. Just in terms of doctors looking at the media, a little bit of a report card now for us.
Do you think that the media has been over hyping the situation with the flu? Have we been talking about it too much?
SCHAFFNER: Not talking about it too much, but perhaps just emphasizing the severity a little bit much.
GUPTA: OK. And when we talk about emphasizing, you know, we obviously talk about things like monkey pox and SARS quite a bit. It's important to emphasize these numbers about the flu. And I think people are paying attention to it more than they ever have before.
Wouldn't you agree with that?
SCHAFFNER: Oh, I like to see that. Perhaps we'll all get immunized next year in a timely fashion.
GUPTA: And hopefully there will be enough flu vaccine out there.
Dr. William Schaffner, thank you so much.
That's all the time we have for today.
Dr. William Schaffner has been our guest today.
Terrific advice. Thank you so much.
And thank you to all of you at home, as well, for your e-mails and phone calls.
Lots of that coming in. We didn't get to all of them, but please do check out our Web site.
Tune in tomorrow for a look at antibiotic resistance. Could those bugs you get after the flu be harder to beat because of your antibiotic soup? We're going to talk to an expert tomorrow at 8:30 Eastern.
Thanks for watching.
I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 13, 2003 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Right now Weekend House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
Welcome to Weekend House Call, where you're hearing about everywhere about this flu virus. It's widespread in 24 states and every state in the nation now is reporting cases. Everyone has heard, as well, that the outbreak has hit earlier and harder than usual, and sometimes with some surprising severity.
The flu can be particularly concerning if you're in a high risk group. Now, that's those over 65 and people with chronic health problems; also, pregnant women in their second and third trimester and children six to 23 months old. Let's keep in mind, though, if you're a healthy person, not in those risk groups, then in most cases the flu may make you miserable for a few days, but you're going to probably recover just fine. Many people are still worried about that and those in the high risk groups are looking to get vaccinated.
So here's what you need to know about the flu vaccine. It's given to you in the form of a shot and contains dead flu virus. It's approved for anyone over the age of six months. Lots of questions about this, so give us a call with your flu related questions. That's 1-800-807-2620. or e-mail us at housecall@cnn.com.
And helping us work through this somewhat complicated issue today is Dr. William Schaffner.
He's the director of the infectious control program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
He's also an expert in this field.
Welcome back, doctor.
DR. WILLIAM SCHAFFNER, VANDERBILT MEDICAL CENTER: Hi, Sanjay.
Good morning.
GUPTA: Good to see you.
So many questions about this. One of the things that I just wanted to ask you, first of all, there almost seems to be a panic in some communities over the flu.
How worried should people really be about this? SCHAFFNER: Well, I think we need to keep it into perspective. Flu can put you into the bed, just as you said. It can make you miserable. But the vast majority of us will get over it just fine.
Now, the folks who have underlying heart disease or lung disease, if they get hit by the flu, it's probably a good idea for them to call their doctor. They might get some treatment for it.
GUPTA: And a lot of questions about the flu shot itself. We're getting a lot of questions. An e-mail I want to go to now, as well, from Sharon from Minnesota, who's asking, "Why can't people, why can't manufacturers start producing more flu vaccine now? Is there an expiration use on some of last year's vaccine?"
SCHAFFNER: And Sharon's right about that. Last year's flu vaccine is discarded because a new kind is made up each and every year and it takes, in a pinch, four months to make a new flu shot. So there's no chance that the manufacturers can start over.
GUPTA: OK. And there is an alternative to the shot, as well, which I want to talk about. It's FluMist, which is actually a nasal spray vaccine that, unlike the shot, has a live weakened virus, as well. It's only approved for people ages five to 17 and healthy adults, as well, ages 18 to 49. FluMist cannot be used if you're even on the fringes of a high risk group -- this is what we're reading here -- such as adults 50 and over, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses. Children under the age of five also not a candidate for this.
Lots of calls coming in. Let's go to our phone lines now, as well.
Barbara from Alabama.
Good morning.
Welcome to Weekend House Call.
BARBARA: Good morning.
My question was about the FluMist, if that was effective for teenagers or adults.
GUPTA: You know, doctor, this is interesting because you sort of think of the FluMist as sort of a no brainer. You don't have to get a shot. Most people think that that's a pretty good idea.
Why not just take the FluMist?
SCHAFFNER: Oh, I think it's a good idea and it's more widely available in many areas than the shot. And if those teenagers and adults that Barbara was talking about are healthy, they're candidates for FluMist.
Now, it does cost a little bit more, but the producer, the manufacturer is now giving a rebate, too. GUPTA: OK. It is a little bit more expensive, we should point that out, about three times more expensive, usually. Some insurance companies coming out now and saying that they're actually going to cover the FluMist given all the concern over the flu this year.
SCHAFFNER: Yes.
GUPTA: Let's go back to an e-mail now. Paula from Indiana writing, "When I want to get a flu shot, I already had a mild cold. The nurse told me that if I had the flu shot I would get a lot sicker and recommended that I not get it. Is this true, that if you're already sick, will the shot actually make you worse?"
A good point, doctor?
SCHAFFNER: Well, the shot won't make you worse, Sanjay. I'm actually a little bit surprised that the nurse said, if all he had was a mild cold, that he couldn't get the flu shot. A mild cold is not a contraindication. Now, if you're really sick, you wouldn't want to get the flu shot just then. Put it off.
GUPTA: And, doctor, one of the things, specifics, you know, as a doctor, you say when you're real sick you probably shouldn't get the flu shot.
What are the specifics? I mean do you have to have a certain fever level, certain symptoms? When do you know not to get the flu shot?
SCHAFFNER: Well, it's a matter of judgment. But usually if you're really feeling ill, barely well enough to get there and ask for the flu shot, high fever, cough, sputum production -- but if you've just got a little bit of a cold, you can go ahead and get that flu shot.
GUPTA: All right, lots of interest in this.
And, doctor, I'm sure you're getting inundated with questions, as well.
We have been talking a lot about this.
If you couldn't get the flu shot at home, how do you protect yourself?
Well, after the break we're going to find out how you can try and keep you and your family from feeling the aches and pains of the flu this season.
To get answers to more of your questions, as well, call us at 1- 800-807-2620 or e-mail us, housecall@cnn.com.
COMMERCIAL
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DR. JULIE GERBERDING, CDC DIRECTOR: There's some early information suggesting that possibly things may be leveling off in some of the states that were hardest hit. It's just too soon to say for sure whether or not that, indeed, is the case.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA: Welcome back to Weekend House Call.
We're talking with Dr. William Schaffner.
He's the chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt Medical Center.
Doctor, no surprise to you or me that we're getting lots of calls and e-mails from all over the country.
I want to try and get to as many of these as we can.
Let's go straight to our first e-mail. Lisa in Massachusetts asking, "If you did not get the flu shot, what is the best way to protect yourself and your family from catching the flu?"
And, Lisa, I just want to give some common sense steps, because we've been talking about this quite a bit, about getting sick any time of the year. Important things here, and we have some props, as well. Washing your hands, we talk about this so much, it almost seems a little bit silly to talk about these hand sanitizers being so important. Wash your hands as often as you can, a really important thing.
But if you're coughing or sneezing, try and keep it as far away from somebody else as possible. Use Kleenex, cough into a Kleenex. Also, these wipes that we have here, as well, wiping down certain surfaces, keyboards, things like that. Those are also always going to have a less chance of spreading your germs that way, as well. Also, try and avoid others who are sick. And if you're the one feeling under the weather, take a sick day. That way you can take care of yourself and don't get anyone else sick.
But regarding these wipes, as well, you know, an interesting statistic I heard was that a toilet seat, for example, has 400 times the number of bacteria -- I'm sorry, your keyboard has about 400 times the number of bacteria as a toilet seat. It's a little bit disgusting but important to keep in mind, as well.
Dr. Schaffner, I'm not sure if you have some added advice to that, as well.
What are you telling your patients if they can't get the flu shot or haven't gotten it in terms of staying healthy?
SCHAFFNER: Sanjay, you've said all the good things. I would just add one other thing. If you haven't had the flu shot and you do have underlying heart disease or lung disease and you're worried about the flu, talk to your doctor because you may get prescribed one of the anti-flu medications that you can take prophylactically. But that's only for folks who are really in the high risk group.
GUPTA: And let's talk a little bit about some of these medications known as anti-virals. Some of them can be used for prevention and treatment.
Do you advocate them? What do you tell patients about that?
SCHAFFNER: Well, we sure use them for treatment when people are very sick with influenza and get admitted to the hospital and have to go to the intensive care unit. For sure we do that. We also use them occasionally for prophylaxis. That is, they're given to people with serious underlying heart disease and lung disease and they take it while the flu vaccine is in the community. It helps prevent their getting the flu.
But these are really fragile people whom we're worried about.
GUPTA: OK. Lots of calls coming in on this.
Let's go to our phone lines now.
Wanda from Tennessee, good morning.
Welcome to Weekend House Call.
WANDA: Good morning.
How are you guys?
GUPTA: Doing well.
WANDA: OK. My question is what I think is on the minds of a lot of American people. First, we're being told to get the flu shot. Then many people we know have received the flu shot and have gotten the flu. Then we are also told you can receive the flu shot, but this strand or virus, this flu shot does not protect. So I just want a straight, truthful answer, because I think a lot of us are confused as to what's really going on. That's all.
GUPTA: Well, Wanda, a good question. And it is confusing, as well, because how do you -- and we've been trying to do this for a week now, doctor, telling people to get the flu shot, but at the same time telling them it's not going to be completely protective.
Does it offer protection? Should people get it?
SCHAFFNER: Sure. And here's the story for Wanda. If you lower your expectations, you won't be disappointed. The flu shot is not perfect, but the jar is half full. It provides partial protection. If often reduces the severity of an illness. It turns a more severe illness into a milder one and it protects against the complications of flu. And it reduces your chance of transmitting the virus to those around you, those whom you love.
So it's a pretty darned good vaccine, but it's not perfect. But it's the best we have. GUPTA: And let me just say, as well, doctor, are you surprised at all -- you know, obviously everyone's been saying go out and get your flu shot and we were telling everyone to do that, as well, on television. But then hearing it, as well, a few days later that there may not be enough for people in various parts of the country, did that surprise you in your position?
SCHAFFNER: It sure did surprise me. Beware of what you wish for because you may get it in spades. You know, flu started very early this year and because of the attention given to the sick children, I think more people have gotten energized and are coming out looking for the vaccine. And now the demand actually exceeds the supply in many areas of the country.
GUPTA: And we're going to talk a little bit more about that.
Let's keep it on this theme.
Marina from New York, good morning.
Welcome to Weekend House Call.
MARINA: Good morning.
My question is if a 12-year-old child has severe asthma and is allergic to eggs, so therefore cannot have the flu vaccine, what can be done for protection?
GUPTA: Good question. And as she points out, a couple of possible contraindications to getting the flu shot. Isn't that right, doctor?
SCHAFFNER: That's exactly right. And if anyone has a severe allergic reaction to eggs, they're not candidates for the flu vaccine. And then we get back to the things that you and I talked about just before, Sanjay, all those things you can do, hand washing, avoid crowds. And that child might ask their pediatrician if they're a candidate for prophylaxis.
GUPTA: Lots of good points there. And still some confusion out there about have you got a cold or the flu. People get those things confused often.
When we come back, we're going to give you some easy to catch differences between these two winter bugs.
Stay with us, Weekend House Call.
COMMERCIAL
GUPTA: Welcome back.
The average adult picks up at least one respiratory illness each year and children can get even more. If you're coughing and sneezing your way through this, through this winter and you're wondering what you've got, you're not the only one. We've got a phone caller, as well, coming in.
Patti from Kentucky, welcome to Weekend House Call.
Good morning.
PATTI: Well, good morning, and thank you for taking my call.
I'm one of those people who never gets sick. So when I had a chance to get the flu vaccine, I didn't do it. And now I have it in spades.
And I just wonder, you know, what can I, what can I do at home and how long does it last?
GUPTA: So you think you have the flu now.
What are you experiencing?
PATTI: Well, it started out with just a little bit of laryngitis on Thursday and then by Thursday evening I was coughing and I was -- I just, I was bone cold. And then my nose started, I got all congested in my nose and now my -- I mean my skin hurts. My eyelashes ache.
GUPTA: It sounds like you've got it. A little bit of on air diagnosis here.
Dr. William Schaffner joining us, as well.
What do you tell Patti here? Now, she's already -- it sounds like she's got it.
SCHAFFNER: Oh, Patti, I'm sorry.
Lots of fluids. Stay home. Cough into your arm. Don't give it to your friends. And it will take three or four days for you to get completely better. But in a day or two, you ought to be on the mend.
GUPTA: That's pretty optimistic there, Patti.
Thanks for sharing that with us.
A lot of people at home sometimes confused between the cold and the flu. So here's a basic guide to tell if you've got the cold or the flu.
Fever, muscle aches, exhaustion and headaches are common in the flu but rare with colds. But if you're sneezing, have some minor aches and pains and a sore throat, you've probably got a cold because those symptoms only occasionally appear with the flu.
Also, an important one, symptoms that come on suddenly with the flu, they usually take a couple of days to hit you with a cold. So sometimes it's important to distinguish those two things.
Let's go to another e-mail now. Ben from Utah writing, "If I've already had the flu this winter, will my body resist the virus if I come into contact with someone who has it, or could I get it again?"
Do you develop some immunity, doctor, if you've had it once?
SCHAFFNER: Yes, you usually don't get two episodes of flu in the same year, unless you're one of those really rare unlucky folks who encounters a different strain of the flu virus. Then you could still get a minor case the second time. But that's pretty unusual.
GUPTA: OK, let's keep going on the same theme here now.
Linda in Alabama asking, "If I get a really bad cold, is there any way I can prevent it from turning into the flu?"
Does one beget the other, doctor?
SCHAFFNER: They don't. A cold is different. It's caused by a different kind of virus. So the cold won't go into the flu.
GUPTA: OK. Well, we're not finished yet. Lots of important information still to come. Grab a pen, because when Weekend House Call continues, we're going to show you some Web sites where you can find the answers to any questions we haven't gotten to, which are a lot of them.
First, let's take a look at some of this week's medical headlines in today's For Your Health.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A new study says whopping cough is on the rise among children. The study in this week's "Journal of the American Medical Association" suggested that the current schedule for vaccinating children should be revised so that children start getting protection earlier.
Also, a new study suggests that people who feel stressed or depressed frequently are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's Disease later in life compared to less stressed people. Researchers say this is the first indication that stress is a risk factor for Alzheimer's, not an early sign of the disease.
Holly Firfer, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COMMERCIAL
GUPTA: All right, if you're feeling too sick to remember all the symptoms we've just talked about, point your browser at www.cdc.gov- flu. You're going to find tons of advice and information on treatment and prevention of the flu. We did. Also go to CNN's Web site, where you're going to find a flu special. That's at www.cnn.com/flu. There's lot of interactive explainers. There's maps of this year's outbreak if you want to keep up on that and link to a health library for even more information.
Dr. William Schaffner has been joining us.
So, can we -- we've got time for one more e-mail question, which is one that we've been getting quite a bit of. Mary in Alabama asking, "I've had a flu shot every year since 1959." Good for you. "Should this give me any cumulative value with the new strain?"
Doctor?
SCHAFFNER: Well, it does help a little bit because you'll get a boost in your antibodies and you'll be just a little bit more protected than the person who just gets one shot. So that's a good thing.
GUPTA: All right, good for her.
And one final question I wanted to ask you, as well, doctor. Just in terms of doctors looking at the media, a little bit of a report card now for us.
Do you think that the media has been over hyping the situation with the flu? Have we been talking about it too much?
SCHAFFNER: Not talking about it too much, but perhaps just emphasizing the severity a little bit much.
GUPTA: OK. And when we talk about emphasizing, you know, we obviously talk about things like monkey pox and SARS quite a bit. It's important to emphasize these numbers about the flu. And I think people are paying attention to it more than they ever have before.
Wouldn't you agree with that?
SCHAFFNER: Oh, I like to see that. Perhaps we'll all get immunized next year in a timely fashion.
GUPTA: And hopefully there will be enough flu vaccine out there.
Dr. William Schaffner, thank you so much.
That's all the time we have for today.
Dr. William Schaffner has been our guest today.
Terrific advice. Thank you so much.
And thank you to all of you at home, as well, for your e-mails and phone calls.
Lots of that coming in. We didn't get to all of them, but please do check out our Web site.
Tune in tomorrow for a look at antibiotic resistance. Could those bugs you get after the flu be harder to beat because of your antibiotic soup? We're going to talk to an expert tomorrow at 8:30 Eastern.
Thanks for watching.
I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
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