Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
There are two types of flu vaccines, the injection (with killed virus) and nasal spray vaccines (containing live, but weakened, virus).
Each year, the influenza virus can change slightly, making the vaccine used in previous years ineffective.
The vaccine is generally effective against the influenza virus within two weeks of administration.
The vaccine is only effective against the strains of the virus that match the vaccine.
The effectiveness of the flu vaccine is dependent upon the extent of the match between the virus strains used to prepare the vaccine and those viruses in actual circulation. The age and health status of the individual also play a role in determining the effectiveness of the vaccine.
What is flu?
The flu (or common flu) is a viral infection that
is spread from person to person in secretions of the nose and lungs, for example when sneezing.
Medically, it is referred to as influenza. Flu is a respiratory infection, that is, an
infection that develops primarily in the lungs. Respiratory infections caused by
other viruses often are called flu, but this is incorrect. Influenza
usually causes higher fever, more malaise, and severe body aches than other respiratory infections. Although other
viruses may cause these symptoms, they do so less commonly.
Influenza viruses are divided scientifically into three types, designated A, B, and C. Influenza types A and B are responsible for epidemics of respiratory illness that occur almost every winter.
Influenza type C usually causes either a very mild respiratory illness or no symptoms at all; it does not cause epidemics and does not have the severe public-health impact of influenza types A and B. Type A viruses are divided into subtypes and are named based on differences in two viral surface proteins called hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). There are 16 known H subtypes and nine known N subtypes.
The flu is a common illness. Every year in the United States, on average
5% to 20% of the population gets the flu,
more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications,
about 36,000 people die from the flu or its complications.
The
swine flu
pandemic of 2009 was caused by a novel influenza A virus designated H1N1 based
upon its surface protein types. This virus was originally referred to as swine
flu because many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza
viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. However, this virus was
actually quite different from the typical swine flu viruses found in pigs. The
novel H1N1 virus first caused illness in Mexico and the United States in March
and April 2009.
Many people worry about side effects from the flu shot, but serious complications are rare. Some people believe that they can actually get the flu from receiving the shot, but this is not the case. For the majority of people, the risks of developing the flu are far greater than any risks associated with the vaccine.
Most side effects and reactions to the flu shot are mild. Most commonly, people experience a soreness, redness, or mild swelling at the site where the shot was given. These effects generally do not last for more than 2 days. In rare cases, people may develop other mild reactions to the flu vaccine like fever and aches, which may mistakenly lead them to believe that they developed the flu as a result of the vaccine. These symptoms also go away after about 1
to 2 days. Because the flu shot contains inactivated, or killed, virus particles, there is no possibility of contracting the infection from the flu shot....
Novel H1N1 influenza A virus infection (swine flu) is an infection that generally is transferred from an infected pig to a human, however there have been
Influenza (flu) is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches.
Before treating a cold, the flu, or allergies with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, it's important to know what's causing the symptoms, which symptoms
Pregnancy planning is important to help prevent exposure of the mother and fetus to potentially harmful medications and substances during the early days,
Travelers should prepare for their trip by visiting their physician to get the proper vaccinations and obtain the necessary medication if they have a medical
Pregnant and women who are breastfeeding are encouraged to receive the seasonal flu shot as well as the 2009 H1N1 influenza (swine flu) vaccine. H1N1 flu
Swine flu (swine influenza) is a respiratory disease caused by viruses
(influenza viruses) that infect the respiratory tract of pigs and result in
nasal secretions, a barking cough, decr"...
