Now with the flu season upon us, lets be cautious to monitor the A’s, B’s, and C’s; those of Airway, Breathing, and Circulation.  Start with preemptive measures against possible evolving lung complications such as pneumonia with symptoms of wheezing, shortness of breath, nasal flaring or increased work of breathing and/or dehydration with symptoms of dry lips and mouth, decreased urine output, increased heart rate, or light headedness, by using liberal amounts of nasal saline rinses, antifever medication, and/or oral fluids BUT also seek urgent care services. Unfortunately, the injectable flu vaccine strains for the 2014/2015 were not perfectly matched for the common flu strains encountered this season across the USA.  As a result, we are beginning to see epidemic levels of flu illness as most individuals are “not immune” and therefore can easily pass their illness onto others by coughing or sneezing.  The complicating factors to look for are respiratory distress with complicating pneumonia, wheezing or asthma flares, light-headedness, headaches, persistent fevers and even heat exhaustion from dehydration.  Do not wait until it is too late in the course of the illness if you are suffering from these symptoms, seek help!  The last place you want to be in an flu epidemic environment is the ER!

http://www.flu.gov/

http://www.google.org/flutrends/us/#US-FL