Health Promotions Center

H1N1 Vaccination Clinic Postings

Linn County Public Health (LCPH) now has their H1N1 vaccination clinic times and locations posted on line. Please click on the link below to access the most recent information from LCPH. It will be listed on the News section of the web page.

http://www.linncounty.org/department.asp?Dept_Id=17&Page_Id=403

Cold and Flu Season is Here

Cold and flu season seems to arrive earlier each year. If you or your children have not received a flu shot, it's not too late. Family Physicians will be offering flu shots throughout the season.

Influenza is an acute, highly contagious respiratory disease. It is characterized by abrupt onset of fever, body aches, fatigue, sore throat, headache and cough. In children, it can even cause diarrhea and vomiting. This is different than colds that typically are slow onset, low-grade fever (if any), with milder symptoms of fatigue, sore throat, cough/sneezing, and congestion.

Influenza can be treated with an antiviral if treated at onset to reduce severity and length of infection. Those suffering from a viral illness, such as a cold, hope a prescribed medication will speed recovery, but viruses do not respond to antibiotics. Colds are typically treated with "comfort measures" such as antihistamines, decongestants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.

The best defense for getting influenza is getting a flu vaccine every year along with frequent hand washing. There is no practical way to avoid all viruses, but you can reduce your risk of catching one, again, by frequent hand washing (at least 20 seconds with soap and water). In addition, try to maintain a healthy lifestyle by getting enough sleep (at least 8.5-9.5 hours for teens), staying well hydrated, being active at least 30 minutes daily, and eating a well-balanced diet.

As you know, many students neglect the basic skills to keep them healthy because of their busy schedules along with not recognizing the importance of them, so please try to encourage them during cold and flu season. We then hope that these healthy habits stick with them when they go off to college.

Please check the links on the right hand side of this page for more information about Influenza as well as information on other illnesses.