INFLUENZA FAQs

What is seasonal flu?

Most cases of influenza take place during the “flu season,” which occurs each year in the United States generally between late December and early March.[5] Influenza A and B are two of the types of influenza viruses that cause seasonal flu annually. In the United States, seasonal flu annually causes an average of 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 people to be hospitalized from flu complications.[6]

How is the flu spread?

Influenza viruses spread from person to person, mainly when an infected person coughs or sneezes nearby an uninfected person. Adults can infect others for one day before and five days after becoming ill with the flu. Children can be infectious for 10 days or more after becoming ill.[3]

Washing your hands and avoiding touching your mouth, nose and eyes also help prevent infection with flu germs.[7]

What are the symptoms of flu?

The symptoms of the flu include:

• fever (usually high)
• headache
• extreme tiredness
• dry cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• muscle aches
• stomach symptoms (such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) can also occur; these are more common in children than adults[6]

What are the complications of flu?

The flu can cause complications, or further illness in an individual.  Complications can include:

• bacterial pneumonia
• ear infections
• sinus infections
• dehydration
• worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes[6]

Can the flu be prevented?

Getting a flu vaccination can prevent flu infection and its complications. Click here to learn more about flu vaccination.[6]

Is there a medication to treat flu?

There are several antiviral drugs, one of which is RELENZA, that can treat and help to prevent the flu.

 
Important Safety Information About RELENZA

• Serious cases of bronchospasm, including fatalities, have been reported during treatment with RELENZA in patients with and without underlying airway disease. Many of these cases were reported during postmarketing, and causality was difficult to assess
  
• RELENZA SHOULD BE DISCONTINUED IN ANY PATIENT WHO DEVELOPS BRONCHOSPASM OR DECLINE IN RESPIRATORY FUNCTION; immediate treatment and hospitalization may be required
  
• Safety and efficacy have not been demonstrated in patients with high-risk underlying medical conditions
  
• Patients should be instructed in the use of the delivery system. Instructions should include a demonstration whenever possible
  
• If treatment with RELENZA is considered for a patient with underlying airway disease, the potential risks and benefits should be carefully weighed. If a decision is made to prescribe RELENZA for such a patient, this should be done only under conditions of careful monitoring of respiratory function, close observation, and appropriate supportive care including availability of fast-acting bronchodilators
  
• Common adverse events in treatment and prophylaxis studies with RELENZA were nausea, diarrhea, sinusitis, viral respiratory infections, headaches, nasal signs and symptoms. The incidence of these adverse events was similar in both groups for RELENZA and placebo-treated groups
  
• Please see complete Prescribing Information for RELENZA