Seasonal Influenza Vaccination

Symptoms and Signs:

•  Sudden onset of high temperature  (fever  might not affect all patients).
• Cough (usually dry).
• Sore throat and runny or blocked nose.
• Severe headache.
• Muscle and joint pain, severe malaise.
• Fatigue and tiredness.
• Vomiting and diarrhea in some patients, especially  children
• Most people recover from fever and the other symptoms within a week with no need for medical intervention, yet influenza can develop severe symptoms, and in some cases lead to death, especially in people at high risk.

• Antiviral drugs for influenza are available and effective in prophylaxis and treatment. There are 2 groups of such medicines:
• Adamantanes (amantadine and rimantadine)
• Neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir)

• Some influenza viruses may develop resistance to the antivirals, limiting the effectiveness of treatment. WHO monitors the effectiveness of the common anti-influenza drugs on the influenza viruses.