How do you prevent the flu?

To prevent influenza, organizational and anti-epidemic measures (exposure prophylaxis) are important:

• early diagnosis and isolation of patients for a period of 5 days in separate rooms, and in hospitals - in boxed departments;
• regular ventilation of premises;
• systematic wet cleaning with 1% chloramine solution;
• serving a child only in a gauze mask;
• treatment of patients (under conditions of emergency isolation) primarily at home until complete recovery of health;
• medical care for frequently ill children during the flu epidemic at home with restrictions on visiting the clinic;
• during the period of epidemic increase in the incidence of influenza in preschool institutions, new children are not accepted into the group, children are not transferred from one group to another, daily morning examinations and temperature measurements are carried out, at the slightest signs of illness children are not accepted into the organized group; careful isolation of groups is ensured, general events are cancelled, and the number of groups is reduced if possible;
• interferons (recombinant or leukocyte interferon alpha) are prescribed to children from 1 year of age, 2-5 drops in each nasal passage 2-4 times a day for 7-10 days;
• Remantadine is used in children over 7 years of age (1-2 tablets per day for 20 days);
• IRS 19;
• imudon;
• Aflubin is prescribed to children under 1 year old, 1 drop, at the age of 1-12 years, 3-5 drops 2 times a day for 3 days (emergency prevention) or 3 weeks (routine prevention);
• Anaferon for children - 1 tablet per day for at least 3 months.

Vaccination plays a leading role in influenza prevention.

The following flu vaccines are approved in Ukraine:

• Grippol (influenza polymer-subunit vaccine, Russia);
• Influvac (subunit vaccine, Netherlands);
• Vaxigrip (split vaccine, France);
• Fluorix (split vaccine, England);
• Agrippal S1 (subunit, Germany).

In addition to inactivated vaccines, allantoic live dry intranasal (Russia) and inactivated chromatographic liquid (for children over 7 years old, Russia) vaccines are permitted for children (3-14 years old).

Planned vaccination is carried out throughout the year, preferably in the fall. All population groups should receive the vaccine, starting from the age of 6 months. First of all, vaccination is carried out:

• children from risk groups (with chronic lung diseases, heart diseases, receiving immunosuppressive therapy, with diabetes mellitus, with immunodeficiency, including HIV infection, from organized groups);
• adults caring for newborns and children under 6 months;
• medical workers;
• workers in preschool institutions, the service sector, and transport.

Type-specific immunity is developed 7-14 days after vaccination and lasts for 6-12 months. Subunit vaccines have an advantage due to their lower reactogenicity. It is better to vaccinate against influenza annually, taking into account the variability of influenza viruses.