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Preventing
and Controlling Flu
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The CDC has been reporting
annually on the burden of influenza, and recommending vaccination options
and reviewing use of antiviral agents. Included here is a brief summary
of issues of most relevance to schools. Influenza A and B are two types
of viruses that cause epidemic human disease. The viruses are spread from
person to person primarily through coughing and sneezing. Most incubation
periods are between 1-4 days. Adults are infectious from the day before
the symptoms begin. Young children can be infectious for up to 6 days before
onset of illness. There is abrupt onset of symptoms such as fever, myalgia
(muscle aches), headache, severe malaise, nonproductive cough, sore throat,
and rhinitis. Children also may get ear infections, nausea and vomiting.
The vaccine is made specifically
each year from viruses that are likely to cause disease that year. Viruses
are grown in eggs, inactivated (made noninfectious), and then preserved
with small amounts of mercury-containing thimerosal. Both standard fluoridated
community group also had preventive and/or diagnostic care (837 services)
than the group with fluoride and dental care (677 services). Nearly half
(47%) of the total costs were attributed to restorative procedures, with
77% of the restorative claims costs for children in non-fluoridated community.
Claims for diagnostic and preventive services were also higher for children
from the nonfluoridated community. The fluoridated community group had
more preventive visits than diagnostic or restorative care. Fluoridation
and local access to dental services made a difference in the children's
oral health status and care needs. The authors recommended that schools
help recruit dentists to rural areas, persuade dentists to accept patients
with subsidized insurance, promote fluoridation, address transportation
in isolated areas, provide oral health education and encourage families
to enroll in SCHIP. (Moon Z et al. J Sch Health 2003;73(6):242-244)
Comment: You may
also need external partners to track and evaluate care visits, service
types, and costs, but local findings can contribute factual information
for planning community policies, e.g., water treatment, and strategies,
e.g., access to care. -J.O.
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