Can flu cause narcolepsy?
New research has confirmed that an antigen in some variants of the flu virus and vaccine can, in rare cases, trigger an autoimmune response leading to narcolepsy.
How many people develop narcolepsy after swine flu vaccine?
It’s still not known exactly how many Norwegians developed narcolepsy as a side effect of the swine flu vaccine, Nordstrand says. She and her colleagues have so far identified 195 people who developed the disease after the pandemic. But she estimates that around 350 people developed the sickness.
Is fatigue a side effect of flu shot?
Most people have no problems from the vaccine. If you get the flu shot, you might have a mild fever and feel tired or achy afterward. Some people also have soreness, redness, or swelling where they got their shot.
Can narcolepsy go away?
Narcolepsy is a lifelong problem, but it does not usually worsen as the person ages. Symptoms can partially improve over time, but they will never disappear completely. The most typical symptoms are excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations.
Can the flu trigger an autoimmune disease?
Influenza is not frequently implicated as a trigger for autoimmune diseases, but case reports of autoimmune adverse events have been published even following influenza vaccination.
Is narcolepsy caused by a virus?
The cause of narcolepsy is often an infection that “tricks” the immune system into destroying the cells that produce hypocretin by mistaking those cells for attacking bacteria or viruses. The infection might be nothing more than a sore throat or flu-like infection.
How long does the flu shot last?
How long does immunity from influenza vaccine last? Protection from influenza vaccine is thought to persist for at least 6 months. Protection declines over time because of waning antibody levels and because of changes in circulating influenza viruses from year to year.
Should you rest after flu shot?
If you have a sore arm after getting the flu shot, you may want to try the following to help ease your symptoms. Rest your arm. Moving your arm around during your daily activities may further aggravate the area. Because of this, it may be helpful to get the flu shot in your nondominant arm.