The flu is a contagious respiratory sickness that generally causes fever, aches, chills, headaches, and in some cases, more serious issues. It’s an especially big concern if you’re living with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Scientists have linked the flu to MS relapse. That’s why getting the flu vaccine is so important. At the same time, it’s important for people living with MS to get a flu shot that won’t interfere with their current treatment plan.
Read on to learn how the flu may cause relapse in people with MS and how you can protect yourself.
The majority of people with MS come down with an average of two upper respiratory infections per year, according to a 2015 review in Frontiers in Immunology. Scientists found that these types of illnesses, such as colds and flu, doubled the risk of a person living with MS experiencing a relapse.
The review also noted that after people with MS got an upper respiratory infection, an estimated 27 to 41 percent experienced a relapse within 5 weeks. Scientists have also found that the likelihood of relapse is seasonal, typically peaking in the spring.
In addition, some medications that you may be taking for MS can affect your immune system and put you at higher risk for serious complications from the flu.
How is the flu linked to MS relapse?
Although more studies are needed, research in animals suggests that respiratory infections may encourage the movement of immune cells into the central nervous system. In turn, this may trigger an MS relapse.
In a 2017 study published in PNAS, scientists injected mice that were genetically prone to autoimmune disease with the influenza A virus. They found that about 29 percent of the mice that received the virus developed clinical signs of relapse within two weeks of the infection.
The researchers also monitored immune cell activity in the mice, noting increased activity in the central nervous system. They suggest the viral infection triggered this change, and in turn, it may be the underlying reason that infections exacerbate MS.
“To read this article in its entirety click this link: Avoiding the flu when you have MS.“