17 year old high school student in our area has died from the flu..

[C.Ann]

Just caught a blip on the television. She was feeling a bit under the weather on Sunday.. Stayed home from school Monday - was hospitalized Monday night - and died early Tuesday afternoon..

Her family can't understand - they say she was perfectly healthy and an active member of the drill team at the high school.. The school is now being totally disinfected in hopes of keeping it from spreading to other students.. The health department has confirmed that it was the flu..

This makes me very nervous.. Originally they were saying that the deaths in children were in those under 2 yrs. of age - due to their immune systems not being totally developed - but they've also reported the death of a 5 yr. old down south now so I'm wondering about the reliability of that initial assessment.

How can it kill someone SO quickly?

 

[rae519]

I am so very sorry to read about this loss - DH is convinced it's bioterrorism, but I think we have overdone all the medications/chemicals and our immune systems are weakened and vulnerable to the flu mutations.

But this is small comfort to the family/friends who have lost this person - there are no words that can help any bereaved parent at this time, but we can all say a prayer for them and for our own loved ones to be safe and healthy.

AND please if you are coughing, feeling ill, whatever - stay home and don't go to the mall, Christmas Party or CHURCH - God will understand that you are sick!!!

Rae

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I don't know! I have been reading about it and I still can't understand.

The CDC site explains alot but I still don't get it.

 

[C.Ann]

I know I shouldn't panic.. I know it, know it, know it...BUT, I am terrified of bringing this home to my DH (in his condition he could NEVER fight it off) and I'm so afraid for my granddaughter (who is only 5) and for my DD who works in a residential group home.. If it hits that home there's NO WAY she'll not contract it and she has always had a very weak immune system..

I read an article in a magazine about 2 of the children out west who died from the flu.. No underlying health problems and they were dead in less than 48 hours..

I wish someone could explain how and why this is killing so fast..

 

[wuv tigger]

Originally posted by rae519
I am so very sorry to read about this loss - DH is convinced it's bioterrorism, but I think we have overdone all the medications/chemicals and our immune systems are weakened and vulnerable to the flu mutations.
Rae

I do agree w/ your hubby. It's not too far fetched for me to think that someone could be spreading these awful deadly germs.

My dh & I got the flu shot although we have heard it may not cover the strain that is going around.

Judy

 

[wuv tigger]

Originally posted by rae519
AND please if you are coughing, feeling ill, whatever - stay home and don't go to the mall, Christmas Party or CHURCH - God will understand that you are sick!!!

Rae

I 2nd that!

I am trying to visit my Mom who's been in the hospital. I will be wearing a mask to her room, take it off when I get there & put it back on while I am on my way back to the car.

Call me a germaphob if you want but we have spent 3+ weeks being sick (all through T'giving), 2 ER visits for my 22 month old for fluids & 2 ER visits for me for fluids & IV antibiotics for the bronchitis.

I am just now feeling better & you can be assured that I will be avoiding folks if they are feeling the least bit sick.

I DON'T want to spend Christmas sick too.

I DO have a compromised immune system & I can pick up virus' & infections quickly.

Judy

 

[C.Ann]

In another school district in our general area they had so many kids sick with the flu they shut the school down for two days.. Then when they reopened on Monday the school nurse had to send home over 100 students who came to school exhibiting flu symptoms!!

Why are parents sending kids to school when they're sick???????
The work place isn't much better - and I'm going to approach my supervisor today about putting some sort of policy into effect in terms of people coming in when they are clearly exhibiting symptoms.. This flu is far too deadly to be taking chances with..

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by C.Ann
In another school district in our general area they had so many kids sick with the flu they shut the school down for two days.. Then when they reopened on Monday the school nurse had to send home over 100 students who came to school exhibiting flu symptoms!!

Why are parents sending kids to school when they're sick???????
The work place isn't much better - and I'm going to approach my supervisor today about putting some sort of policy into effect in terms of people coming in when they are clearly exhibiting symptoms.. This flu is far too deadly to be taking chances with..

BAck when mine where in school, the administration allowed 3 sick days before you had to get a doctor's note. Many parents, especially those who worked, had a hard enough time getting time off to take care of their children but to get to the MD's office - again, try to get in and then wait because they are 1-2 hours backed up. It's hard and I understand that.

BUT I don't think sick children or adults need to be around others, regardless of the state funds that the school loses because the child is absent - PLUS some children and parents get thrilled at that "attendance 100% award" that is given at the end of the year. Kayla won every award her last school year except attendance and that was the "most coveted" of all - go figure!

Even at the workplace, you are rewarded for not taking off any sick time, but hey coming in ill and infecting anyone else is not grounds for a reward.

Rae

 

[DisneyObsessed]

What the heck is going on here? This is so scary. How are these people dying so fast? and so young? I just don't get it. I'm beginning to get really nervous.

 

[Lorix2]

C.Ann - what state is this?

This can't get any scarier...these families have to be devastated and thinking they should have got help for them sooner, a parent will always feel that way...even if they got help right away

 

[BWVDenise]

Bioterrorism has crossed my mind as well.

 

[Lorix2]

OMIGOD BWVDENISE - You should scared the hell out of me with that.

 

[mtemm]

does anybody remember studying or reading anything about the flu epidemic of 1918? It was so scary. I know my great-grandfather died from it, as did many others. I've read some on it and watched an American Experience on it a year or 2 or 3 about it. So scary, scarier even than what has been happening today. I remember hearing stories about someone being totally fine, and dead the next day...reminded me of the 17 year old who just died. The stories from the 1918 epidemic were frightening....one of the things that sticks out in my head was that the supply of coffins, yes coffins, ran out and people were scrambling to bury their kin in just about anything. I can't even imagine what people went thru then, but I'm almost beginning to.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/influenza/
Personally this flu has me scared to death. I want to keep my son in the house all day every day, but we are braving play-group in an hour or so. I just hope other mom's are like me and keep their children home when they show even minor signs of illness. I'm also going to talk with the playgroup leader about their methods for cleaning toys. We have another playgroup tomorrow that is just a neighborhood one, and I have so much less fear about that than this one at the YMCA.

Hope everyone stays healthy! Off to clean my house and then head out into the world.

 

[SeaSpray]

I can understand how someone can die so quickly. Last fall my DS, then 14, caught pertussis (whopping cough). I had him in and out of the doctor's office every other day for 2 weeks before it was properly diagnosed. (Fortunately *I* kept him home from school and hopefully he didn't pass it on to anyone else, although that's where he had to have picked it up from). He has mild asthma, so they kept thinking it was his asthma. I KNEW it wasn't because he was not responding AT ALL to his nebulizer treatments, not one bit. He would cough so hard and loud, then have to take a breath IN, and often times he couldn't breathe in, that's what makes the "whooping" coughing sound. I thought so many times he was going to die! And there was NOTHING the doctors could do to help him. Cough medicines didn't do much at all, if anything. All they could tell me was "taking him to the ER if his lips or fingernails turn blue". Well, no kidding! It's not their fault, there simply is not a cure for every disease out there.

So, sadly, if someone get sick enough, fast enough, with the flu or any disease like that especially one that effects the respiratory system, it can kill a person fast

 

[elgerber]

This was the last thread I should have read today. My dd, 7, has been sick since we returned home from WDW. Last night her fever was 104, they said it's just viral crud. I talked to my dd's teacher, and her two kids have had it since last Wed, but they have had blood tests and stuff, and it was just viral, they have no fevers finally today. I still should not have read this thread, it all makes me nervous.

Erika

 

[Tiggeroo]

SeaSpray - around 7 years ago my two sons my dd and I all had pertussis to varying degrees. Once the first diagnosis was made everybody in the family was on a preventative course of antibiotics. I was fortunate because the dr. knew what it was right away. But even with the medication my one son and I were so sick for so long. That cough just hung on. Sometimes he would cough so much he would puke. I felt like I had broken ribs. My boys were homeschooled at the time. If not they would have been out of school for weeks.
The problem with the kids going to school is state attendance laws. I have had kids in class who definitely should be home. They will tell me that if they are home they will fail a certain class. For highschools the days are split in half. Most schools have around a week till the days roll over again. You can miss so many days without notes and so many days with notes. I would guess that some kids parents can't afford to take them to the dr's for a cough and aches and pains. Plus most parents don't take their kids to the dr for colds or one day stomach bugs. So if they missed a day or two here and there earlier in the year they might be in jeopardy of credit loss. I have a son who pulled a muscle in Oct. He had a few dr's appts. xrays, pt and chiropractic. He has no more days left and if he got sick before Christmas we would have a problem. I worked in the attendance office for two area highschools in the past 2 weeks. They are over 15% out and every day more kids are being sent to the nurse. When the parents call they are frantic because they are calling for a kid who has already been out 4-5 days. Other parents are calling to say they are sending their kid in even though they don't really feel well yet. Because they don't know what to do. The flu takes that long to get over. I think the schools should be considering an ammendment temporarily.

 

[KarenC]

Last week, my DS ran a 104 degree fever and had aches, pains and coughing. He had asthma problems as a young child, so the doctor wanted to see him. Our town hadn't had any flu yet, but his doctor thought the symptoms made flu likely. The blood test indicated it was not the flu.

He was out of school for three days, (yikes, the work he has to make up!!!!) and still has a hacking cough.

Moral of the story: There's other stuff going around that's nasty but not the flu...but if you or your loved one has these symptoms, get it checked out. I understand that if it's flu and if you seek care in the first two days of showing symptoms, there's medicine you can take to lessen the severity of the virus.

I don't think its bioterrorism, or weakened immune systems. These epidemics run in cycles and we haven't had one for a while. I do worry that our performance driven culture, where people feel like they have to be dying before they call in sick, will cause the virus to spread further and faster than it would if we all listened to our bodies and stayed home when we felt poorly. And for school kids who are really sick, teachers should look at how much of the missed work REALLY needs to be made up...if the missed work doesn't enhance the child's learning, let it go. We all don't have to be hamsters running around in a wheel all the time!

 

[Kelsie]

At least 11 children have died from the flu in Colorado, and two others deaths are under investigation.

It has been very scary here but it seems to be on it's way out, finally

 

[Blondie]

I can understand how someone can die so quickly. Last fall my DS, then 14, caught pertussis

I'm just curious, this is part of the vaccinations that babies get, it's the "P" part of the DPT shot. Was your son never vaccinated?

My son only received one dose and since he had a reaction (he became shocky) the doctor said no more DPT for him, just the "DT" part.

 

[Keli]

This flu is scary but I have to admit I don't think it's supressed immune systems or bioterroism either. I think it's just a more deadly strain of the virus this year.