76 6th graders out of sons school with flu....

[N.Bailey]

A couple weeks ago we had about 200 HS kids a day out (I work at the school) but as we have around 1800 kids in the school, those numbers, while higher than normal, were still only around 9-10%....we are back to more normal numbers now

DD16 has a good friend whose mom just passed away today from complications of H1N1...she went to the dr Thurs,, tested positive on Sunday and passed today..(I have thread about this, so I won't go into details here)

I'm so sorry. We've been lucky that we've not seen any casualties (knocking wood), but I will keep this family in my prayers.

 

[N.Bailey]

If you are only sick for 24 hrs, then most likely it's NOT the flu. There are a lot of other viruses that will give similar symptoms. However even w/ a mild case of a true flu virus (seasonal or H1N1) you will be sick for longer than 24 hrs.

Trust me.....I'm battling the whole "we don't test thing" in my head right now.

In September I started coming down w/ something on a Wed-- was sick and in bed Thurs-Sat-- felt run down but better on Sunday- back to work Monday. Nobody in my house caught that from me. They gave me Tamiflu then. I had no fever, but did feel really run down, bad cough, bad nasal congestion. They told me then it was "presumed flu". However, we were not seeing any cases in our area (at least at the large clinic I work at)

Fast forward to this past Friday, I was at work in the morning and felt fine-- after lunch I was getting the chills within 2-3 hrs I could barely drive myself home. My head was throbbing so bad, I had a fever, my throat hurt, I was coughing, my entire body hurt more than I can ever remember. This time I had the "fever" and it hit me out of nowhere. I started Tamiflu again this past Saturday. The difference is that this time I was exposed at least several dozen times the entire week to people who did in fact test positive for influenza A (presumed swine flu). I did end up in the ER on Sunday because it felt like my asthma was flared up (it wasn't-- I thinking I was having anxiety). They wouldn't test because I already had 4 doses of Tamiflu by then . I then seen my doctor last night and asked if he could do a rapid flu and he said the same thing--- too many days have passed and I've been treating it. The result might not be accurate. Anyhow, this time they feel more confident it's the flu and put me out of work until next Monday. Oh and this one my husband has now too.

I guess what I'm getting at is......I know why they aren't testing at the lab. However, I do think they should do more rapid in office tests. There is a part of me that would at least like to know if I can relax a little bit about this virus. I've been on pins and needles stressing about getting it. I think and pray I'm on the downside of it now.....I'm still congested but been fever free since Sunday during the day.

I get what you're saying about the rapid testing, but really, I don't think it would have done you any good. The doctor told us that there is about 25% chance of it being accurate, but I'm not sure that's even close to the actual accuracy rate. No one we know has tested positive, yet there was about 1/3 of the student body absent from schools?

I'm also not shocked about the way you got sick, felt better, then came down with it again. Both of my kids did the exact same thing. My son was even sent to the hospital from school after being sick and back to school for 2 days before it struck again. My daughter, the same thing. Missed a few days, then started vomiting, getting run down, muscle aches, etc.. And I've been battling a headache; that seems to be getting better each day (well most days, but it's not getting worse), for the past 3 weeks.

 

[C.Ann]

Saw on the news today that 4 childcare centers have been closed after 1 child had a confirmed case of H1N1 - which resulted in 80% of the other children becoming ill with flu symptoms.. They are currently cleaning the centers - one hopes to reopen tomorrow - while the rest are going to wait until Monday.. Sounds like it spread like wildfire in that setting..

 

[TinklednPants]

Sounds like it's really spreading. Too bad more people didn't get vaccinated

 

[Deb in IA]

Sounds like it spread like wildfire in that setting..

H1N1 is EXTREMELY contagious. Also, an infected person will spread virus BEFORE they themselves have any symptoms, which is why it is spreading so quickly in schools, day cares, colleges, etc.

 

["Got Disney"]

H1N1 is EXTREMELY contagious. Also, an infected person will spread virus BEFORE they themselves have any symptoms, which is why it is spreading so quickly in schools, day cares, colleges, etc.

Not to mention they also said that you are still contagious after your cough is gone....

 

[disney1990]

Saw on the news today that 4 childcare centers have been closed after 1 child had a confirmed case of H1N1 - which resulted in 80% of the other children becoming ill with flu symptoms.. They are currently cleaning the centers - one hopes to reopen tomorrow - while the rest are going to wait until Monday.. Sounds like it spread like wildfire in that setting..

Where was this?

 

[C.Ann]

Where was this?

Schoharie County - NY.. I think that's a bit southwest of where I am right now..

 

["Got Disney"]

well just as I expected my 12 y.o is now sick...15 y.o is going back to school tomorrow and was sick for 3 days. Kept him home today just for that extra recovery day. He still has a cough some but no fever for 2 days.

My other son started his fever today....102.2 than fell asleep. He has had both vaccines but had the H1N1 last Thursday, 1 week ago. Hopefully he will also get mildly sick as my other son was.

Guess next will be me and DH....gee I just cant wait. Hopefully it will pass us by.

 

[tinatark]

I think many Upper Respiratory Infections/Bronchitis cases are being misdiagnosed as h1n1 - my friend's doctor diagnosed her w/H1N1, she never had a fever, and was well within a couple of days. No one else in the house got sick. He (internist) told her there was "no" test for H1N1... of course, he is also the same doctor who diagnosed her w/pneumonia without a chest xray - we have a little experience with this - my dh has had it 4x in the past 3 years and it has NEVER been diagnosed until an xray was done/read. In fact, several times his doctor thought he had it, until the xray showed he didn't.

 

[IDoDis]

My DS has been sick for 3 days. I finally took him in and the doc did the swab since he had pneumonia last year and his lungs are most likely not completely healed. The test was negative, yet any other doctor would have said, "Oh he has H1N1." His symptoms: Fever 103.5, chills, headache, body aches, cough, and today on day three the congestion started.

I would have thought he'd be in the clear after this and that he had H1N1, but he just has some other virus. I suspect that's happening in a lot of cases.