Anyone else confirmed with Influenza Type "A" yet?

[Blondie]

Took my 15 y.o. son to the doctors yesterday, he was feeling so bad that he actually asked me to make the apppointment. He's been out of school since Tuesday (Monday they had an unexpected day off due to weather conditions.)

They nasal swabbed him positive for Influenza Type A!

So far nobody else in the house has caught it.......yet! I wonder how much longer the rest of us have!

Poor kids is worse today than the last 4 days combined!

His fever never went higher than 102.5 though, and the Pediatrician said that is common for Type A. Type B is the worse of the two. She also said we may be contacted by the Health Department since he tested positive.

Today his throat is so raw he can hardly talk. The only prescription she gave him was for his cough. He sounds like a seal when he coughs!

Oh....and she said no school for the rest of the week! No need to pass it on to the other kids (and teachers) if he doesn't have to.

 

[piratesmate]

Hmmm - I didn't know they could do this! We had DD (14) to the doctor just after MLK day because she was so sick. He said "Just a virus" & sent her home with a Rx for cough. He said there was no point in bringing her back unless her fever got higher, but it never went over 102.1 so we just toughed it out. I was pretty sure it was flu though - I had it 2 days later & let me tell you...it was the flu! She ended up missing over a week of school & wasn't really "better" for a couple weeks.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

We all get the shot every year. After both kids had the flu when they were young, we learned that lesson the hard way! Sorry your DS has it. I guess the rest of you could take Tamiflu. Did the Dr. offer you this? I think it is the only one to help with both strains. ??

Good luck, just keep washing and disinfecting!

 

[Christine]

Hmmm - I didn't know they could do this!

I thought all doctors were supposed to swab for flu now if they suspected it. I guess the CDC would like reports. I always wondered if all doctors did this or if there are certain, random doctors offices that work with the CDC on this.

 

[Blondie]

I guess the rest of you could take Tamiflu. Did the Dr. offer you this? I think it is the only one to help with both strains. ??

Good luck, just keep washing and disinfecting!

Nope, no offer for Tamiflu!

 

[piratesmate]

We asked for Tamiflu & were told "No. It's just a virus." DH said he figured they only gave it to those most at risk. Oh - and I have a flu shot every year as I'm diabetic....this is the first time I've ever gotten it anyway.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

Your family and son may try Sambucol. It helps with the flu. Hope he feels better soon and the rest of you stay healthy.

 

[SnowWhite33]

At the end of January my ds,11 was very sick. The first trip to the Dr, we were given an anti-biotic for a sinus infection and sent home. Over the weekend he started running a fevers over 102, 104 at one point. The 2nd trip to the Dr, he did the test for both strains of flu and it came back negative on both, but he still thought it was "some strain" of flu . He's ok now, but all of these cases sound like his.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

We asked for Tamiflu & were told "No. It's just a virus." DH said he figured they only gave it to those most at risk. Oh - and I have a flu shot every year as I'm diabetic....this is the first time I've ever gotten it anyway.

You can actually have a "flu-like" virus that is just like the flu, but is NOT the flu. The flu shot nor Tamiflu will help in these cases. Dr's are usually aware of what is running around in their area. There are also some flu strains that are not put into the shots.

 

[BamaBaloo]

My understanding from all 3 of us going through the flu over the last week is that Tamiflu is only effective within 48 hours of noticing your first symptom. And even then, our doc said that it only shortens the duration by "up to" 30%....which means it might not even help you that much. Neither DW nor I saw the doctor for our flu, but we did take DS and he was swabbed positive for flu. Same thing...he was given medicine for cough and sent home. The doc also told us that we were right in not asking for antibiotics. He said that they are starting to get reports of some nasty bugs that kids are getting that are immune to antibiotics because of parents who push antibiotics on their kids any time they have a runny nose. He said we would be hearing a LOT of horror stories about these bugs in the near future.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

Yes, I was thinking the OP's family might benefit from Tamiflu (anti-viral).

I agree that antibiotics should not be given unless a bacterial infection is present. We actually are hearing about superbugs already. The flu can lead to secondary infections such as ear or sinus infections though.

Good luck staying well Blondie!

 

[ZachnElli]

My DD (7) had a confirmed case a couple of weeks ago. Her fever was much higher though. Everyone (except the baby, too young) in the house got put on Tamiflu just in case. They did the same nostril swab test on her.