H1N1. How does one die from it?

[dairyou]

Okay it may seem like a stupid question but here it goes.

With all the publicity with H1N1 how does one actually die from it? Let me explain....

I have 2 teenage boys. If one of them was running a fever I'd be at the doctors office as soon as possible. So are people dying after they return home from the doctor? I work at an elementary school and have had 3 cases of H1N1 and each parent said it like it was no big deal.

What am I missing?

 

[npmommie]

From what I understand, the virus is able to get into the lungs deeper, causing the lungs to be more susceptible to the virus and also to bacteria, so secondary bacterial pneumonias hit hard, such as MRSA pneumonia.

 

[pennymom]

I believe one of the biggest issues is that it becomes pneumonia, but could be wrong. I have read that you only need to go to the doctor's office if you are having extreme symptoms, beyond regular flu ones, such as a particularly high fever or breathing difficulty.

Here's the CDC link with a lot of information:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm

 

[disney1990]

One of the other things to look for is a child that appears to be getting better and then is suddenly worse. There is a big relapse in H1N1 patients.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

The girl in San Diego died when her heart gave out fighting the illness.

but what would it matter, if you are that sick you had better be in the hospital.

 

[agnes!]

The was it was explained to me when I asked a public-health doctor is that younger people are dying from this disease because their immune systems are more robust than someone who is 24 years old & up. What actually kills them is their own body's reaction to the H1N1 virus. Their lungs fill up with fluid, etc. In a sense I suppose it could be said that it's killing certain people because they're healthier.

Also, there was apparently a variant of the H1N1 around before 1957, so many folks who are older than 52 caught that virus and are resistant to the latest H1N1.

agnes!

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

The nurse at our hospital said "little people have little lungs,which is why they are dying".

 

[barkley]

we've had 3 fairly recent deaths-all were without underlying health issues, all were adults over 24 (and i want to say under 50). the one that realy shocked people was a sports coach in his early 30's-excellent health, very physically fit.

there was a young infant that died the other day localy-beyond that it's been primarily adults.

 

[mcrockett1220]

Its nice to think you would have your kid at the doc as soon as afever hits, but when my dd woke up with a fever yesterday I called the doctor...their response was "sounds like flu", we are not seeing anyone with flu symptoms unless they have been sick for at least 4 days, we dont want to overload our waiting rooms with kids spreading germs to others. She then proceeded to tell me when to call back, and when to send her back to school (and also mentioned some kids are not running fevers, more like a bad cold) So, after being very angry I took her to minute clinic to confirm (I have a grandmother she had been around who shouldnt be exposed to the flu) and NO FLU!!!! They did the test and it was negative, however I am wondering the accuracy since she has all the symptoms....

 

[Lucky4me]

Cytokine storm

This may be what is killing young adults with severe H1N1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine_storm

 

[agnes!]

Cytokine storm

This may be what is killing young adults with severe H1N1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine_storm

So that's what it's called, a "cytokine storm". Sounds like what the public-health doctor told me...

It is believed that cytokine storms were responsible for many of the deaths during the 1918 influenza pandemic, which killed a disproportionate number of young adults. In this case, a healthy immune system may have been a liability rather than an asset

and

Recent reports of high mortality among healthy young adults in the 2009 swine flu outbreak has led to speculation that cytokine storms could be responsible for these deaths. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have indicated that symptoms reported from this strain so far are similar to those of normal seasonal flu,

I know that the CDC is technically correct in this case, but anecdotally it sure seems that H1N1 is more lethal than any of the seasonal flu's.

agnes!

 

[taximomfor4]

The nurse at our hospital said "little people have little lungs,which is why they are dying".

ThaT doesn't explain why teenagers are more likely to die than babies/toddlers?????

 

[laurie31]

Its nice to think you would have your kid at the doc as soon as afever hits, but when my dd woke up with a fever yesterday I called the doctor...their response was "sounds like flu", we are not seeing anyone with flu symptoms unless they have been sick for at least 4 days, we dont want to overload our waiting rooms with kids spreading germs to others. She then proceeded to tell me when to call back, and when to send her back to school (and also mentioned some kids are not running fevers, more like a bad cold) So, after being very angry I took her to minute clinic to confirm (I have a grandmother she had been around who shouldnt be exposed to the flu) and NO FLU!!!! They did the test and it was negative, however I am wondering the accuracy since she has all the symptoms....

There is a 30-70% FALSE NEGATIVE rate. So it's still quite likely that she has it. That's why the doctors don't want to do the test - it's not reliable. I don't think your DD should be around your grandmother regardless of whether she truly has influenza, or some other viral illness that's making her sick. Anything of that nature can be very bad for an immunocompromised person.

I hope your DD is better soon.

 

[taximomfor4]

Its nice to think you would have your kid at the doc as soon as afever hits, but when my dd woke up with a fever yesterday I called the doctor...their response was "sounds like flu", we are not seeing anyone with flu symptoms unless they have been sick for at least 4 days, we dont want to overload our waiting rooms with kids spreading germs to others. She then proceeded to tell me when to call back, and when to send her back to school (and also mentioned some kids are not running fevers, more like a bad cold) So, after being very angry I took her to minute clinic to confirm (I have a grandmother she had been around who shouldnt be exposed to the flu) and NO FLU!!!! They did the test and it was negative, however I am wondering the accuracy since she has all the symptoms....

No reason to confirm with a test....the test isn't accurate even HALF of the time. Most dr's offices aren't bothering, for that reason. Also to protect the public. Confirmation does no good. If your dd doesn't have flu but some other bad respiratory virus, you Grandma shouldn't get exposed to THAT, either.

 

[laurie31]

taximom, I'm starting to think we share a brain or something - lol!

 

[taximomfor4]

taximom, I'm starting to think we share a brain or something - lol!

lol -- I was thinking the same thing.

 

[missypie]

My friend died yesterday of complications of H1N1. He was absolutely healthy, 54 years old (so there goes the "safe if born before 1957 theory.")

Thurs Oct 8th - fine
Fri Oct 9th - started to cough, bad cough by the 10th
Monday the 12th - went to the doctor, was told it was flu, go home and drink liquids, etc.
Thursday the 15th - couldnt get rid of fever so he went back to the doctor; doctor told him to go to the ER -
Friday the 16th - severe pheunmonia/sepsus (sp) -put on a ventilator and into drug induced coma - over the weekend, other organs (liver, kidneys) in distress; heart rate and blood pressure low
Wednesday the 21st - put on ECMO machine; procedure went well; doctors were optimisic (also dialysis; had gained 60 lbs of retained fluid)
Sunday the 25th - despite the ECMO, couldn't get enough oxygen into his blood
Monday the 26th - disconnected from the machines and passed away 30 minutes later

This was a guy who hadn't taken a sick day in 25 years and who had terrific medical care from a large urban hospital.

 

[laurie31]

My friend died yesterday of complications of H1N1. He was absolutely healthy, 54 years old (so there goes the "safe if born before 1957 theory.")

Thurs Oct 8th - fine
Fri Oct 9th - started to cough, bad cough by the 10th
Monday the 12th - went to the doctor, was told it was flu, go home and drink liquids, etc.
Thursday the 15th - couldnt get rid of fever so he went back to the doctor; doctor told him to go to the ER -
Friday the 16th - severe pheunmonia/sepsus (sp) -put on a ventilator and into drug induced coma - over the weekend, other organs (liver, kidneys) in distress; heart rate and blood pressure low
Wednesday the 21st - put on ECMO machine; procedure went well; doctors were optimisic (also dialysis; had gained 60 lbs of retained fluid)
Sunday the 25th - despite the ECMO, couldn't get enough oxygen into his blood
Monday the 26th - disconnected from the machines and passed away 30 minutes later

This was a guy who hadn't taken a sick day in 25 years and who had terrific medical care from a large urban hospital.

My goodness. I knew about the loss of your friend from the other thread, but wow, that timeline is terrifying!

 

[missypie]

My goodness. I knew about the loss of your friend from the other thread, but wow, that timeline is terrifying!

It is terrifying because he did what the health departments are telling us to do - went to the doctor, followed doctor's orders, went back to the doctor when he didn't go better, went to the ER the minute the doctor told him to, had excellent care in the ICU, etc.

 

[Christine]

It is terrifying because he did what the health departments are telling us to do - went to the doctor, followed doctor's orders, went back to the doctor when he didn't go better, went to the ER the minute the doctor told him to, had excellent care in the ICU, etc.

Was he confirmed H1N1 or do you think he had pneumonia from the get-go? The reason I ask is that with all this panic, I think doctors are ignoring some really sick people from the start and just passing things off as "the flu"or "H1N1" when they have been pneumonia from the beginning. I suppose only an autopsy would prove H1N1 at this point.