How do you know if your sick with Swine flu or something else?

[sersee05]

Are you finding different symptoms with swine flu and that everyone is handling it differently?

I ask because I am curious about my DD12. The Swine flu has hit.. One girl had it two weeks ago..Her mom said she had that "rattling" feeling in her chest and a high fever. Her pediatrician told her she had "the flu" and not the swine flu because her chest x-ray didn't show anything in her lungs or the lining of the lungs and that is what swine flu does..I completely disagree..but am not a doc..to me, she had swine flu...My doc said that people can call it what the want, but seasonal flu is not in our area yet. So this girl sits with other girls at her lunch. They are all on the same soccer team as my DD12.

One girl got sick on Thursday night..and came down with 101 fever. My DD12 went to the movies with the other 2 girls from the lunch table and to a soccer thing last Sunday with them. Sunday night both girls got sick and I know one had 104. They were "classic" swine flu the doc says..and two of them even had the fever free 24 hour thing only to get the fever back and had to stay home.

My DD12 was exposed to these two girls and started feeling kind of crappy on Wednesday in school. She didn't go to field hockey and came home to sleep. She then started having diarrhea. By Thursday she had body aches, sore throat , diarrhea , a headache here and there, and some rattling in her chest and started needing the inhaler. She has exercise induced asthma. The thing is ..she does not have a fever. She is still feeling crappy today..has lower body aches still and diarrhea..although it isn't horrible.

I also am sick but I have congestion, headache, sore throat and all that junk in my chest. I haven't had a fever..and think mine might be a good ole bronchial/ sinus infection type thing..not sure though. I feel ok ..just have the congestion. DD7 is starting to have a "juicy" cough..but feels fine..and DD5 is doing a-ok. He did get the vaccine last week..but it hasn't been enough time for the immunities to start building I don't think.

I am not asking to be diagnosed or anything..I was just curious if you could get swine flu without a fever? I am curious because we have seen some kids with 101 temps that supposedly have it and some with 104 temps..We are supposed to leave for Disney a week from today..so am keeping my fingers crossed that everyone gets healthy and remains that way.

 

[Minniemama350]

The word we got at school from the CDC is that you can have it without a fever. I believe I had it two months ago. I had all of the symptoms except the fever. At that time we were under the impression that you had to have a fever, so I thought I was OK.I didn't go to the Dr. A week later they said it could present with no fever.

 

[Christine]

It's just really hard to say.

Just because the swine flu is around doesn't mean all the usual upper respiratory viruses have left the country! They are still here. Doctors are no longer really even swabbing for the flu and just telling people that's what they have. IMO, that does a great disservice because we have so many thousands of unconfirmed influenza cases that swear that they have the flu.

It could be anything.

 

[yuffie]

Oh wow! Sersee, I have/had the same thing as your DD!

On and off for the past 3wks, I get body aches, irregular bowel movements, congestion in the sinuses (this one is pretty constant) - but no fever. (Ironically, I'll sometimes have an "under" fever. I'm normally like 99.0 but It'll be reading 97).

My co-worker has the same thing. A cough that won't go away, cold like symptoms of watery eyes/runny nose. We compare & we both said we know it's not the flu because we don't have a fever.

I've been debating getting checked out just because it's more annoying than anything else, but if it could be possible to have H1N1, then I don't want to potentially be spreading the virus! (My coworker & I work in food service at a university - if we have H1N1, we could be doing a LOT of damage...) There are cases at my college (UGA) & I came in contact with them, but none of those I hang around with the most (boyfriend etc) have any problems.

So troublesome! It doesn't help that I'm a hypochondriac, so I always assume the worst LOL "I have a headache - what if it's a tumor!?" etc I just keep telling myself it's just stress + allergies.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Directly from the CDC.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm

2009 H1N1 flu virus infection (formerly known as swine flu) can cause a wide range of symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, including 2009 H1N1, and have respiratory symptoms without a fever. Like seasonal flu, 2009 H1N1 flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Severe disease with pneumonia, respiratory failure and even death is possible with 2009 H1N1 flu infection. Certain groups might be more likely to develop a severe illness from 2009 H1N1 flu infection, such as pregnant women and persons with chronic medical conditions. Sometimes bacterial infections may occur at the same time as or after infection with influenza viruses and lead to pneumonias, ear infections, or sinus infections.

 

[krcit]

My dd had the swine flu back in June. She had a fever. I was sick the week before and I didn't have a fever but had all the rest of the symptoms so I believe I had it also.

 

[NikitaZee]

My family has been sick for a week. My husband and I have had coughing, low grade temp, general achiness and extreme fatigue. We both went to the doctor and were tested for H1N1 - both negative. He has bronchitis, I have a 'virus'. My older son came home from school with cough, sore throat, high fever - no H1N1, but postive for strep. Christine is right - the usual suspects are to blame! It's so hard to tell - just see your doctor if you're at all worried.

 

[Jsme]

The only way you will know 100% that you have H1N1 is by going to your doctor and they swabbing your nose. This test is then sent off to a lab that your state has chosen for this type testing. A doctor can not tell you that you have H1N1 without doing this test. There's no way you can go to the doctor's office and find out immediately you have H1N1. A lot of doctor's offices are swabbing for the flu and telling people they have swine flu. I work in the school system and I work with the H1N1 protocol.

We are seeing a huge amount of flu going thru our schools but due to doctor's not doing the H1N1 test we only have 2 confirmed cases at the HS I work.

My friend who teaches at my school went to an Urgent Care faculty today becasue she has had a headache, ear ache and has been tired. She was told she had the flu. They did not send her test off for confirmation of H1N1. She was given 2 prescriptions and a inhaler.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Jsme is correct. The test they do in the office is a rapid test to determine Type A or B. And it is WRONG 30-70% of the time. False negatives. Sending a sample to the lab is the only way to know for sure. And even then it can be wrong because the sample wasn't taken correctly, shipped properly and other errors.

There are many other virus out there. And the Swine can cause other secondary infections - like the Strep and Bronchitis and Pneumonia. We should take all of our illness serious. It doesn't matter what virus caused it. Get to your doctor and let him prescribe the medicines that will do the most good for your condition. And isolate yourself from others so you don't spread what ever virus you have.

Hope everyone feels better soon.

 

[C.Ann]

I would give my right arm to know if my DGD and her dad actually had the swine flu back in the spring when it first cropped up.. Although they were swabbed - and it came back negative - I'm now hearing that up to 50% of the "negatives" are/were wrong! It would really save us a lot of anxiety if we knew for sure..

In many of the posts I have read, I have noticed that the first symptom was a very severe headache.. Can anyone address that here? If that were true - rapidly followed by the other symptoms - it would make it much easier to determine one way or the other if it's the swine flu..

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Everything I've read - and I've read a lot, trust me on that - everyone presents differently. They do not all start out the same. Some have the headache, some a tickle in the throat, some gastro symptoms, and some get slammed with everything at once. And unfortunately there have been some children who have died that didn't present with much at all and yet died who were confirmed to have the H1N1 present in their systems.

Even if you do think you have had it, you should still treat it like you haven't.

Every virus will shift/mutate/drift. That is why you need a new seasonal shot every year. We don't know when the Novel Type A H1N1 Swine flu will change, but to say that it won't is erroneous. Therefore because you may have had it once, does not guarantee you won't get again.

Check the CDC http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm for guidance on how to recognize the warning signs of serious trouble.

And let's be careful out there.

 

[sersee05]

oh trust me, I have seen my doc..her chest sounded good ...and no fever so they weren't really concerned. The thing is today is the 5th day with diarrhea..it isn't horrible but it has been 5 days now that she is still having it..it just makes me wonder. She keeps feeling "tight" so I have to give her the xopenex. She has been in bed for 4 days just hanging in her room. I guess if it is swine flu..she is kind of lucky not to be horrendously sick. Although I know it the flu will change again..it would just be nice to know..I agree with everyone who just wants to know..then I could kind of be relieved for the next couple months knowing we have been there , done that...then I don't have to worry until the mutation happens..

I am going to go see my doc tomorrow just to make sure mine hasn't turned into sinus infection...if everyone is healthy...I don't want to go on a plane with sinus issues!

I am also very confused on temperatures..My daughter is normally in the 96-97 range normally. So if she goes to 98 -99 ..does that mean she has a temp? Also does anyone know if you actually add a point under the arm? I was always told that but the nurse at my doctor's office says to not add a point? I am curious because my dd12 is now a 98.7 under her arm...

.

 

[Lucky4me]

There is no way to tell and most doctors aren't swabbing anymore, just assuming it's all H1N1. I'm certain if you're sick enough to be hospitalized, then you'll be tested.
There is no one symptom that is consistent in every person.
The majority are having mild cases, a few are having a rough time with it.
It's frustrating.

If this flu ends up mimicking the 1918 pandemic, 30% of the world population will eventually become infected. 70% will not ever get it.

Right now where I live in Western NY, it's not that bad. DD's high school calls once a week with an H1N1 update and as of Friday, there is the same absenteeism rate as last year at this time. That comforts me somewhat, but wonder if it's taking it's time getting up this way, or if people are ignoring symptoms and sending their kids to school sick. If It's a mild case, a few Tylenol or a Motrin will take care of things for awhile. If parents kept kids home for every runny nose and cough, there would be a 50% absenteeism rate here fall/winter every year.

I think the best thing to do is stay home if you're sick. Keep yourself or the sick person in a separate room in the house if at all possible. Sanitize every possible surface in the house with a water/bleach solution or Lysol spray or wipes. Stay home 24 hours after you start feeling better or your fever breaks. I think that is good sense even with a bad cold or seasonal flu.
Get the vax when it's available and try not to stress about it in the meantime. Some people may have to wait until Dec/Jan before they get their vaccination.
I had to stop watching shows like 20/20 and 60 minutes if they're running H1N1 stories. I can learn everything I need to know from the CDC and other flu websites. It's best to keep to the official ones. Even the evening news is horrifying when they show the rare cases of people, especially children, dying from this virus.

 

[Lucky4me]

oops