Influenza/Flu

[LakeAriel]

OK. Just when I was sure flu season was over..Wham! First my Grandson, then my Granddaughter, then my daughter, then yours truly. Horrible cough, aches and pains, lethargy and high fevers. All starting last week.
I am curious if other areas are seeing sudden flu outbreaks? We are just North of NYC. With any luck you are not!

 

[Christine]

Yes, I just found out on Monday that we have been having a flu outbreak. DS (11) came down with a mild fever and sore throat on Friday. It progressed into horrible congestions and temperatures close to 103 for 3 days. Then it went back down to the 101 range. The doctor wanted to test him for influenza but had run out of influenza test kits. He said that DS either had influenza or a virus that has very similar symptoms. He also said that the flu season got a late start here and there has been an "outbreak" over the last 3 weeks.

 

[LBAK]

Some outbreaks showing here on Long Island too. Not good news that's for sure.

 

[golfgal]

We had it in our area last month but we usually have it starting around Christmas and through January so it is very late which wasn't good because for people that got their shot in October, they still got the influenza because their shot wore off.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Heard in the news - last week, I think - that it is lingering longer this year - for our area, NY, anyway.

 

[snowwite]

We all had it a month ago and now we are all getting sick again.We caught DS influenza early enough to treat w/tamiflu.
We are leaving for Disney on Fri I hope we will not be sick all week.

 

[Mel6197]

Im in Long Island too.

My poor chickens..
Usually they are so evil.. Now they are just in pain, and Mama doesnt like her evil chickens in pain

Yes I call all my children Evil Chickens, even the kids at school.. I dont mean it in a bad way.. Just my little saying..

 

[LakeAriel]

Keep it coming. We should have a better chart then the CDC! I have been trying to keep my Stony Brook student DD away from me but it seems to be pretty virulent in LI anyway! My Grandchildren were at the pediatrian on Friday for Strept test which were negative. That night my daughter's fever started, mine Monday. We do not reside in the same household. He didn't seem to consider flu! How I wish we had gotten Tamiflu! My diaghram is killing me from coughing!

 

[golfgal]

The CDC map does show NY being hard hit now.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm

 

[LakeAriel]

I did see that but knew no one that has been afflicted. Till now!!!!!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

This must have been what my kids had. Really I thought it was just colds. DD ran a slight fever and she had congestion and coughing. DS never ran a fever, but had the congestion and coughing. DH and I didn't get anything.

 

[Christine]

This must have been what my kids had. Really I thought it was just colds. DD ran a slight fever and she had congestion and coughing. DS never ran a fever, but had the congestion and coughing. DH and I didn't get anything.

No, it probably wasn't. My pediatrician just told me that in the influenza cases they had, they were seeing fevers of 102-103.

 

[LakeAriel]

Indeed. The children had 105/104. My DD and myself 103. It seems to last (the fever) about 5/6 days.

 

[Disney Ontario]

Hi. Sister inlaw (another dis member) just had Influenza last week. Her doctor said if she only got the flu shot. She was out of it for a week and couldn't even go to work.

 

[Aidensmom]

My son and I both had it last week.

 

[LakeAriel]

Someone mentioned that the Flu shot would no longer be effective this late in the season. Does anyone know if this is so?

 

[golfgal]

Someone mentioned that the Flu shot would no longer be effective this late in the season. Does anyone know if this is so?

That was me and the flu shot MAY not be effective this late depending on when you got your shot. There are many, many kids and teachers in our town that had the shot that got the flu, most of them had gotten the shot in mid October. We got our shots in November and were around many people that had gotten influenza, mainly the kids at school, and were fine. Your immunity to the influenza will decrease with time so it really depends on when you got your shot and your immune system.

 

[LakeAriel]

Interesting.Of course it also depends on whether the vaccine was for this particular strain. I'll do a little research when I am fully recovered. For now
I'm curious where it is and why in the Spring. With the late Easter vacation maybe the spread wil be diminished with the schools closed

 

[golfgal]

Interesting.Of course it also depends on whether the vaccine was for this particular strain. I'll do a little research when I am fully recovered. For now
I'm curious where it is and why in the Spring. With the late Easter vacation maybe the spread wil be diminished with the schools closed

The vaccine is for the type that is going around, "A" type. There is a "B" type going around as well that is not covered but it seems like it is a very mild presentation so most people that have gotten the "B" type thought they had a bad cold.

 

[kilee]

Yesterday was my first day back to work. DS got it first. He missed 4 full days of school and then a 1/2 day. They always say if you get the Influenza virus you'll know it. We knew it. He was so sick. I guess 1/3 of the school has been consistently absent over the last 2 weeks. It's going through it like crazy. Then dh and I both came down w/ it a few days after ds. DS had a fever for 5 days. Then dh and I both ran one off and on for 3 days. DH got better after only about 3 days (so I'm wondering if he maybe had something else and it was just ironic it was at the same time ). I'm 8 days today. I still will need an afternoon nap today. I did work 4 hrs yesterday and that about did me in.

The doctor I work for said it was a much later season here (NY- Buffalo area) than usual. That it didn't really start to hit until almost 3 weeks ago. He told me 1 week of being sick, then 1 week for your body to fully recover and feel better again. Seems to be true even DS (13) had been going to bed by 7pm (usually it's 10pm) the first few days back to school.

I have asthma and was alittle worried. Seems like I always have a harder time shaking respiratory illness. The worst does seem to be behind me though and I think that we conquered it.