Influenza Type A in my house AGAIN - update, my DS is now sick too

[AlexWyattMommy]

Pixie Dust heading your way!

 

[Christine]

Good news is my lung x-ray was clear.

I'm still coughing up stuff, but have no fever so I'm not sure if I'm getting better and coughing up old stuff or something new is finding a home in me.

I'm off to the Dr for DS now, I hope he has something to say worth hearing. Wish me luck.

With any virus,flu, etc. the secretions change color (usually going from clear, to cloudy, to thick) and doesn't necessarily mean infection. It just means that you illness is progressing and the types of cells that are creating the mucous are different and higher in quantity. Many people who get the flu have the worst part of it go away and then are left was a horrendous "cold-like" illness. So you may be getting better but you might be left with a cold that will hang on for a few weeks.

 

[LuvOrlando]

My DS tested positive for Influenza A as well.

More surprising, I called and they told me that the Microbiology Lad results are in and that I am definitely positive for Influenza A and when I pushed, does that mean seasonal or the H1N1 the nurse went back to ask the Dr and he said yes, I have H1N1.

Oh my... I feel so horrible knowing I had a hand in spreading this, I can't help but cry... so upset.

 

[Christine]

My DS tested positive for Influenza A as well.

More surprising, I called and they told me that the Microbiology Lad results are in and that I am definitely positive for Influenza A and when I pushed, does that mean seasonal or the H1N1 the nurse went back to ask the Dr and he said yes, I have H1N1.

Oh my... I feel so horrible knowing I had a hand in spreading this, I can't help but cry... so upset.

But how can they know it is H1N1. Doesn't that test take weeks?

 

[LuvOrlando]

I don't know

I know my Dr sent a sample into the hospital's Microbiology Lab. I do not know how sensitive their tests are. I do not know if the sample made its way to the State or not yet... I don't even know if they will ever let me know. If it is at the State already maybe they can test faster when demand is lower, like now, but this is just a guess.

The results they gave me were based on my exam + whatever the Microbiology Lab said, they didn't mention the State other than the fact it was being reported.

There is a whole lot I do not know.

Oh, and btw, I called the Hospital that turned me away and the customer whatever person took my message. I threatened that they would see this on the front page of the papers tomorrow if someone doesn't get back to me. I want them to know what they did, the liabilities their Triage Nurse and ER Dr created and make sure it doesn't get repeated. I am so angry with the 2 sets of medial professionals who could have helped me, number 1 is idiot Dr who said it couldn't be on Sat, and number 2 is the Hospital whose protocol is dangerous.

I also called the school Nurse to give her a heads up since DS's classmates were exposed. I also called the Pulmonologist to give him a heads up the Flu is officially in our area. I am trying to be responsible and make people aware. I imagine the Dr's will spread the news among themselves pretty quickly.

 

[sbell111]

But how can they know it is H1N1. Doesn't that test take weeks?

Also, there are more than one H1N1 viruses. One of the viruses covered by the seasonal vaccine is an H1N1 strain. The mere knowledge that it is H1N1 does not mean that it is the 'pandemic' H1N1. (This point is especially important to for those people who claim to have had the pandemic virus twice.)

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I am so sorry. I know you feel horrible.

Your doctor should be ashamed of himself. Royally ashamed.

You didn't know. It is NOT your fault.

If you do know of anyone you came in contact with, it might be nice to notify them. Just so they have a heads up to stay inside if they start symptoms.

The latest reports do say that the pandemic H1N1 is not as contagious as they first thought. It is possible that you did not infect anyone outside your family.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Also, there are more than one H1N1 viruses. One of the viruses covered by the seasonal vaccine is an H1N1 strain. The mere knowledge that it is H1N1 does not mean that it is the 'pandemic' H1N1. (This point is especially important to for those people who claim to have had the pandemic virus twice.)

I don't understand, I thought H1N1 was the specific name for the aka Pandemic
Influenza Type A.

Point is when asked Seasonal or H1N1 the answer was not seasonal, or at least that's how I understood it.

Is there a third category?

I'm not challenging you, I simply do not understand. Then again, I kind of stopped paying attention when my DD was released from the hospital. i figured we were all exposed and now had super human immunity which would keep us from getting any Flu again. We've never had any sort of Flu here before. I couldn't have been more wrong, now it's 2 times in under 2 months. My DD was diagnosed 11/13, I'm not even 2 months out from that yet.

All I know is we are all presenting EXACTLY the same way as when DD did when she first got sick. EXACTLY, except for the fact our fevers haven't breached the 103 mark. But the day isn't over yet, DS isn't better yet and I have no idea if DD will get sick or not... i pray no.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Here is what the CDC says about it

There are three types of influenza viruses: A, B and C. Human influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of disease almost every winter in the United States. The emergence of a new and very different influenza virus to infect people can cause an influenza pandemic. Influenza type C infections cause a mild respiratory illness and are not thought to cause epidemics.

Influenza A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two proteins on the surface of the virus: the hemagglutinin (H) and the neuraminidase (N). There are 16 different hemagglutinin subtypes and 9 different neuraminidase subtypes. Influenza A viruses can be further broken down into different strains. Current subtypes of influenza A viruses found in people are influenza A (H1N1) and influenza A (H3N2) viruses. In the spring of 2009, a new influenza A (H1N1) virus emerged to cause illness in people. This virus was very different from regular human influenza A (H1N1) viruses and the new virus has caused an influenza pandemic.

Influenza B viruses are not divided into subtypes. Influenza B viruses also can be further broken down into different strains.

For information about 2009 H1N1 flu, visit http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
Regular influenza A (H1N1), A (H3N2), and influenza B viruses are included in each year's seasonal influenza vaccine. Getting a flu vaccine can protect against flu viruses that are the same or related to the viruses in the vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against influenza C viruses and this year’s seasonal vaccine will not protect against the 2009 H1N1 virus. This year there is also a 2009 H1N1 vaccine.

So there is more than one kind of H1N1. Last year the H1N1 was resistant to the Tamiflu by the end of the season. They don't know how it happened because it certainly wasn't from overuse of Tamiflu.

The tests for the Pandemic H1N1 are not always reliable. But there are a lot of false negatives and I have not heard of a false positive.

There are two results from the rapid testing - Type A or Type B. There are three results from further subtyping - Seasonal H1N1, Pandemic H1N1, unknown Type A. The last one can mean the virus drifted enough away from the test to not be recognized and can still be either Seasonal or Pandemic.

Just this season Arizona has found the following types - H1N1 INFLUENZA, INFLUENZA A(H1), INFLUENZA A(H3,) INFLUENZA A(UNK), INFLUENZA B.
Here is a link to their latest reports that might help you.
http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/oids/epi/flu/pdf/weeklyflureport.pdf

 

[JessicaR]

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/
During week 51 (December 20-26, 2009), influenza activity decreased slightly in the U.S.

154 (3.9%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division were positive for influenza.

All subtyped influenza A viruses reported to CDC were 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses.

Clinicians should be aware that the sensitivities of rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) and direct immunofluorescence assays (DFAs) are lower than real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) tests and viral culture. A negative RIDT or DFA result does not rule out influenza virus infection.

Further, these tests cannot distinguish between 2009 H1N1 and seasonal H1N1 or H3N2 influenza A viruses.

How long does it take to confirm that someone has the H1N1 flu?

The most accurate laboratory tests can take several days to obtain results.

This season, CDC is focusing use of these tests on people who are hospitalized with suspected flu and people such as pregnant women or people with weakened immune systems. CDC expects that most people with flu symptoms this season will not require testing for 2009 H1N1 because the test results usually do not change how you are treated. More information can be found in CDC’s Interim Recommendations for Clinical Use of Influenza Diagnostic Tests During the 2009-10 Influenza Season.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/diagnostic_testing_public_qa.htm#c

 

[sbell111]

Strange, but true.

"H1N1" is the most common cause of flu in humans and has been for a long, long time (maybe forever, for all I know).

Every year, the seasonal vaccine shot attempts to protect against some strain or another of H1N1.

The "pandemic H1N1/09" is a different strain of H1N1, but they are many, many H1N1 strains spreading about in any given year.

As for whether there are more types of flu beyond 'pandemic' and 'seasonal', there is really only one so-called type; flu. The pandemic H1N1 vaccine would have been included within the 'seasonal' vaccine if they had only identified the problem sooner.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Thanks.
My pushed me through the Microbiology lab because of:

A) I've had all the vaccines
&
B) I was fully exposed to Pandemic when DD had it but seemed to fight it off

So he thinks either there was a vaccine failure or a new variant is here. I will call and ask if they could say which H1N1 I have.
I wonder if the State was waiting to see what the Microbiology lab found before testing, if they threw it out or if they are looking for new trouble to pop up?

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Not forever, but for a long time.

It seemed to flux between the H3N2 and H1N1. With each new "type" starting as a pandemic and then becoming the main seasonal flu strain. 1957 & 1968 being the turning point for the new dominant strain.

And within each season, the flu will change. It is possible to get the flu twice if it changes enough that your body doesn't recognize it from before. It's not like lightening.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I don't know if it helps or not but I just got off the phone and according to my Dr's office it's the Pandemic one. I am supposed to see my family Dr for a follow-up tomorrow night at 7:45 so I suppose I'll get more detailed info then.

 

[LuvOrlando]

double

 

[sbell111]

... I will call and ask if they could say which H1N1 I have.

Honestly, I wouldn't bother. It's not going to affect your treatment or recuperation, at all.

You have the flu. Take it easy. Drink plenty of fluids. If your fever gets to be uncomfortable, take some tylenol or ibuprofen. Same for body aches. If you're stuffy take a decongestant. Got a cough that's bugging you, take some cough medicine. (I used Robittusin DM for the cough and congestion.) If the cough gets worse when you try to rest, add an extra pillow under your nog. Stay away from antihistamines and don't smoke. If yu start to get better and then get worse, see a doc.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Well knowing won't help me, but it might help other people so for that reason alone I guess it's worth knowing anyway. At least i think so.

 

[sbell111]

Well knowing won't help me, but it might help other people so for that reason alone I guess it's worth knowing anyway. At least i think so.

How would it help other people?

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I'm going to guess that because the Pandemic H1N1 affects a different age group more harshly than the seasonal.

The seasonal strain is more deadly to the elderly and very young.

The pandemic strain is more deadly to the 2-50 age group. A group that is normally not affected by the seasonal flu, if there is no underlying medical condition.

Thankfully it is not a world killer like you see in movies. However, all those children who are now listed as a causality in the CDC's numbers would not dead be if they did not become infected with this pandemic flu. It is a heartbreaking thought.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

How would it help other people?

Maybe due to Tamiflu working much of the time for Pandemic H1N1 and not so well for other A strains including seasonal H1N1.

It is not comforting that both you and your DH got the vaccine though. Did you react to the vaccine at all? I always think it is "good" when there is a mild response, though that is probably not scientific! DD had a little postnasal drip a few days later, and DS had a stuffy nose for about 12 hours each! I did not give them anything to suppress a reaction.