My Son Has Flu-Like Symptoms Today...

[Christine]

so I got a 9:20 a.m. appointment this morning to get him swabbed. Normally, I wouldn't *run* to the doctor like this but he has moderate to severe asthma and if this is the flu, I guess I want him on Tamiflu. I think with his age (14) and his asthma, he's pretty high risk for complications.

Wish us luck! Not sure if I want a positive or negative swab though. If it's positive, he might be better in a day or two with the Tamiflu but, still, it's the flu. If it's negative, well, he could be sick for awhile.

He has a fever, sore throat, his arms and shoulders ache when the fever is up, his skin is very sensitive. He has a sporadic cough. It's not frequent but it is attention-getting when he does it. He also has a bit of a runny nose. Sounds like the flu, but how can one tell?

It did come on rather suddenly. He did tell me on Wednesday night he had a bit of a sore throat. He woke up yesterday and was just fine. He said that while he was in Latin class (end of school day) it just hit him. He started feeling awful.

 

[golfgal]

I would say that it is a good bet that it is the flu-either H1N1 or seasonal. With the asthma it is a good idea to get him in. A boy in MN died last week of H1N1 with NO underlying medical conditions so it is a good idea to keep a close eye on those that do.

 

[Christine]

He did have his seasonal flu shot back in mid-September. Not that it is a guarantee that he doesn't have seasonal flu, but hopefully he had some protection.

There was a 14 y/o girl in Maryland that died about 2 weeks ago from this with no underlying complications. In her case, though, I believe it was from a secondary pneumonia infection, but still. With the asthma, I've always been really afraid he would get the flu. He's never had it to my knowledge.

 

[luvwinnie]

Hope he feeling better soon. Good thing he is being seen quickly.

 

[Christine]

Back from the doctor.

He tested negative for strep, and negative for influenza. The doctor is still prescribing Tamiflu because, apparently, the influenza swab has a high rate of false positives and with his asthma he just didn't want to take any chances.

He did say that in their patient population, the H1N1 has been *very* mild as compared to seasonal flu which has not been mild and that they are not giving any patients Tamiflu unless they have an underlying condition. The doc also said that since my son did not get a positive on the swab that he will still need to get an H1N1 vaccine. Apparently if you test positive you don't need the vaccine (since it's like having the vaccine).

 

[NewCrew42]

Hope your son is feeling better.

My DS14 is in bed sick today, I think it is just cold as he is not running fever. He has asthma as well. You just cannot be too careful.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Uh-oh, did you start him on his yellow level meds on his Asthma Action plan yet?

 

[jme829]

so I got a 9:20 a.m. appointment this morning to get him swabbed. Normally, I wouldn't *run* to the doctor like this but he has moderate to severe asthma and if this is the flu, I guess I want him on Tamiflu. I think with his age (14) and his asthma, he's pretty high risk for complications.

Wish us luck! Not sure if I want a positive or negative swab though. If it's positive, he might be better in a day or two with the Tamiflu but, still, it's the flu. If it's negative, well, he could be sick for awhile.

He has a fever, sore throat, his arms and shoulders ache when the fever is up, his skin is very sensitive. He has a sporadic cough. It's not frequent but it is attention-getting when he does it. He also has a bit of a runny nose. Sounds like the flu, but how can one tell?

It did come on rather suddenly. He did tell me on Wednesday night he had a bit of a sore throat. He woke up yesterday and was just fine. He said that while he was in Latin class (end of school day) it just hit him. He started feeling awful.

My dd16 just pretty much went thru the same thing...she woke up sick yesterday, same sypmtoms as your son except no fever...She slept and took some nyquil flu and cold and today she feels much better (has a bit of a sore throat and a cough, but the aches, chills, etc...are gone.. I did call the dr. because she has exercise induced asthma and the dr. said to treat her symptoms and only need to bring her in if she gets the fever.

We are keeping an eye on it, but so far its been mild and only bad for that one day.

 

[Christine]

Uh-oh, did you start him on his yellow level meds on his Asthma Action plan yet?

He's already on a high level of medication and, therefore, we don't have an action plan. He uses Advair daily, Singulair daily, and albuterol as needed. The most we ever do is increase the Advair to twice per day which we have done.

 

[Christine]

My dd16 just pretty much went thru the same thing...she woke up sick yesterday, same sypmtoms as your son except no fever...She slept and took some nyquil flu and cold and today she feels much better (has a bit of a sore throat and a cough, but the aches, chills, etc...are gone.. I did call the dr. because she has exercise induced asthma and the dr. said to treat her symptoms and only need to bring her in if she gets the fever.

We are keeping an eye on it, but so far its been mild and only bad for that one day.

My son was hoping for the same thing. Last night he said, "oh I'll probably be fine in the morning, I never get sick." He had a 99.7 temp last night. Then he was up all night as his fever stayed and rose to closer to 101. Now that we are back from the doctor, he is actually feeling much worse. Sheesh. I just gave him his first dose of Tamiflu. I guess if he makes a rapid improvement, I'll know it was the flu. If he's not any better tomorrow, I will assume it is your everyday, garden variety virus.

 

[Pennykay]

You have a great doctor!! Kudos for him for not relying on the rapid swab (with a 60% + false negative rate) and prescribing Tamiflu right away.

 

[luvwinnie]

Unfortunately, I don't think Tamiflu makes you feel better by the next day. Here is some info:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/17/tamiflu-questions-and-answers

 

[Christine]

You have a great doctor!! Kudos for him for not relying on the rapid swab (with a 60% + false negative rate) and prescribing Tamiflu right away.

Wow. See, I had no idea that false negative rate was so high.

 

[Christine]

Unfortunately, I don't think Tamiflu makes you feel better by the next day. Here is some info:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/17/tamiflu-questions-and-answers

Bummer. I was just going by the two personal accounts I heard. Two of my coworkers' kids took it. Both were 99% better 24 hours after taking it.

 

[JessicaR]

Back from the doctor.

He tested negative for strep, and negative for influenza. The doctor is still prescribing Tamiflu because, apparently, the influenza swab has a high rate of false positives and with his asthma he just didn't want to take any chances.

He did say that in their patient population, the H1N1 has been *very* mild as compared to seasonal flu which has not been mild and that they are not giving any patients Tamiflu unless they have an underlying condition. The doc also said that since my son did not get a positive on the swab that he will still need to get an H1N1 vaccine. Apparently if you test positive you don't need the vaccine (since it's like having the vaccine).

False positive or false negative? Since he tested negative and gave him Tamiflu anyway I would think he meant false negative results are high. I've been reading the same too.

My son is like yours with asthma and I have been giving it thought if the situation presents itself to dose Tamiflu or not.

I hope he feels better quickly! I also hope you can keep his asthma symptoms at bay as best as possible. Thats the worst part, I hate that so much. Are you hearing of cases in his school or area?

Curious how he does with the Tamiflu, keep us posted please.

 

[Christine]

False positive or false negative? Since he tested negative and gave him Tamiflu anyway I would think he meant false negative results are high. I've been reading the same too.

My son is like yours with asthma and I have been giving it thought if the situation presents itself to dose Tamiflu or not.

I hope he feels better quickly! I also hope you can keep his asthma symptoms at bay as best as possible. Thats the worst part, I hate that so much. Are you hearing of cases in his school or area?

Curious how he does with the Tamiflu, keep us posted please.

False negative I meant!

So far, so good with the asthma. He has not had any issues or changes in his breathing so far, but even when he gets a cold, the asthma does not kick in right away. Fortunately, he doesn't have much in the way of a runny nose. Just a sporadic, wet sounding cough and those don't occur that often.

He took is first dose of Tamiflu around noon. His fever has just gone to 102 so I've just dosed him with Motrin. He says he's very miserable and the body aches are the WORST and, of course, he's freezing with chills.

He's had no stomach complaints which is the biggie with Tamiflu. My coworker's daughter really complained about this but so far, so good.

I'm very leary myself about using Tamiflu, but an asthma flare-up scares me more. I do trust the pediatrician I saw today. He is one of the better ones in the practice and his feeling was that the side effects of the Tamiflu were going to be much less worrisome than the trouble he could get into with asthma.

I will keep you posted on the Tamiflu. I know there were some people on here who started taking it in the last few weeks and I wish I could remember who they were to see how it went!!

 

[monkey68]

I took Tamiflu, and the first couple days, I didn't feel so hot. I was nauseous to begin with, and already vomiting. When I took the first dose of Tamiflu, I didn't think it was possible to feel any worse, but I did. But it was only with the first dose, I didn't get like that after the other doses.

Hope your son feels better soon.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Just a thought OP. Since many people who do die, die of sceondary bacterial infections, maybe you could get him on an antibiotic too. I will do it as a precautionary measure for all my kids if they get a flu. I know that many doctors are doing this as a matter of routine-tamiflu and an antibiotic.

 

[Christine]

Just a thought OP. Since many people who do die, die of sceondary bacterial infections, maybe you could get him on an antibiotic too. I will do it as a precautionary measure for all my kids if they get a flu. I know that many doctors are doing this as a matter of routine-tamiflu and an antibiotic.

Well, mine did not prescribe that but certainly if he seems more congested I will call them and see if they would do that.

 

[lsyorke]

Tamiflu, in it's clinical trials, resulted in 38% symptom reduction and reduced time ill from 12 to 36 hours, depending on the patient. So it basically shortened to course of illness by about a day.

It's not a drug that will end the flu in 24 hours. Your friends child probably had a 24 hour virus that would have run it's course in 24 hours despite the Tamiflu.