Swine Flu News

[walkerag]

I am probably just being really paranoid here which is not typical of me BTW.
A 5 year old little boy died of H1N1 in our area just last week. He was a healthy, vibrant little boy with no known underlying conditions. He bacame ill on Saturday, felt better Sunday (fever went away), fever came back Monday and he died at the hospital Monday evening The parents did everything they knew to do including taking him to the doctor Saturday morning and rushing him to the hospital Monday.
This child lived and went to school maybe 5 or 10 miles from us.
Autopsy results are not back but doctors are speculating that he may have had an unknown bacterial infection of some kind that lead to the complications and death.
There have been 2 confirmed cases in DD's elementary school and just yesterday she started with symptoms of a sinus infection (she has seasonal allergies). My fear is that if she got the flu and already had the sinus infection it could be bad.
Would you ask your pediatrician about this if you were me?
I know I'm being a worry wart but that's my baby girl

 

[rie'smom]

..
There have been 2 confirmed cases in DD's elementary school and just yesterday she started with symptoms of a sinus infection (she has seasonal allergies). My fear is that if she got the flu and already had the sinus infection it could be bad.
Would you ask your pediatrician about this if you were me?
I know I'm being a worry wart but that's my baby girl

Don't worry that someone might think you're a worrywart, take her to the doctor. Even w/out the flu, a sinus infection is miserable.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Talk about tricky....

My older dd who is a Freshman in college away in a dorm has got H1N1.

Now what?

I am probably going to have to go and get her and now that will put us all at risk for getting it from here.

I will have to see how she is tommorrow. This is just awful.

Safe travels getting your daughter.

Get your masks from Home Depot/Lowes before you get her. Let her wear the surgical one and you where the one respirator valve. They are uncomfortable, but you will need one if you are in the car with her.

Can you keep her isolate from the others? My sick room has the return vent closed to help reduce the travel of the virus.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I am probably just being really paranoid here which is not typical of me BTW.
A 5 year old little boy died of H1N1 in our area just last week. He was a healthy, vibrant little boy with no known underlying conditions. He bacame ill on Saturday, felt better Sunday (fever went away), fever came back Monday and he died at the hospital Monday evening The parents did everything they knew to do including taking him to the doctor Saturday morning and rushing him to the hospital Monday.
This child lived and went to school maybe 5 or 10 miles from us.
Autopsy results are not back but doctors are speculating that he may have had an unknown bacterial infection of some kind that lead to the complications and death.
There have been 2 confirmed cases in DD's elementary school and just yesterday she started with symptoms of a sinus infection (she has seasonal allergies). My fear is that if she got the flu and already had the sinus infection it could be bad.
Would you ask your pediatrician about this if you were me?
I know I'm being a worry wart but that's my baby girl

I'm more then willing to wear that moniker if necessary. I'm sure you are too. Aren't most of us moms?

Does she have any other symptoms?

 

[walkerag]

I'm more then willing to wear that moniker if necessary. I'm sure you are too. Aren't most of us moms?

Does she have any other symptoms?

No, she just had a sinus headache this morning (behind her eyes). I don't think it's a full blown infection yet but is headed in that direction. She has a thick white nasal discharge right now, not green or yellow. TMI, I know
The last time I called the pediatrician when it was yellow I got the standard "There's nothing that we can do, just push fluids". The only reason I called them about it was because the school was trying to send her home because of it this was last year.

Now that I think of it, she did say she had some diarrhea at school yesterday but only once so that could've been anything. Again, TMI...

ETA: I have already called the doctor, just waiting for the nurse to call me back.

Trust me, I've been feeling her head alot lately checking for a fever

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

I am probably just being really paranoid here which is not typical of me BTW.
A 5 year old little boy died of H1N1 in our area just last week. He was a healthy, vibrant little boy with no known underlying conditions. He bacame ill on Saturday, felt better Sunday (fever went away), fever came back Monday and he died at the hospital Monday evening The parents did everything they knew to do including taking him to the doctor Saturday morning and rushing him to the hospital Monday.
This child lived and went to school maybe 5 or 10 miles from us.
Autopsy results are not back but doctors are speculating that he may have had an unknown bacterial infection of some kind that lead to the complications and death.
There have been 2 confirmed cases in DD's elementary school and just yesterday she started with symptoms of a sinus infection (she has seasonal allergies). My fear is that if she got the flu and already had the sinus infection it could be bad.
Would you ask your pediatrician about this if you were me?
I know I'm being a worry wart but that's my baby girl

Hello, neighbor (I live in Franklin)! Of the kids who have died, 2/3 have had serious underlying conditions like cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, etc... Of the 1/3 who were healthy, they are finding that there were secondary infections, usually strep, pneumonia, or MRSA. These infections hit after the body is fighting the flu because they catch the body in a weakened state. In the case of MRSA, antibiotics won't help (it is resistant staph), and that is a worst case scenario. HOWEVER, my son is prone to sinus infections as well, and if he gets the flu, I plan to ask my pediatrician to put him on an antibiotic as a precautionary measure. I know the antibiotic won't get rid of the flu, but it could help to prevent some of the infections from taking hold and causing a serious problem.

Percentage-wise the death rate for kids is VERY low. But, I don't think it hurts to be informed and to talk to your doctor about about preventive measures that could save lives, especially with kids who are more prone to infections.

I truly hope you avoid it. It is everywhere in Middle Tennessee right now. I have never been so paranoid about germs!

P.S. I just reread your post. Those symptoms, even without the fever, sound like they could be the flu, particularly since she had the upset stomach as well. Be sure to ask the doctor about that!

 

[walkerag]

Hello, neighbor (I live in Franklin)! Of the kids who have died, 2/3 have had serious underlying conditions like cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, etc... Of the 1/3 who were healthy, they are finding that there were secondary infections, usually strep, pneumonia, or MRSA. These infections hit after the body is fighting the flu because they catch the body in a weakened state. In the case of MRSA, antibiotics won't help (it is resistant staph), and that is a worst case scenario. HOWEVER, my son is prone to sinus infections as well, and if he gets the flu, I plan to ask my pediatrician to put him on an antibiotic as a precautionary measure. I know the antibiotic won't get rid of the flu, but it could help to prevent some of the infections from taking hold and causing a serious problem.

Percentage-wise the death rate for kids is VERY low. But, I don't think it hurts to be informed and to talk to your doctor about about preventive measures that could save lives, especially with kids who are more prone to infections.

I truly hope you avoid it. It is everywhere in Middle Tennessee right now. I have never been so paranoid about germs!

P.S. I just reread your post. Those symptoms, even without the fever, sound like they could be the flu, particularly since she had the upset stomach as well. Be sure to ask the doctor about that!

Even with the sinus stuff she's still her happy bubbly self but I will be asking them for sure
She told me that one of her classmates threw up in the classroom Monday, NOT what you want to hear as a parent

I know what you mean though, I keep my hand sanitizer in my purse and we use it after leaving a store (pushing a shopping cart etc.. ) and before we eat out anywhere. I've been preaching to her about washing her hands ALOT while at school and to not touch her face.

 

[sbell111]

I truly hope you avoid it. It is everywhere in Middle Tennessee right now. I have never been so paranoid about germs!

Tell me about it.

A few weeks ago, I had a cough and my wife talked me into going to see a doctor. I went into the vandy doc-in-a-box on 96. I stayed in the building for not more than two minutes.

There had to have been eight people in there who seemed fluey. I figured that I had a much better chance of catching the flu in that building than getting rid of my naggy cough.

 

[Buckalew11]

No details in today's paper about the 43 yo who died yesterday.

I leave for WDW for a long weekend in 2 weeks. They've already shut schools down here because of H1N1 and other illnesses. I feel like I'm already weakened by my bout with it or flu and pneumonia this summer. It is a bit daunting.

 

[Deb in IA]

We just had a departmental update on H1N1 (and I really wish people would stop calling it "swine flu").

Again, primary means of prevention would be HAND HYGIENE and COVERING YOUR MOUTH AND NOSE.

In most people, it is a mild viral illness. Average fever is about 100 to 101. Almost always associated with sore throat and/or cough.

And yes, it IS the only influenza strain occuring these days. It is too early yet for the seasonal flu. So anyone with an ILI (influenza-like illness) has, by definition, H1N1.

Tamiflu IS available and is VERY EFFECTIVE against H1N1. Physicians and health care providers are under strict orders to NOT stockpile it or prescribe it to family members.

The H1N1 vaccine should be available mid-October. There are currently 4 different companies manufacturing it. There will be a nasal mist version, but we (health care providers) don't know how much of what version we will get. Iowa is promised 400,000 doses in the first shipment, to be distributed to all 99 counties according to population density. Subsequent shipments will be in aliquots of 200,000 doses. Providers are requested to just give the vaccine as needed, and not save any for a possible second dose. Individual syringes will be thimerosol-free, but multi-dose vials WILL have thimerosol, and again, we don't yet know what form of the vaccine we will be receiving.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

Tell me about it.

A few weeks ago, I had a cough and my wife talked me into going to see a doctor. I went into the vandy doc-in-a-box on 96. I stayed in the building for not more than two minutes.

There had to have been eight people in there who seemed fluey. I figured that I had a much better chance of catching the flu in that building than getting rid of my naggy cough.

Glad to know there are so many middle Tennesseans around here! I went to the Walgreens on the corner of Carothers and 96 last week, and I stood as far away from everyone as possible. I hate to think how many people could catch H1N1 while going in to get a seasonal shot!

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

Looks like the 9 and under crowd will have to have 2 shots. Ten and older only need one.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hjdCHrP82YTFser5vD6CzTK1az6wD9ARQ7R01

 

[Tinijocaro]

P.S. I just reread your post. Those symptoms, even without the fever, sound like they could be the flu, particularly since she had the upset stomach as well. Be sure to ask the doctor about that!

I've been reading that 30% of swine flu cases are without fever! Tell my doctor that!

 

[Tinijocaro]

The WHO announced that H1N1 is already becoming resistant to the vaccine. This further cements my decision not to bother getting the vaccine.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,552901,00.html



The swine flu virus hasn't mutated into a more deadly strain but there are early signs it is developing resistance to vaccine, the World Heath Organization's chief said Monday.

Authorities are monitoring closely whether the virus was morphing into more virulent forms that would make it deadlier, the organization's Director-General Margaret Chan said.

"We are not seeing that situation right now," Chan told reporters as the WHO convened a conference in Hong Kong.

The WHO says the swine flu virus — also known as H1N1 — has killed almost 3,486 people worldwide as of Aug. 13. South America and North America account for the majority of deaths.

For now, the infection is generally mild and most people recover without treatment. But should it become deadlier, developing nations could be especially vulnerable because those populations lack adequate health care and are already fighting a myriad of diseases including AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

Chan said manufacturers were on track to develop billions of new doses of the vaccine over the next year. The vaccine is highly effective against the swine flu virus, though there were a small number of instances — about 25 in the world — of a vaccine-resistant flu.

 

[LuvOrlando]

My 5 year old niece went to the Dr in Queens yesterday. They are in the eye of the H1N1 storm and when my SIL asked about the shot she was told NO. Seems the vaccines that will be out first, nasal, are not even cleared for the people who are supposed to get them first. Seriously, could that possibly be any more wrong?

 

[rita s]

Schools in our neighborhood have 25% out sick. We're not closing schools though. I wonder how WDW parks are going to deal with it. I hope it fizzels out by the time I take a trip this winter. Maybe I'll delay until late winter.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

Schools in our neighborhood have 25% out sick. We're not closing schools though. I wonder how WDW parks are going to deal with it. I hope it fizzels out by the time I take a trip this winter. Maybe I'll delay until late winter.

It is already widespread in Florida, so I am sure they are dealing with it to some degree, particularly with sick employees. From what I have seen around here, however, too many adults are going to work sick because it is just a "cold." I am sure it is no different in Florida.

 

[rita s]

I'll bet Disney will offer vaccines to their staff. It makes sense that they'd get a high priority since employees are in contact with lots of young people and they are young themselves. I think if you get the vaccine there's little chance of coming down with it. I also heard that if you got the vaccine in 1976 (for us older folks) that it still protects.

 

[Mom loves Disney]

Well, it has hit my family. We also live in Tennessee (just west of nashville). The middle school here has it bad!! My husband works at Vanderbilt and is always washing his hands. Too bad the school does not promote the hand washing before going to lunch (yes I know it's in the air, but still you are eating food you would think they would stop at the bathroom). OK RANT over.

 

[dizneydiva2005]

I live outside Charlotte NC- and it's hit my house. My daughter and I started on Tamiflu right away and made a huge difference! My son on the other hand, the Tamiflu isn't helping him. He's really sick.
He has bad asthma though, he needed a breathing treatment today. He's on day 5 and still has fever, aches, general over all 'someone ran me over with a truck' feeling, bad cough- it's that deep chest cough, sore throat, headache... and he did have the throwing up but that is better now.