Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Why worry, seasonal flu kills 36,000 people
Updated 10/26/2009 at trancy.net
Why worry, seasonal flu kills 36,000 people
No, it doesn’t.
The CDC uses indirect modelling methods to estimate the number of deaths associated with influenza. Thus the much publicised figure of 36,000 is not an estimate of yearly flu deaths, as widely reported in both the lay and scientific press, but an estimate – generated by a model – of flu-associated death, he says.[1]
36,000 people do not die yearly from seasonal influenza. According to lungusa.org, with historical data directly from CDC, there is an average of about 1,300 deaths from seasonal influenza yearly.
What is swine flu?
“Swine influenza (also called swine flu, hog flu, and pig flu) is an infection of a host animal by any one of several specific types of microscopic organisms called “swine influenza virus”. In 2009 the media labeled as “swine flu” flu caused by 2009’s new strain of swine-origin A/H1N1 pandemic virus just as it had earlier dubbed as “avian flu” flu caused by the recent Asian-linage HPAI (High Pathogenic Avian Influenza) H5N1 strain that is still endemic in many wild bird species in several countries. The 2009 swine flu outbreak in humans is due to a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that contains genes closely related to swine influenza.
Who’s dying?
The young and healthy, the pregnant, the children, the teenagers, the essential worker ages.
What else?
DO NOT USE LACK OF FEVER TO CLEAR A PERSON OF INFECTED STATUS. HALF OF THE INFECTED DO NOT PRESENT WITH ANY FEVER. Rapid tests for influenza may also turn up negative while the person is still infected. Manufacturers of these tests have said that they may or may not detect novel H1N1 and may have up to a 40-90% false negative rate.
Swine flu/H1N1 can be spread before symptoms start and several days to a week or more after symptoms end.
What is this about kids and swine flu?
The median age of people hospitalized (in hospital) due to swine flu is 19. This does not happen during seasonal flu. Seasonal flu pretty much only kills the very young and very old. Swine flu, so far, the majority of deaths have been in teenagers or middle-aged people.
Also, see this excerpt from Quebec (Canada): “The Public Health Agency of Canada says just over five per cent of the people confirmed to have swine flu in this country have been treated in hospital. The agency estimates one-quarter of those hospitalized had an underlying medical condition.”
This means that three-quarters (75%) of people hospitalized did not have an underlying medical condition – that they were normally healthy individuals.
Is swine flu deadlier than normal flu?
See this report (PDF). The case fatality rate (CFR) of the pandemic strain is estimated at 0.4% (0.3%-1.5%). This is much deadlier than seasonal flu – if you scale up the numbers with the percentages, many more will die compared to seasonal flu.
How is swine flu spread?
The same way as regular seasonal flu. However, much more people exposed to swine flu will go on to develop it compared to seasonal flu because there is zero immunity to swine flu present. Most people have some kind of little immunity to seasonal flu.
Should the very young and the very old be worried?
Right now some places are still saying that under 2 years old and over 65 are the important ages to get healthcare immediately – this is not true. The ages most being hit, most dying, most hospitalised is 2-49, typically young adults and school children now that the school year has begun in the Northern hemisphere.
What are some possible problems in the future?
* H5N1 avian flu: Swine flu has moved into Egypt and other countries that have avian flu. Avian flu kills almost every person it infects. Scientists are worried about these two combining and hitting a middle ground in fatality ratios.
* H1N1 seasonal flu – Northern Hemisphere: Flu season has ended in the Southern Hemisphere. However, it’s starting to be active in the Northern Hemisphere. Seasonal flu worldwide is resistant to Tamiflu, whereas swine flu is susceptible to Tamiflu. Both of these viruses are H1N1, which means drug resistance could be passed along to novel H1N1 influenza.
Why is the United States no longer testing for swine flu in healthy people?
This is partly because of this:
* Lack of resources: The RT-PCR specific test for swine influenza is more time consuming and takes much longer than a rapid test (which can’t tell if it’s swine flu specifically)
* No seasonal flu: There is NO seasonal flu in the United States. 99.9%+ of all cases of flu are novel H1N1. There is very little to zero seasonal influenza in the Untied States right now.
Seasonal flu in the Northern Hemisphere?
As demonstrated in the Southern Hemisphere (SA, Australia, etc.), seasonal flu is typically displaced by novel H1N1 within weeks if not less – almost all flu will become novel H1N1 rapidly. Most experts expect the same thing to happen in the Northern Hemisphere.
Read more: http://trancy.net/what-is-swine-flu/#ixzz0V67nB2Cj
Why worry, seasonal flu kills 36,000 people
No, it doesn’t.
The CDC uses indirect modelling methods to estimate the number of deaths associated with influenza. Thus the much publicised figure of 36,000 is not an estimate of yearly flu deaths, as widely reported in both the lay and scientific press, but an estimate – generated by a model – of flu-associated death, he says.[1]
36,000 people do not die yearly from seasonal influenza. According to lungusa.org, with historical data directly from CDC, there is an average of about 1,300 deaths from seasonal influenza yearly.
What is swine flu?
“Swine influenza (also called swine flu, hog flu, and pig flu) is an infection of a host animal by any one of several specific types of microscopic organisms called “swine influenza virus”. In 2009 the media labeled as “swine flu” flu caused by 2009’s new strain of swine-origin A/H1N1 pandemic virus just as it had earlier dubbed as “avian flu” flu caused by the recent Asian-linage HPAI (High Pathogenic Avian Influenza) H5N1 strain that is still endemic in many wild bird species in several countries. The 2009 swine flu outbreak in humans is due to a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that contains genes closely related to swine influenza.
Who’s dying?
The young and healthy, the pregnant, the children, the teenagers, the essential worker ages.
What else?
DO NOT USE LACK OF FEVER TO CLEAR A PERSON OF INFECTED STATUS. HALF OF THE INFECTED DO NOT PRESENT WITH ANY FEVER. Rapid tests for influenza may also turn up negative while the person is still infected. Manufacturers of these tests have said that they may or may not detect novel H1N1 and may have up to a 40-90% false negative rate.
Swine flu/H1N1 can be spread before symptoms start and several days to a week or more after symptoms end.
What is this about kids and swine flu?
The median age of people hospitalized (in hospital) due to swine flu is 19. This does not happen during seasonal flu. Seasonal flu pretty much only kills the very young and very old. Swine flu, so far, the majority of deaths have been in teenagers or middle-aged people.
Also, see this excerpt from Quebec (Canada): “The Public Health Agency of Canada says just over five per cent of the people confirmed to have swine flu in this country have been treated in hospital. The agency estimates one-quarter of those hospitalized had an underlying medical condition.”
This means that three-quarters (75%) of people hospitalized did not have an underlying medical condition – that they were normally healthy individuals.
Is swine flu deadlier than normal flu?
See this report (PDF). The case fatality rate (CFR) of the pandemic strain is estimated at 0.4% (0.3%-1.5%). This is much deadlier than seasonal flu – if you scale up the numbers with the percentages, many more will die compared to seasonal flu.
How is swine flu spread?
The same way as regular seasonal flu. However, much more people exposed to swine flu will go on to develop it compared to seasonal flu because there is zero immunity to swine flu present. Most people have some kind of little immunity to seasonal flu.
Should the very young and the very old be worried?
Right now some places are still saying that under 2 years old and over 65 are the important ages to get healthcare immediately – this is not true. The ages most being hit, most dying, most hospitalised is 2-49, typically young adults and school children now that the school year has begun in the Northern hemisphere.
What are some possible problems in the future?
* H5N1 avian flu: Swine flu has moved into Egypt and other countries that have avian flu. Avian flu kills almost every person it infects. Scientists are worried about these two combining and hitting a middle ground in fatality ratios.
* H1N1 seasonal flu – Northern Hemisphere: Flu season has ended in the Southern Hemisphere. However, it’s starting to be active in the Northern Hemisphere. Seasonal flu worldwide is resistant to Tamiflu, whereas swine flu is susceptible to Tamiflu. Both of these viruses are H1N1, which means drug resistance could be passed along to novel H1N1 influenza.
Why is the United States no longer testing for swine flu in healthy people?
This is partly because of this:
* Lack of resources: The RT-PCR specific test for swine influenza is more time consuming and takes much longer than a rapid test (which can’t tell if it’s swine flu specifically)
* No seasonal flu: There is NO seasonal flu in the United States. 99.9%+ of all cases of flu are novel H1N1. There is very little to zero seasonal influenza in the Untied States right now.
Seasonal flu in the Northern Hemisphere?
As demonstrated in the Southern Hemisphere (SA, Australia, etc.), seasonal flu is typically displaced by novel H1N1 within weeks if not less – almost all flu will become novel H1N1 rapidly. Most experts expect the same thing to happen in the Northern Hemisphere.
Read more: http://trancy.net/what-is-swine-flu/#ixzz0V67nB2Cj
Sunday, October 25, 2009
REVIEW the WARNING SIGNS of H1N1
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO STAY HEALTHY
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
WARNING SIGNS IN CHILDREN
In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Blue-like skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash
WARNING SIGNS IN ADULTS
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
(Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
WARNING SIGNS IN CHILDREN
In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Blue-like skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash
WARNING SIGNS IN ADULTS
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
(Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)
Saturday, October 24, 2009
How to keep H1N1 from infecting you if you've been exposed.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps can be practiced:
* Wash your hands frequently.
* “Hands-off-the-face” approach except to eat, bathe, etc.
* Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected person. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
* Clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water, swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population. You can also use a Neti Pot (http://is.gd/4zZfW) for this purpose.
* Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C, or Vitamin C tablets that contain Zinc to boost absorption.
* Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive.
* Wash your hands frequently.
* “Hands-off-the-face” approach except to eat, bathe, etc.
* Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected person. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
* Clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water, swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population. You can also use a Neti Pot (http://is.gd/4zZfW) for this purpose.
* Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C, or Vitamin C tablets that contain Zinc to boost absorption.
* Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
So why does the flu strike hardest during the winter ?
The exact mechanism behind the seasonal nature of influenza outbreaks is unclear. Some proposed explanations (from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flu_season )) are:
• People are indoors more often during the winter, they are in close contact more often, and this promotes transmission from person to person.
• Cold temperatures lead to drier air, which may dehydrate mucus, preventing the body from effectively expelling virus particles.
• The virus may linger longer on exposed surfaces (doorknobs, countertops, etc.) in colder temperatures.
• Vitamin D production from Ultraviolet-B in the skin changes with the seasons and affects the immune system.
Research in guinea pigs has shown that the aerosol transmission of the virus is enhanced when the air is cold and dry. The dependence on aridity appears to be due to degradation of the virus particles in moist air, while the dependence on cold appears to be due to infected hosts shedding the virus for a longer period of time. The researchers did not find that the cold impaired the immune response of the guinea pigs to the virus.
Research done by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (http://www.nichd.nih.gov/ ) on influenza virus identified the virus as having "butter-like coating". The coating melts when it enters the respiratory tract. In the winter, the coating becomes a hardened shell; therefore, it can survive in the cold weather similar to a spore. In the summer, the coating melts before the virus reaches the respiratory tract.
A recent study (by Jeffrey Shaman & Melvin Kohn at Oregon State University) may have the answer: Influenza germs last longer and pass from person to person more effectively in lower absolute humidity—i.e., when it's cold outside and the air is dryer.
Absolute humidity is a measurement of the total amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature. Relative humidity, a percentage, is the ratio between the water vapor present and the air's saturation point, a figure that changes with the temperature.
Their findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.( http://is.gd/4lEo7 )
• People are indoors more often during the winter, they are in close contact more often, and this promotes transmission from person to person.
• Cold temperatures lead to drier air, which may dehydrate mucus, preventing the body from effectively expelling virus particles.
• The virus may linger longer on exposed surfaces (doorknobs, countertops, etc.) in colder temperatures.
• Vitamin D production from Ultraviolet-B in the skin changes with the seasons and affects the immune system.
Research in guinea pigs has shown that the aerosol transmission of the virus is enhanced when the air is cold and dry. The dependence on aridity appears to be due to degradation of the virus particles in moist air, while the dependence on cold appears to be due to infected hosts shedding the virus for a longer period of time. The researchers did not find that the cold impaired the immune response of the guinea pigs to the virus.
Research done by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (http://www.nichd.nih.gov/ ) on influenza virus identified the virus as having "butter-like coating". The coating melts when it enters the respiratory tract. In the winter, the coating becomes a hardened shell; therefore, it can survive in the cold weather similar to a spore. In the summer, the coating melts before the virus reaches the respiratory tract.
A recent study (by Jeffrey Shaman & Melvin Kohn at Oregon State University) may have the answer: Influenza germs last longer and pass from person to person more effectively in lower absolute humidity—i.e., when it's cold outside and the air is dryer.
Absolute humidity is a measurement of the total amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature. Relative humidity, a percentage, is the ratio between the water vapor present and the air's saturation point, a figure that changes with the temperature.
Their findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.( http://is.gd/4lEo7 )
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Basic common practices when dealing with H1N1
Hydration. The intake of cool fluid not only prevents dehydration, but it actually cools the body temperature down internally and will decrease your fever naturally. Push the fluids to reduce the fever! It works in most cases, although due to vomiting, didn’t work for our youngest.
Fever Medication. Make sure to know the weight of your children, and administer medication based on their weight not their age. Under-dosing your children will complicate things. Doctors recommended alternating Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen every three hours to reduce the fever, children and adults alike.
High Fever Transportation. Do not travel yourself, or transport a child, with a high temperature as seizures can occur on the way to the hospital or doctor. It is recommended that you bathe in tepid (luke warm) water 20 min. before traveling. Do not bundle up afterward.
Cold Baths. Not recommended. These actually increase the body’s temperature as the person begins shivering. Make sure the water is room temperature, or tepid.
Fevers Fluctuate. Your body temperature normally fluctuates throughout the day, when you are sick it is no different. A range of fever from 99-105 varying throughout the day and night is to be expected. Only when a person remains at a high temperature, and does not fluctuate, and is not responding to medication for a long period of time is there cause for concern, as the person may become septic.
Fever Medication. Make sure to know the weight of your children, and administer medication based on their weight not their age. Under-dosing your children will complicate things. Doctors recommended alternating Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen every three hours to reduce the fever, children and adults alike.
High Fever Transportation. Do not travel yourself, or transport a child, with a high temperature as seizures can occur on the way to the hospital or doctor. It is recommended that you bathe in tepid (luke warm) water 20 min. before traveling. Do not bundle up afterward.
Cold Baths. Not recommended. These actually increase the body’s temperature as the person begins shivering. Make sure the water is room temperature, or tepid.
Fevers Fluctuate. Your body temperature normally fluctuates throughout the day, when you are sick it is no different. A range of fever from 99-105 varying throughout the day and night is to be expected. Only when a person remains at a high temperature, and does not fluctuate, and is not responding to medication for a long period of time is there cause for concern, as the person may become septic.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Is it swine flu? When parents should call a doctor
As kids, parents and teachers start the school year, CTV.ca offers answers to your most frequently asked questions about how to spot swine flu in kids, when to treat it at home and when to call your doctor.
How do I know if my child has swine flu or a regular flu?
Without laboratory testing, it's difficult to tell the difference between swine flu and seasonal flu. Because swine flu has established itself in communities all across Canada, and because most cases are mild, doctors are no longer testing to determine which types of flu people have. Those who are hospitalized with severe flu or flu-like illness, and those with chronic disease are tested.
The symptoms of swine flu in kids older than five are similar to those of regular flu. They are:
• fever of 38 C (100.4 F) or higher when measured orally
• coughing, and sore throat
• fatigue
• lack of appetite
• sometimes vomiting and diarrhea, especially in younger children
Babies and toddlers under the age of five can have different symptoms:
• Fever may be the only symptom. Toddlers and babies usually have higher temperatures, often over 39.5C (103.1F) when measured orally
• About half of children under three years old have symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain
• Ear infections and red, sore eyes are more frequent in young children
• Some babies may not be able to drink fluids or breastfeed
• Stiff neck may appear in some babies
• Toddlers and babies may have a hoarse cry and a barking cough.
When should I keep my child home from school?
If your child has a fever, they should stay at home, even if they seem to have a mild case. That way your child won't infect other children, including those who could develop severe illness.
In most kids, the flu will run its course over a week, though the cough and fatigue can last a few weeks in some patients.
How long should I keep my children at home if they have mild cases?
People infected with swine flu -- or any flu for that matter -- can infect others from one day before showing symptoms to up to seven days afterward. Just like with seasonal flu, swine flu is most contagious during the first days a patient starts showing symptoms, when they have "a high viral load."
Most experts agree it's best to keep sick kids home for at least five days or until they are able to resume daily activities, whichever is shorter.
If your child's symptoms do not improve after a week, call your doctor, as your child may have developed complications.
How do I treat flu in my kids?
• To bring down the fever, use acetaminophen (Tylenol) according to instructions on the label or advice from a health care provider
• Ibuprofen can treat muscle aches but should not be used for babies younger than six months of age. Children younger than 18 years of age should not take Aspirin or any products containing acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)
• Encourage your child to rest or engage in quiet activities. Do not allow them to socialize with others.
• Offer water or juice often
• Dress your child in lightweight clothing and keep room temperature at 20C (68F). Do not use cool baths or alcohol rubs
• Try saline nose drops to help relieve stuffy nose or cough
When should we see a doctor?
You should seek medical care immediately if your child or teen develops flu symptoms and has any of the following medical conditions:
• lung or heart disease
• any chronic health problem that requires regular medical attention
• an illness that might affect their immune systems, such as diabetes, cancer, or HIV/AIDS
• is pregnant
If your child develops any of the following warning signs, you should call your child's doctor:
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Not drinking enough fluids. Goes to the bathroom less often than every six hours while awake if two years of age or older
• Not waking up or not interacting. Loses interest in playing, watching TV, eating or drinking
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held and cries a lot
• Flu symptoms improve, but then return with fever and worse cough
Call 911 right away if your child:
• has severe trouble breathing and it is not caused by a stuffy nose
• has blue lips or hands, suddenly becomes pale, or has cold legs up to their knees
• is so sleepy that he doesn't respond when you try to get him up, or isn't able to move
• seems confused
• has a seizure
How can I protect my children from getting sick?
Swine flu is spread from person to person in the same way as seasonal flu: through coughing or sneezing and by touching surfaces contaminated with infected droplets.
Proper hand hygiene is one of the best ways to guard against the flu. Flu viruses can live on your hands for up to five minutes, and can live on hard surfaces, like countertops and telephones, for up to two days. To reduce transmission:
• encourage your kids to clean their hands and clean them often to keep them and others from passing the flu. They should clean their hands after sneezing or coughing, before and after eating, after going to the washroom, and after playing outside.
• keep alcohol-based sanitizers handy in gel or wipe form, at home or in their backpack for times when they can't wash their hands.
• teach your children to cough or sneeze into their arms or sleeves
• encourage your child not to share personal items or drinks
• consider having your child vaccinated against swine flu once the vaccine becomes available, sometime in November
Sources: Public Health Agency of Canada, Government of Alberta Health and Wellness, Ontario Ministry of Health, B.C. Ministry of Health Services
How do I know if my child has swine flu or a regular flu?
Without laboratory testing, it's difficult to tell the difference between swine flu and seasonal flu. Because swine flu has established itself in communities all across Canada, and because most cases are mild, doctors are no longer testing to determine which types of flu people have. Those who are hospitalized with severe flu or flu-like illness, and those with chronic disease are tested.
The symptoms of swine flu in kids older than five are similar to those of regular flu. They are:
• fever of 38 C (100.4 F) or higher when measured orally
• coughing, and sore throat
• fatigue
• lack of appetite
• sometimes vomiting and diarrhea, especially in younger children
Babies and toddlers under the age of five can have different symptoms:
• Fever may be the only symptom. Toddlers and babies usually have higher temperatures, often over 39.5C (103.1F) when measured orally
• About half of children under three years old have symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain
• Ear infections and red, sore eyes are more frequent in young children
• Some babies may not be able to drink fluids or breastfeed
• Stiff neck may appear in some babies
• Toddlers and babies may have a hoarse cry and a barking cough.
When should I keep my child home from school?
If your child has a fever, they should stay at home, even if they seem to have a mild case. That way your child won't infect other children, including those who could develop severe illness.
In most kids, the flu will run its course over a week, though the cough and fatigue can last a few weeks in some patients.
How long should I keep my children at home if they have mild cases?
People infected with swine flu -- or any flu for that matter -- can infect others from one day before showing symptoms to up to seven days afterward. Just like with seasonal flu, swine flu is most contagious during the first days a patient starts showing symptoms, when they have "a high viral load."
Most experts agree it's best to keep sick kids home for at least five days or until they are able to resume daily activities, whichever is shorter.
If your child's symptoms do not improve after a week, call your doctor, as your child may have developed complications.
How do I treat flu in my kids?
• To bring down the fever, use acetaminophen (Tylenol) according to instructions on the label or advice from a health care provider
• Ibuprofen can treat muscle aches but should not be used for babies younger than six months of age. Children younger than 18 years of age should not take Aspirin or any products containing acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)
• Encourage your child to rest or engage in quiet activities. Do not allow them to socialize with others.
• Offer water or juice often
• Dress your child in lightweight clothing and keep room temperature at 20C (68F). Do not use cool baths or alcohol rubs
• Try saline nose drops to help relieve stuffy nose or cough
When should we see a doctor?
You should seek medical care immediately if your child or teen develops flu symptoms and has any of the following medical conditions:
• lung or heart disease
• any chronic health problem that requires regular medical attention
• an illness that might affect their immune systems, such as diabetes, cancer, or HIV/AIDS
• is pregnant
If your child develops any of the following warning signs, you should call your child's doctor:
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Not drinking enough fluids. Goes to the bathroom less often than every six hours while awake if two years of age or older
• Not waking up or not interacting. Loses interest in playing, watching TV, eating or drinking
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held and cries a lot
• Flu symptoms improve, but then return with fever and worse cough
Call 911 right away if your child:
• has severe trouble breathing and it is not caused by a stuffy nose
• has blue lips or hands, suddenly becomes pale, or has cold legs up to their knees
• is so sleepy that he doesn't respond when you try to get him up, or isn't able to move
• seems confused
• has a seizure
How can I protect my children from getting sick?
Swine flu is spread from person to person in the same way as seasonal flu: through coughing or sneezing and by touching surfaces contaminated with infected droplets.
Proper hand hygiene is one of the best ways to guard against the flu. Flu viruses can live on your hands for up to five minutes, and can live on hard surfaces, like countertops and telephones, for up to two days. To reduce transmission:
• encourage your kids to clean their hands and clean them often to keep them and others from passing the flu. They should clean their hands after sneezing or coughing, before and after eating, after going to the washroom, and after playing outside.
• keep alcohol-based sanitizers handy in gel or wipe form, at home or in their backpack for times when they can't wash their hands.
• teach your children to cough or sneeze into their arms or sleeves
• encourage your child not to share personal items or drinks
• consider having your child vaccinated against swine flu once the vaccine becomes available, sometime in November
Sources: Public Health Agency of Canada, Government of Alberta Health and Wellness, Ontario Ministry of Health, B.C. Ministry of Health Services
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Basics for Flu Prevention
from PandemicFlu.gov
Get vaccinated
Vaccination is the best protection against contracting the flu.
You need two vaccines to be fully protected this year. The seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine are separate vaccinations. A seasonal vaccine is distributed routinely every year, the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine is in development for the fall of 2009.
The seasonal vaccine is not expected to protect against the H1N1 (Swine) flu and the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. Each protects against a different virus and is intended to be used along-side the other. Get both!
Practice good hygiene
Take common-sense steps to limit the spread of germs.
Make good hygiene a habit.
* Wash hands frequently with soap and water.
* Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
* Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve if you don't have a tissue.
* Put used tissues in a waste basket.
* Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
If you are diagnosed with the flu…
* Stay home, follow your doctor’s orders, and watch for signs that you need immediate medical attention. Remain at home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free (no fever) for 24 hours, whichever is longer.
* Avoid close contact with others, especially those who might easily get the flu, such as people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant women, young children, and infants.
* Wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – when sharing common spaces with other household members to help prevent spreading the virus to others. This is especially important if other household members are at high risk for complications from influenza.
* Get plenty of rest.
* Drink clear fluids such as water, broth, sports drinks, or electrolyte beverages made for infants to prevent becoming dehydrated.
* Cover coughs and sneezes.
* Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after using tissues and after coughing or sneezing into your hands.
* Talk to your doctor about the prescription antivirals, Oseltamivir (TAMIFLU®) and Zanamivir (RELENZA®)
Get vaccinated
Vaccination is the best protection against contracting the flu.
You need two vaccines to be fully protected this year. The seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine are separate vaccinations. A seasonal vaccine is distributed routinely every year, the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine is in development for the fall of 2009.
The seasonal vaccine is not expected to protect against the H1N1 (Swine) flu and the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. Each protects against a different virus and is intended to be used along-side the other. Get both!
Practice good hygiene
Take common-sense steps to limit the spread of germs.
Make good hygiene a habit.
* Wash hands frequently with soap and water.
* Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
* Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve if you don't have a tissue.
* Put used tissues in a waste basket.
* Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
If you are diagnosed with the flu…
* Stay home, follow your doctor’s orders, and watch for signs that you need immediate medical attention. Remain at home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free (no fever) for 24 hours, whichever is longer.
* Avoid close contact with others, especially those who might easily get the flu, such as people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant women, young children, and infants.
* Wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – when sharing common spaces with other household members to help prevent spreading the virus to others. This is especially important if other household members are at high risk for complications from influenza.
* Get plenty of rest.
* Drink clear fluids such as water, broth, sports drinks, or electrolyte beverages made for infants to prevent becoming dehydrated.
* Cover coughs and sneezes.
* Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after using tissues and after coughing or sneezing into your hands.
* Talk to your doctor about the prescription antivirals, Oseltamivir (TAMIFLU®) and Zanamivir (RELENZA®)
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