Swine flu infection threatens Swede’s life
20 Jul 09
http://www.thelocal.se/20792/20090720/
Doctors at Vrinnevi hospital in Norrköping in eastern Sweden fear for the life of the 22-year-old Swede being treated for a swine flu infection after he failed to respond to treatment.
The condition of the man, who became ill with the AH1N1 virus after returning from a holiday in southern Europe, is reported to have worsened overnight and is now described as life-threatening.
Chief physician at Vrinnevi hospital, Christer Liedgren, told newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN) on Monday morning that treatment of the 22-year-old with a respirator had not worked and he is now going to be put on a heart-lung machine, so-called ECMO treatment.
“The patient’s lungs are not working as they should. The treatment needs to begin today,” Liedgren told DN.
ECMO treatment, which stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, is however only available in Stockholm and it is as yet unclear if the patient will be offered immediate treatment.
The 22-year-old’s treatment is being managed by Karolinska University hospital in Solna and staff from the hospital will travel to Norrköping to oversee the procedure.
It is neither known why the man’s condition had worsened over night and Liedgren confirmed to the newspaper that there had been no complications.
The 22-year-old man became ill on July 11th and was prescribed the anti-flu drug Tamiflu. The patient, while no longer contagious, developed pneumonia as a result of the infection.
22-year-old was sent home without the right medicine
18/Jul/09
22-year-old in Norrköping cared still respirator against swine influenza.
Four days earlier, he had sought treatment - but tested negative and denied Tamiflu.
- There are probably some people in Sweden who have had the flu but did not have the right diagnosis, “says Bengt Normann, bio doctors at the county council of Östergötland.
Before 22-year-old on Tuesday sövdes to get respiratory care, he said to his girlfriend: “See you on Friday.”
But yesterday, the doctor that the value from the lungs had not been better and that they could not wake him.
- We have no idea how long he will be sövd, says Christer Liedgren, chief consultant at Vrinnevi Hospital in Norrköping.
22-year-old may have been infected by his girlfriend. Two weeks ago, the girlfriend home from a holiday to Cyprus. Unknowingly, she had brought with them pigs flu.
- The day after, I felt dull and had fever, more, it was not, “she says.
The tests showed errors
On Wednesday last week was the boyfriend 40-degree fever. He searched the emergency room.
- But we were sent home and he had some sort of respiratory medicine, says girlfriend.
Tests showed that he had not swine flu.
- I believe that these samples can fail. Those methods this is never 100 percent safe, “says Bengt Normann on bio device.
The parents still have confidence in health care:
- We have been treated completely professionally, it has been very good medical care. Both the emergency room and intensive care, they say to Expressen.
According to Health and Welfare, it is no longer possible to prevent the spread of swine flu. Instead, one should mitigate the consequences.
Health and Welfare has the World Health Organization’s pandemic alert has developed a new strategy.
- Now go entirely on how people feel. It is they who have alleged symptoms or is in a risk group who are receiving treatment. Those who are not seriously ill or have any underlying diseases may be rather general advice, “says Johan Struwe, It is the stock of medicine Tamiflu is expected to reach about 20 percent of Swedes.
- It is the doctor who assesses whether it should be initiated. While there are guidelines, “says Johan Struwe.
http://www.expressen.se/halsa/1.1643615/22-aringen-skickades-hem-utan-ratt-medicin