Posted on 09/03/2009 4:34:09 AM PDT by Kaslin
Since the emergence of the H1N1 flu in April of this year, and its classification in June by the World Health Organization as a global pandemic, I have been dreading the fall.
As the mother of two elementary school children, fall is not only the back-to-school season, but also the virus-spreading season. The first year our oldest child was in childcare, she rarely became ill, but my husband was sick for about nine months. It seemed that, as soon as he became well, he would catch something else. The good news is that he acquired immunities to the various childhood viruses and was soon healthy again.
The past few falls our family has followed a routine, hoping to stay in good health (enough sleep, good nutrition, exercise and good hygiene), and received seasonal flu vaccines. This fall is a bit different due to H1N1, also known as swine flu.
I have been worried about the new flu's potential impact on my family. The media headlines have been frightening. The recent report to the White House listing as a plausible scenario as many as 90,000 deaths in the United States due to the virus is alarming. This is more than twice as many as the seasonal flu, which normally results in 36,000 deaths in the United States per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Another reason for my heightened concern: The swine flu is more prevalent among younger adults and children than is the seasonal flu, according to the CDC.
This past weekend, both our children began running fevers. A dose of Tylenol brought the fevers down and allowed them to rest easier. Our initial thought was that they have a virus.
We called their pediatricians' office to schedule a visit, but once they determined there were no underlying health issues, they advised us to stay at home and treat them with over-the-counter medicines. The nurse said that she thought our children have the flu.
Since the H1N1 flu has been diagnosed in their school, and as I recently found out, in my children's classmates, it is probably the H1N1 flu -- especially since it's early for seasonal flu.
H1N1's predominant symptoms of high fever and coughing are also common to seasonal viruses, and the stomach symptoms are not as prevalent as in the seasonal flu. So be extra vigilant in regard to fever, as it may be the only symptom.
So far we are on our fourth day at home. It's a bit like house arrest, even though my husband has spelled me for a few hours each day. My surroundings are becoming a bit too familiar, but I am glad I am able to check on our children -- to see if they are feeling better and if they are responding to the medicine properly. It provides me with great peace of mind.
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta provided reassuring advice this week regarding H1N1. The overall message -- that the H1N1 virus is different, but at this point, not significantly worse than the seasonal flu.
"The majority of children who develop flu-like symptoms this fall will have a few miserable days, and nothing more," he noted. "H1N1 is causing only mild to moderate illness, not the widespread deaths people are worried about."
He added that you should call your doctor if:
-- A baby younger than 12 weeks has a fever greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
-- A child older than 12 weeks has a fever for three days.
-- A child's fever returns after a 12- to 24-hour time period.
-- A child is not passing urine or making tears for more than six hours.
-- A child does not smile or show interest in playing for several hours.
You should dial 911 if your child cannot speak while trying to breathe; has a blue or dark purple color to the nail beds, lips or gums; or is not responding to you because he is too tired or weak.
Gupta's final note replicated the advice of our school nurse: Children can return to school after going 24 hours without a fever and without the aid of fever-reducing medicine.
It's easy to fan the fires of fear, but it is important to slow down and assess the situation. While government should have a role in monitoring the disease, providing information and working with industry on vaccinations, as with many things the proper response to the swine flu pandemic includes individual responsibility.
Practice good hygiene, sleep well, and eat right. If you have a fever, stay home. If you have school-age children, plan ahead regarding who will stay home with them while they have a fever, and have over-the-counter fever reducers on hand. If the symptoms warrant, seek medical assistance.
We still cannot mention H1N1 or swine flu in front of our children due to their fears, but at least with additional information, I am sleeping a bit easier -- with only one eye open instead of both.
bttt
The flu is afraid of Chuck Norris infecting it.
This is pure hype. This so called "pandemic" has already proven itself to be far more mild that regular seasonal flu viruses, producing very few actual deaths. That it caused deaths in seemingly healthy people is irrelevant, as regular flu viruses do as well.
Regular flu viruses should be called "pandemics" instead of this H1N1 virus, as they cause tens of thousands more deaths.
This leads one to ask, why was this flu hyped up to "pandemic" levels before it even began spreading outside of the city in Mexico where it originated?
We know nothing about the H1N1 flu vaccine ingredients. Will it contain mercury? What else will be in there?
There has been much worry over this issue because of reports that the last time the country had to produce a swine flu vaccine in the 1970s to thwart an expected outbreak (which ended up not happening), rates of Guillain-Barre reactions (GBS: temporary muscle weakness and/or paralysis) went through the roof that year.
This is a known (but rare) side effect of the regular flu vaccine as well, but the reactions in the 1970s were reportedly much more than expected. So, will that be a worry with this H1N1 vaccine? We don’t know. This vaccine is different, but how different?
Maybe all this hype is because the "evil drug companies" have paid off certain government officials, paying them to act worried and create hype over the H1N1 flu so that the drug companies can make billions of dollars selling a vaccine that everyone will be scrambling for. The companies can then hand some of that money back to the government officials who helped them out.
That's one conspiracy theory anyways, and who knows what other ones there are that may even have some truth to them with such a corrupt government in power.
to Mrs. Cushman:
Then do what any sensible non child abusing parents should do- take your kids OUT of government school. Homeschool them. You will stop bringing home whatever is going around "at school" including the disease of the day and the social cengineering of the day also.
Wasn't it Rahm Emmanuel who said something to the effect of, "there's opportunity in every crisis?"
I'm less worried about what pharma companies might do, and more worried that Obama might use the crisis to advance his agenda on healthcare.
We are 2 adults in out home.
We know all to well about families who have public school kids and the seems to be never ending school cycle.
We end up getting the flu/colds because adults have to work and we come into contact with them in the community.
This year we will do things a bit different.
Shop at the 1am slot.
The clerks are of the retired age and not exposed to flu bees and the shoppers are few.
And it is just mellow. : )
Also we live in the PNW Coast which is known for mold/mildew related illnesses. Hard to know if that snot nosed person is sick from a virus or a mold.
We will get our flu shots and the H1N1 shot.
Are already signed up for the H1N1 vaccine at the Docs office.
We are encouraging employees to do the same and have a “no work if your ill policy” and “wear a mask if feeling symtomatic” Also have gloves/soap/and that God awful smelling sanitizer for those who want to use it.
Get our pnemonia shot every 5 to 7 yrs due to having a trach and other medical issues.
The State Health agencies are so overworked and understaffed as are the private health providers I highly doubt that any “quarentine boogeymen” are lurking in the shadows.
Common sense usually prevails.
Are you saying folks who choose the public or charter school system are abusive?
If so shame on you.
To bad we so many Catholic Schools have closed down IMO we could use some ear twisting/ruler knuckle whacking Nuns with guns.
Yes, I have heard that viruses are only passed in government schools and not the private Christian schools, grocery store, toy store, church (where we shake hands, greet our neighbor and pass not just the peace of Christ), Sunday school or restaurants...
I am saying that public schools are exercises in mental child abuse. Some charter schools may be exceptions. I don’t see that in charter schools hereabouts- better academically but no improvement in the social/socialist BS.
I am thinking mostly of homeschooling.
Well that is better phrased and I agree with that.
They lace the coffee in the teachers lounge room with socialist sugar.
My friends have homeschool groups that meet regularly or the moms take their kids to public places to do hands-on activities. The swine flu is most contagious 72 hours before you show symptoms. So, unless you and your family have no interaction with the public for the next several months, not even homeschoolers are safe.
My son’s kindergarten teacher was his Sunday school teacher. She had a NObama bumper sticker on her car and has a bumper sticker that says “1 Cross + 3 Nails= 4 Given. I was a teacher and had many like-minded friends in the faculty room. Although I did bring my own coffee... :)
When my son was of school age he had two of our Church freinds as teachers.
Not an easy job for Christians in the public school system.
But yes they do exist. : )
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