Monthly Archive for April, 2009

CDC update for parents regarding swine flu

Published on April 30, 2009 in H1N1 (Swine Flu). 0 Comments

Swine Flu: Information for Concerned Parents and Caregivers

April 29, 2009, 7:15 PM ET

What is H1N1 (swine flu)?
H1N1 (swine flu) is a type of influenza (flu) virus that causes respiratory disease that can spread between people. Most people infected with this virus in the United States have had mild disease, but some have had more severe illness, and there has been at least one death. Young children, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease may be at higher risk for complications from this infection. More information about who may be at higher risk will be available when more is known about the disease. There are steps you can take to protect your family and to know when to seek medical care.

What are the symptoms?
In most children, the symptoms of H1N1 (swine flu) are similar to the symptoms of regular flu. They include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Body aches
  • Headache
  • Chills and fatigue
  • Occasionally, vomiting and diarrhea

Young children may not have typical symptoms, but may have difficulty breathing and low activity. Little is known about how H1N1 (swine flu) may affect children. However, we think the infection may be similar to other flu infections. Typically, flu infections cause mild disease in children, but children under 5 years old are more likely to have serious illness than older children. Although rare, severe respiratory illness (pneumonia) and deaths have been reported with flu infections in children. Flu infections tend to be more severe in children with chronic medical conditions. 

How to keep from getting it:
Flu viruses spread from person to person mainly through the coughing or sneezing of a sick person. Flu virus may also be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with the virus and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. We think H1N1 (swine flu) spreads the same way as other flu viruses. Right now, there is no vaccine to protect against H1N1 (swine flu), but there are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like H1N1 (swine flu):

  • Teach your children to wash their hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.
  • Teach your children to cough and sneeze into a tissue or into the inside of their elbow. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.
  • Teach your children to stay at least six feet away from people who are sick.
  • Children who are sick should stay home from school and daycare and stay away from other people until they are better.
  • In communities where H1N1 (swine flu) has occurred, stay away from shopping malls, movie theaters, or other places where there are large groups of people.

 

What to do if your child is sick:

  • Unless they need medical attention, keep children who are sick at home. Don’t send them to school or daycare.
  • Have them drink a lot of liquid (juice, water, Pedialyte ®).
  • Keep the sick child comfortable. Rest is important.
  • For fever, sore throat, and muscle aches, you can use fever-reducing medicines that your doctor recommends based on your child’s age. Do not use aspirin with children or teenagers; it can cause Reye’s syndrome, a life-threatening illness.
  • If someone in your home is sick, keep him or her away from those who are not sick.
  • Keep tissues close to the sick person and have a trash bag within reach for disposing used tissues.

If your child comes in contact with someone with H1N1 (swine flu), ask your doctor if he or she should receive antiviral medicines to prevent getting sick from H1N1 (swine flu).

If your child experiences any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care:

  • Fast breathing or trouble breathing
  • Bluish or gray skin color
  • Not drinking enough fluids
  • Not waking up or not interacting
  • Being so irritable that he or she does not want to be held
  • Not urinating or no tears when crying
  • Their symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

For more information call 1-800-CDC INFO, or go to http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu

  • Links to non-federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the federal government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.

Swine Flu

Published on April 29, 2009 in H1N1 (Swine Flu) and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , .

 Protecting your kids from Swine Flu and when to go to your doctor

 

I heard the sad news this morning about the 22-month-old in Texas who died from complications due to the Swine flu and it made me realize that there are probably a lot of parents out there wondering what they can do to keep their kids safe and healthy during this scary time.  I thought I would jot down some tips I’ve shared over time with parents.

 

Washing hands

Hand washing is your best advocate. Colds and the Flu can spread rapidly through our kids because they touch everything and are not always so good about washing their hands…thus they can spread germs through the “mismanagement” of their mucus. If your child is in day care or school don’t be afraid to ask the teachers to review hand washing with the kids. Everyone can benefit from the extra education.

 

Cold vs. flu

Parents often ask me the difference between a cold and the flu. The “common cold,” often called an upper respiratory infection, has symptoms that include runny nose, congestion, sore throat, fever, watery eyes and cough. Kids get a lot of colds: six to 12 a year is normal. The more often your child touches their face, the more often they will get sick.

 

Classic symptoms of influenza or flu include the common cold symptoms listed, plus fevers, chills, body aches and stomachaches, lack of appetite and sometimes red eyes. Children with the flu may also have nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

 

What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen.

 

Treating a cold or flu

Whether it’s a cold or flu, the treatment is typically the same. Over-the-counter decongestants are often not very helpful—nor will they help your child get better faster. They are not recommended at all for children under 6 years of age.  I always tell my patients to stop using the over-the-counter cold and cough medications if they are not helping them feel better. Most children start slowly feeling better within four to five days for simple colds, either with or without medication.

With the flu, symptoms can sometimes last a little longer. It is more helpful to offer your child plenty of fluids and nutritious meals. A humidifier, saline drops or warm baths or showers can help clear the nose. If your child’s temperature is elevated, offer acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

 

When to go to the doctor

Be it a cold, fever or flu, your child should see his or her doctor under the following circumstances if he or she:

·             Has taken inadequate liquids and has significant decreased urination

·             If your child is under 3 months of age and has a rectal temperature above 100.4F

·             Has a severe headache

·             Is unusually sleepy

·             Is inconsolable and persistently crying

·             Has persistent purulent nasal congestion lasting more than 10 days that is not improving.

 

Antibiotic not automatic

Viruses cause colds. Viruses do not respond to antibiotics and thus play no role in the treatment of simple colds and flu. When it comes to antibiotic usage, the less, the better. If your child’s physician thinks she has a viral illness, the doctor should not be prescribing antibiotics to prevent a yet-to-occur bacterial infection. The best medicine for colds is rest and plenty of fluids.

 

Antiviral medication

Sometimes patients with influenza can be given antiviral medication to help treat the illness. Antiviral therapy is recommended for cases of suspected and confirmed swine influenza.  A suspected case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness who:

1.       Has had close contact with a person who is a swine-origin influenza confirmed case OR

2.       Has traveled to a community in the United States or internationally where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) cases. (Updated information about areas with confirmed human cases can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/index.htm.) OR

3.       Resides in a community where there are one or more confirmed swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) cases.

 

Fever

Fever is the body’s way to fight an infection. Fever itself is not an illness (with the exception of heatstroke), only a symptom of one. A fever is generally defined as anything over 100.4F. Fevers typically go away within about 72 to 96 hours. An elevated temperature is not a sign your child automatically needs an antibiotic. Because the fever is a symptom, it is important to look for the possible cause, such as ear infection, cold, flu, sinus infection or something more serious.

Do we have to treat strep throat?

Published on April 16, 2009 in Antibiotics. 0 Comments Tags: , .

After my most recent column,  a question was asked as to whether we had to treat strep throat. The answer is not as clear cut as one would think as it depends on how much risk, no matter how small, one wants to take.

Strep throat is self-limited and resolves within a few days, even without treatment.  The arguments  for treatment include faster resolution, prevention of complications such as a peritonsillar abscess, reduced time period of being contagious, and prevention of rare complications such as rheumatic fever.

 Antibiotics shorten symptom duration by about 16 hours.

Antibiotics do reduce the incidence of acute rheumatic fever. However, in industrialized nations like the US,  it has largely been controlled  It is estimated that 3,000 - 4,000 patients must be treated with antibiotics to prevent one case of rheumatic fever in developed nations.

More is Better, right?

Published on April 14, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Sorry for the hiatus. The Nohle family was away on vacation and using lots sunscreen and protective clothing.

With the obesity problem we face today, I had to laugh just a little when I heard a recent commercial on the radio asking “What could be better than an egg sandwich……two egg sandwiches”. 

Certainly not from a health and calorie standpoint.