PSA: H1N1 aka Swine Flu
Oct. 13th, 2009 01:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatFrom my Aunt K, who is a school nurse:
I just attended a meeting yesterday with Dr. Rhodes, who is the head of the infection control department at Lehigh Valley Hospital. With all the chatter on the internet and twitter about the H1N1 flu virus and the vaccine, I thought I would share what I learned with you, so that you are better informed and prepared for the 2009/10 flu season.
The incidence of H1N1 or Swine Flu is rapidly rising across the US. It started in April, simmered over the summer, and is now on the rise. Adults who have had it usually experienced an abrupt onset. They can actually tell you a date and time when they came down with it. It starts with severe muscle aches and pains, a fever of 100.2 or higher, and a sore throat. Respiratory symptoms of a cough, runny nose,etc. usually start by the second day. Most healthy young people do not have to see a doctor. However, if you experience chest pains, blueness around mouth or face, dehydration, breathing difficulties, or mental changes such as dizziness or confusion, you should go to the Emergency Room. Please call the hospital ahead, so they can be prepared. Another reason to go to the ER is if you have started to improve, but then suddenly worsened the 3rd or 4th day.. Adults are usually sick for 5-7 days. Kids are sick 7-10 days. Children tend to get it worse than adults. There are very few cases of the swine flu in the elderly.
If you are taking care of someone in your family with the flu and you do not want to get sick, it is recommended that you wear a surgical mask and practice good hand washing, particularly in the first 36 hours of the illness. Kids may be contagious a day or two before becoming ill, so you have an ill child, you were probably exposed to it.
Surgical masks are best used in crowded situations such as an elevator or a busy doctor's office. It is not neccessary to wear a mask outdoors, even on a crowded city street. The virus only travels 2-3 feet from an uncovered cough. It does not ride air currents, so it is not airborne.
The vaccine is not a "new" one, and those who receive it are not receiving experimental doses. The solution is the same solution used in seasonal flu vaccine. During the past summer, the vaccine has been administered to thousands of people in Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand, and Australia with no one reporting serious side effects. Anyone who is concerned about the preservative in the vaccine may wish to wait until the preservative free vaccine becomes available later in the season. The shot is more effective in adults than the nasal mist. The nasal mist is more effective in children, but both are effective. Pregnant adults and children (yes, I am a school nurse. Children get pregnant, too!) should follow the advice of their obstetricians.
Tamiflu and Relenza are two antiviral medications which are effective in H1N1 cases. However, most cases of the H1N1 cases occurring now are mild, and so the antivirals are being reserved for those persons with serious lung and heart disorders, or who are at high risk for developing complications.
The H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine should be given 21 days apart. This is only to separate the side effects that occur. It is okay to get both shots together, or to get the nasal mist of one with the shot of the other. You just cannot get both nasal mists at the same time. But try to stick to the 21 day rule, so side effects don't get confused. And remember, children under 10 will need 2 doses of the H1N1 vaccine.
Those of us who were lucky enough to get the swine flu in 1957 are immune to this flu. Those of us who received a swine flu vaccine in 1976 are not protected against the H1N1.
Back in 1918, an outbreak of the H1N1 virus occurred. It caused people to have mild cases of the flu, simular to what is happening today. Then it mutated and caused the pandemic flu which killed thousands of people world-wide. The CDC wants everyone to receive the vaccine in case this one mutates. No need to panic about it. Just be smart.
So here are my words of advice:
1. Stay informed. The information is constantly evolving, and changes fast. I recommennd www.cdc.gov or your state's health department's website for accurate information. The website in PA is www.h1n1inpa.com
2. Use good hand hygiene. Frequent washing with soap and water works best, but alcohol based hand gel is very effective, too.
3. Use good cough etiquette. Cough into your sleeve. Wash your hands after you cough.
4. Practice social distancing: The work ethic has no benefit if you are sick, and coming to work when you are sick is no longer acceptable. Please have contingency plans in place for work or school in case you have to stay home to take care of a loved one or if you get sick. During the outbreak, avoid crowded places.
5. Get the vaccine when it becomes available. The CDC says it is safe. Dr. Luther Rhodes from Lehigh Valley Hospital says it is safe. If you are worried about the additives, wait for the additive free one comes out, but do get it.
I just attended a meeting yesterday with Dr. Rhodes, who is the head of the infection control department at Lehigh Valley Hospital. With all the chatter on the internet and twitter about the H1N1 flu virus and the vaccine, I thought I would share what I learned with you, so that you are better informed and prepared for the 2009/10 flu season.
The incidence of H1N1 or Swine Flu is rapidly rising across the US. It started in April, simmered over the summer, and is now on the rise. Adults who have had it usually experienced an abrupt onset. They can actually tell you a date and time when they came down with it. It starts with severe muscle aches and pains, a fever of 100.2 or higher, and a sore throat. Respiratory symptoms of a cough, runny nose,etc. usually start by the second day. Most healthy young people do not have to see a doctor. However, if you experience chest pains, blueness around mouth or face, dehydration, breathing difficulties, or mental changes such as dizziness or confusion, you should go to the Emergency Room. Please call the hospital ahead, so they can be prepared. Another reason to go to the ER is if you have started to improve, but then suddenly worsened the 3rd or 4th day.. Adults are usually sick for 5-7 days. Kids are sick 7-10 days. Children tend to get it worse than adults. There are very few cases of the swine flu in the elderly.
If you are taking care of someone in your family with the flu and you do not want to get sick, it is recommended that you wear a surgical mask and practice good hand washing, particularly in the first 36 hours of the illness. Kids may be contagious a day or two before becoming ill, so you have an ill child, you were probably exposed to it.
Surgical masks are best used in crowded situations such as an elevator or a busy doctor's office. It is not neccessary to wear a mask outdoors, even on a crowded city street. The virus only travels 2-3 feet from an uncovered cough. It does not ride air currents, so it is not airborne.
The vaccine is not a "new" one, and those who receive it are not receiving experimental doses. The solution is the same solution used in seasonal flu vaccine. During the past summer, the vaccine has been administered to thousands of people in Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand, and Australia with no one reporting serious side effects. Anyone who is concerned about the preservative in the vaccine may wish to wait until the preservative free vaccine becomes available later in the season. The shot is more effective in adults than the nasal mist. The nasal mist is more effective in children, but both are effective. Pregnant adults and children (yes, I am a school nurse. Children get pregnant, too!) should follow the advice of their obstetricians.
Tamiflu and Relenza are two antiviral medications which are effective in H1N1 cases. However, most cases of the H1N1 cases occurring now are mild, and so the antivirals are being reserved for those persons with serious lung and heart disorders, or who are at high risk for developing complications.
The H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine should be given 21 days apart. This is only to separate the side effects that occur. It is okay to get both shots together, or to get the nasal mist of one with the shot of the other. You just cannot get both nasal mists at the same time. But try to stick to the 21 day rule, so side effects don't get confused. And remember, children under 10 will need 2 doses of the H1N1 vaccine.
Those of us who were lucky enough to get the swine flu in 1957 are immune to this flu. Those of us who received a swine flu vaccine in 1976 are not protected against the H1N1.
Back in 1918, an outbreak of the H1N1 virus occurred. It caused people to have mild cases of the flu, simular to what is happening today. Then it mutated and caused the pandemic flu which killed thousands of people world-wide. The CDC wants everyone to receive the vaccine in case this one mutates. No need to panic about it. Just be smart.
So here are my words of advice:
1. Stay informed. The information is constantly evolving, and changes fast. I recommennd www.cdc.gov or your state's health department's website for accurate information. The website in PA is www.h1n1inpa.com
2. Use good hand hygiene. Frequent washing with soap and water works best, but alcohol based hand gel is very effective, too.
3. Use good cough etiquette. Cough into your sleeve. Wash your hands after you cough.
4. Practice social distancing: The work ethic has no benefit if you are sick, and coming to work when you are sick is no longer acceptable. Please have contingency plans in place for work or school in case you have to stay home to take care of a loved one or if you get sick. During the outbreak, avoid crowded places.
5. Get the vaccine when it becomes available. The CDC says it is safe. Dr. Luther Rhodes from Lehigh Valley Hospital says it is safe. If you are worried about the additives, wait for the additive free one comes out, but do get it.