H1N1 (swine) influenza information
Background
At the beginning of 2009, a new influenza virus called H1N1 (swine) flu was detected in the U.S. and other areas of the world. The World Health Organization has declared a widespread pandemic. This means that the influenza virus is prevalent worldwide and spreads quickly. The Centers for Disease Control has determined that this is a new virus to humans, spreads very easily and spreads from person-to-person, similar to the seasonal flu.
The symptoms of this new H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. People at higher risk of serious complications from seasonal flu include people age 65 years and older, children younger than 5 years old, pregnant women, people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease) and people who are immunosuppressed (such as taking immunosuppressive medications or infected with HIV).
What should you do if your child is sick?
The main message is stay at home. The CDC recommends that people with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever, 100° F or 37.8° C, or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications (TylenolÒ or ibuprofen). A doctor's appointment is not always necessary for influenza-like symptoms. Be sure to make an appointment when your care provider thinks it is necessary.
If your child has flu-like symptoms, please keep him or her at home 24 hours after symptoms resolve, unless given other instructions by your pediatrician or staff. It's important that your child not be exposed to other children who are sick and that he or she does not expose others in order to keep the illness from spreading.
Resource: How to treat your child with influenza-like symptoms at home.
Telephone calls
If you need advice regarding your child, call our office. Telephone calls will be returned the same day. However, due to the increase in calls H1N1 has caused, it may not be as quick as usual. If you are not sure whether to bring your child in or not, we recommend that you keep the appointment. We appreciate your understanding and patience during the time that we are caring for other children in the clinic.
Appointments
Most people who have been sick with this virus in the U.S. have recovered at home without treatment. For general influenza-like symptoms, staying at home and providing at home treatment such as increased fluids, rest and TylenolÒ or MotrinÒ for pain management is best. For children with chronic medical conditions, it is important to talk your pediatrician.
We want to see your child when:
Like the seasonal flu, complications may occur with the H1N1 flu. Seek medical care immediately if your child becomes quite ill and experiences any of the following warning signs:
- Fast breathing.
- Trouble breathing.
- Bluish or gray skin color.
- Not drinking enough fluids.
- Not urinating as much as usual - less than every six to eight hours.
- Severe or persistent vomiting.
- Not waking up or interacting as usual.
- Being so irritable that your child does not even want to be held.
- Fever returns after being absent for more than 24 hours, or a significant change in fever pattern occurs. For example, it was 101° F for several days and now it is 103° .
We want to see anyone with the following conditions immediately:
- Asthma.
- Diabetes.
- Immunocompromised.
- Infants younger than 2 months old.
What to expect at your appointment
Due to the contagious nature of H1N1, and to ensure that we are protecting all of our patients, you may see that your visit to Bayshore Pediatrics is different than usual. For children who have influenza-like symptoms, you will be asked to call our office prior to entering the building so we can provide your child with a mask to wear. You also may see staff and physicians wear masks, eye protection and gowns to prevent infection. You also may be escorted to a room immediately depending on the presence of the illness. As this may be scary for some children, please talk with your child prior to arriving. Here are some sample photos of what the protective wear looks like:
Keeping your child healthy
You and your family members should:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands. Put your used tissue in the wastebasket.
- Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based cleaner.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you or your child gets sick with a flu-like illness, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from spreading infection.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
H1N1 vaccine
Every flu season has the potential to cause a lot of illness, doctor's visits, hospitalizations and deaths. The CDC is concerned that the new H1N1 flu virus could result in a particularly severe flu season this year. Vaccines are the best tool we have to prevent influenza. The CDC recommends getting the seasonal influenza vaccine now. The seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against H1N1 influenza. However, a H1N1 vaccine currently is in production and is estimated to be ready mid- to late-October. The H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. It is intended to be used with seasonal flu vaccine. Federal and state governments are responsible for the distribution of the vaccine. At this time, Bayshore Pediatrics is registering as a potential provider of the vaccine. The availability of the vaccine has yet to be determined. For up-to-date discussions about the vaccine, visit our blog.
Resource: CDC H1N1 vaccine recommendations.
Pandemic plan
Bayshore Pediatrics has worked diligently to develop a pandemic plan in the event that H1N1 or any other epidemic/pandemic illness becomes significantly prevalent in our community. We have taken strides to plan for increased patient care and communication with families while maintaining the quality and service that you have come to expect. We also have planned for caring for our well and sick patients during these times.
Resources
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