What do you think of H1N1 aka Swine Flu?

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What do you think of H1N1 aka Swine Flu?

Postby Aurelia on Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:33 am

It is expected that a vaccine against the pandemic H1N1 will be out later in the year. Although there are some deaths happening now, most people say it is like a mild ordinary flu. Scientists fear it will mutate and be more dangerous in 6 - 18 months time.

Would you rather catch it now and hope to have plenty of resistance when/if it comes back in more virulent form? Or would you rather take your chances on managing to avoid it completely?

Kind regards,

Aurelia

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Re: What do you think of H1N1 aka Swine Flu?

Postby Lisamouries on Tue Jul 14, 2009 11:37 am

Living in London, I'm not sure how I can avoid it so I'm going to have to go with the flow.

Lisa M.

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Re: What do you think of H1N1 aka Swine Flu?

Postby Auburn-NH on Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:06 pm

I'd rather catch it now.

51 year old female rosacean (flushing/diffuse facial redness). Recent bout of seb derm (red, itchy scalp/face; peeling).

Remedies: Cetaphil GSC, CeraVe, SkinMilk - started red LED therapy in June 09. Raw honey treatment took care of seb derm.

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Re: What do you think of H1N1 aka Swine Flu?

Postby CrabbyCathy on Thu Jul 16, 2009 1:16 am

We already had our first exposure at work; I was off, so I'm not quite sure how it happened. We've had a few "maybe" cases, turned out to be nothing, but we took extreme precautions until negative results came back--that's why I'm confused as how our staff got exposed! But, everyone who was, in fact, exposed, went to Employee Health and they're taking prophylactic Tamiflu.

I don't know that I'd want to catch it, as I'd probably pass it on to my mother, who is elderly. And I believe the young and elderly are the most affected by it.

Last edited by CrabbyCathy on Thu Jul 16, 2009 1:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

Reason: forgot to answer the question!

Cathy :)

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Re: What do you think of H1N1 aka Swine Flu?

Postby phlika29 on Thu Jul 16, 2009 8:58 am

I think the UK has the third highest number of cases (behind mexico and america) so i think it will be impossible to avoid in the near future. In fact I am 90% sure that my partner has already had it as he had all the classic symptoms and that lasted for maybe two weeks. I did get ill aswell but it only lasted maybe four days so he might have just had some man flu :)

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Re: What do you think of H1N1 aka Swine Flu?

Postby Aurelia on Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:04 pm

Sarah, good to hear that you are both now safely recovered. Would you mind please letting us know about "the classic symptoms"?

Cathy, like you, my main concern is my elderly mother.

As for who is being hardest-hit, the most vulnerable group so far seems to be people who have underlying chronic severe health problems such as heart and lung diseases, diabetes, obesity. Unfortunately, pregnancy seems to be a risk factor, too - for example, although pregnant women are only about 1% of the US population, they constitute about 8% of those with severe complications from swine flu.

It is very sad to read about pregnant women who have died, or been put into comas in the hope that the baby will mature enough to be safely delivered by caesarean, eg a South Florida woman the doctors hope can last at least another two weeks so the baby will make it to 28 weeks gestation.

What could be more distressing than Spain's first swine flu fatality? A young, pregnant Moroccan immigrant, aged 20 and previously very fit (1,500-metre runner), fell ill but was three times turned away from Madrid hospitals. The fourth time, she was admitted but her condition deteriorated. Just hours before she died, her little son was delivered 12 weeks prem. He was doing well but died, aged 14 days, when an inexperienced nurse fed baby formula into his bloodstream. Unbelievable and heartbreaking.

Kind regards, and wishing good health to all,

Aurelia

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Re: What do you think of H1N1 aka Swine Flu?

Postby Lisamouries on Thu Jul 16, 2009 3:18 pm

That is truly a terrible story.

Lisa M.

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Re: What do you think of H1N1 aka Swine Flu?

Postby phlika29 on Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:19 pm

The stories attached to this outbreak are indeed heartbreaking. In the UK a number of previously fit and healthy adults and children have died after catching this flu. My worry is a close relative who has rare muscle wasting disease and already uses a oxygen mask at night as routine. Apparently swine flu has been confirmed at their place or work and yet there was no special advice from her doctor!!

The typical symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, sore throat, tiredness, runny nose, muscle aches, loss of appetite. My partner had the fever, sore throat, cough, headache and tiredness which lasted about two weeks.

My advice would be for people to buy antibacterial hand wash, antibacterial wipes, tissues and maybe some of the usual flue type remedies such as painkillers, decongestants. The advice in the UK is to stay at home and if necessary contact your doctor via the phone. My mother happened to meet a lady who was involved in dealing with this issue and advised that you sneeze into the crook of your arm as you are least likely to spread any bacteria, viruses,etc. I ca understand this but not sure how easy it will be to then wash that part of your arm!!

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Re: What do you think of H1N1 aka Swine Flu?

Postby Aurelia on Tue Jul 21, 2009 2:09 pm

Thanks, Sarah.

Am belatedly catching up with the board. I hope your relative with the muscle wasting disease will be alright.

Thanks for the list of symptoms. As for where to sneeze, we've bought some Kleenex Anti-Viral tissues, supposed to kill 99% of cold and flu viruses in the tissue ... giving them the elbow in a different way. (;)

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Aurelia

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Re: What do you think of H1N1 aka Swine Flu?

Postby CrabbyCathy on Wed Jul 22, 2009 6:47 am

Two more cases of swine flu on my floor. Thank goodness I don't go into the actual patient rooms.