About.com Infectious Diseases

Is It H1N1 (Swine Flu) or a Cold or Allergies?

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:01:17 +0000

I found the following article, Comparing Symptoms of the Cold, Flu and H1N1 Swine�Flu, to be very helpful - in fact, I have referred to it a couple of times when friends call to tell me that they are convinced that they have H1N1 (which pretty much everyone seems to think is the case).

I have been able to tell 2 of my friends that they can calm down, because they probably do NOT have H1N1, based on this chart. However, I do urge them to call their doctors and discuss their symptoms and what the next steps might be (for instance, whether they need to come in to the doctor's office for an exam or testing or not).

The only thing that I would add to this chart is a column for allergies. While not such an issue for the rest of the country, in the South, our flu season (early because of H1N1) is overlapping with some of the worst ragweed levels that we have ever seen. The symptoms that people are experiencing include sneezing, runny nose and congestion and itchy and watery eyes. Some people end up with a pretty serious headache if their sinuses get inflamed. One of my friends has even experienced severe vertigo, due to sinus involvement.

Bottom line, there are some pretty obvious symptoms that can differentiate these viruses (and allergies) from each other. However, they all can mimic one another and if you ever feel concerned for yourself or your child, you should call your doctor, regardless of how silly it might seem.

Read the full article: Comparing Symptoms of the Cold, Flu and H1N1 Swine�Flu

Is It H1N1 (Swine Flu) or a Cold or Allergies? originally appeared on About.com Infectious Diseases on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 17:01:17.

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H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Vaccines and Egg Allergies

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:34:12 +0000

Since the flu vaccines (both H1N1 and seasonal) are grown in chicken egg embryos, anyone with an egg allergy falls into the category of having a "contraindication" to getting the vaccine. However, there may be some good news for those who wish to be vaccinated, but believe that they are allergic to eggs:

Do you have a true allergy? You may be sensitive to eggs or have an "intolerance," but not have a true egg allergy. This can be determined during a simple skin test. If skin tests are negative, you can safely get the vaccine.

Even if you are allergic, you may be able to get the vaccine. Dr. Monteleone, an allergist with University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey says. "It may still be possible to administer the vaccine in graded doses," she explained. "During the office visit, increasing doses are given every 15 minutes, for a total of five doses." She explains that the patient will then be supervised in the office for at least 30 minutes. She emphasizes that although this approach is recommended by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, it still needs to be done under very close supervision.

Source: Have an Egg Allergy? You May Still be a Candidate for the Flu Vaccine, Says Allergist, Medical News Today; 19 Nov 2009 - 3:00 PST.

H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Vaccines and Egg Allergies originally appeared on About.com Infectious Diseases on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 17:34:12.

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H1N1 (Swine Flu) Vaccines and Breastfeeding

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:10:42 +0000

There has been quite a bit of attention to ensuring that pregnant women receive the H1N1 vaccine, as this group is at very high risk of complications from this virus (including death). However, pregnant women are NOT advised to get the nasal mist version of the vaccine, as it contains live, weakened (attenuated) virus. [Note: The live attenuated vaccine has not specifically been shown to cause problems in pregnant women, it has just not been studied, whereas the injectible vaccine has been evaluated for safety and effectiveness in pregnant women.] Since the injectible form of the vaccine was a little delayed getting out to all people at high risk who needed it, many of these pregnant women had their babies while they were waiting, putting them in a new category - healthy adults caring for infants under 6 months old.

The good news is that these women (once they have given birth) are eligible for the nasal mist version of the vaccine, according to the CDC, although the injectible vaccine is becoming more readily available.

It's wise to get vaccinated if you are caring for a young infant for so many reasons, the biggest one being to protect your child from catching the virus from you if you would happen to get infected. I also cannot imagine taking care of a new baby while dealing with flu symptoms, as new-parent early days come with their own share of exhaustion, bleary eyes and general dysfunction, if I recall my own experience accurately.

One bonus feature of getting vaccinated is that some antibodies might be passed along in breast milk, giving your baby a kind of passive vaccine, although opinions on this seem to differ.

H1N1 (Swine Flu) Vaccines and Breastfeeding originally appeared on About.com Infectious Diseases on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 17:10:42.

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Sid the Science Kid Gets the H1N1 Vaccine

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:57:53 +0000

I love Sid the Science Kid, who has saved me from many other mind-numbing television shows for children. I would also say that since my kids also love Sid, I have gained lots of time to do other things while they watch episodes, but I usually end up dropping what I intended to do so that I could stay glued to the screen.

The concept behind Sid the Science Kid is to introduce kids to science by encouraging curiosity about the world around them. Sid usually has a question that the show is devoted to exploring in a kid-oriented way.

The people behind Sid at the Henson Company have collaborated with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research to create an episode devoted to flu vaccines, called Getting a Shot: You can do it!

The episode is available for download at the Flu.gov website (click the link above), and will also air on PBS on November 19 and 27 and December 21.

The thing that I like about Sid is that he is often skeptical himself and wants to know all angles of a situation before signing on just because a grownup "said so." Although I have not yet watched the episode myself, it promises to explain to kids why a flu shot is helpful and a good thing to do even if it hurts a little.

Sid the Science Kid Gets the H1N1 Vaccine originally appeared on About.com Infectious Diseases on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 20:57:53.

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H1N1 and Drug Interactions

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:03:14 +0000

I love the Drug Interactions Checker, a free online tool that does just what the name implies - checks for interactions among any drugs you may take.

Every time I am about to take a new med, I enter all of my medications (you can also keep a list stored on the tool), along with what I am thinking of taking. I have found some pretty interesting, but relatively benign, interactions among meds that I was considering. A couple of months ago, I helped a relative who was taking blood thinners solve a big mystery that had her doctor perplexed and frustrated and unable to find the right dose for her. I grilled her about everything she was taking, then moved on to all substances that were entering her body, including non-prescription stuff. It turns out that she was using pretty heavy doses of a analgesic cream that interacted with her blood thinners (it contained salicylates, which have their own blood-thinning effect).

With all of the antivirals, vaccines and just plain drugstore-aisle symptom relievers that we are putting into our bodies during the H1N1 epidemic (and during this season in general), it is smart to check out what this stuff might be interacting with. It is easy to use - just go to Drug Interactions Checker and start entering the names of everything you take - prescription medications, vaccines that you might be considering, over-the-counter stuff, herbals and supplements - everything.

I also strongly recommend entering anything recreational that one might consume, including alcohol and illicit drugs, which can also interact with stuff. You may find information that could really keep you from harming yourself unintentionally.

H1N1 and Drug Interactions originally appeared on About.com Infectious Diseases on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 21:03:14.

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Confirmation that Young Kids Need 2 Doses of H1N1 Vaccine

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:55:15 +0000

I reported that it was looking like kids under 10 years old would need 2 doses of H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine, but that there was additional data being collected to confirm that it was truly the case. The original samples were tested 10 days after vaccination and some scientists theorized that the immune system would continue to build antibodies until 21 days.

Well, the data is in and has spoken in favor of two doses of vaccine for kids under 10 years old. Here are the specifics from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' report on Pediatric H1N1 Vaccine Clinical Studies:

Among the youngest children (6 to 35 months), 100 percent had a robust immune response after the second 15-microgram dose compared with only 25 percent three weeks after the first dose.
In children aged 3 through 9 years old, 94 percent had a robust response after the second 15-microgram dose compared with only 55 percent three weeks after the first dose.
In general, the immune responses in children receiving two 15-microgram doses and those receiving two 30-microgram doses of vaccine were similar, suggesting that receipt of two 15 microgram doses is adequate to elicit a strong immune response.

Confirmation that Young Kids Need 2 Doses of H1N1 Vaccine originally appeared on About.com Infectious Diseases on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 13:55:15.

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More H1N1 Deaths Than Previously Thought

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:37:34 +0000

By Julie Stachowiak, PhD
Multiple Sclerosis Guide; Guest blogger

Although it was less than a month ago (October 23rd, to be exact) that the US mortality from H1N1 (swine flu) was reported to have hit 1000, it looks like the numbers are actually much worse than originally thought.

As of November 12th, there have been an estimated 3,900 US deaths from April to October, including more than 500 children.

The big picture shows that an estimated 22 million Americans have had H1N1, with 98,000 of them requiring hospitalization. Eight million of the total number are children, 36,000 of whom were hospitalized and 540 who died from H1N1 complications.

This makes a little more sense to me, as it seemed like the previous numbers were awfully low, considering that most people I talked to knew someone who had been hospitalized, and there were starting to be quite a few local news reports of a death here and there, as well as "friends of friend's kids' schoolmates." The previous estimate was not a conspiracy or a deliberate oversight, rather, the CDC is trying to be scientific and accurate in its reporting and that simply takes time.

More H1N1 Deaths Than Previously Thought originally appeared on About.com Infectious Diseases on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 13:37:34.

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Find a Flu Shot (H1N1 and Seasonal)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:25:49 +0000

By Julie Stachowiak, PhD
Multiple Sclerosis Guide; Guest blogger

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have posted their "Flu Shot Locator" tool, which is supposed to direct people to the nearest, soonest, most convenient source of flu vaccines to them.

I almost wrote a scathing critique of this tool, as I started my hunt in Texas - all I got was a webpage with information about the flu and some news about what is happening around the state, but no mention of where to get a vaccine.

However, I then tried clicking on Ohio, New York and North Dakota. They all functioned beautifully, with a list of counties to choose from and/or a place to enter your zip code and exact dates and times of the flu shot clinics offered.

The CDC links to state Health Department web pages, which are responsible for keeping the information updated. I didn't personally check out every state, but clearly they vary in the quality of the information provided.

Find a Flu Shot (H1N1 and Seasonal) originally appeared on About.com Infectious Diseases on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 13:25:49.

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Before You Buy Products for H1N1 (Swine Flu), Read This

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:44:08 +0000

By Julie Stachowiak, PhD
Multiple Sclerosis Guide; Guest blogger

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States has posted a list of Fraudulent 2009 H1N1 Influenza Products.

This list (which at the time of this writing was comprised of 143 items) includes things like face masks, bogus herbal "cures," and all sorts of stuff to boost the immune system. All of these products have been found on websites that are promoting them as effective prevention or treatment of H1N1 (swine flu). However, it is important to realize that many of these claims are NOT made by the manufacturers of the products, but rather people who have obtained them and are trying to sell them for a profit to a nation of people who are becoming increasingly frightened as they hear each reported H1N1 death (that is the strategy, at least).

To reiterate, many of these products have legitimate uses and many products and medications are used by consumers and prescribed by physicians "off-label," meaning for a different use than that which they received FDA approval for. However, it is illegal to advertise any drug or product for any indication other than that for which it received FDA approval. Of course, there are also a number of completely bogus products without any proven use whatsoever that appear on the list.

All of that being said, I can't say that I endorse the idea of obtaining any drugs or products off of the Internet unless your doctor specifically recommends it.

Before You Buy Products for H1N1 (Swine Flu), Read This originally appeared on About.com Infectious Diseases on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 22:44:08.

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Household Transmission of H1N1 Not Guaranteed

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:23:43 +0000

By Julie Stachowiak, PhD
Multiple Sclerosis Guide; Guest blogger

I have heard quite a few people say things like, "I don't need to get an H1N1 vaccine. My wife had H1N1 and I never got it, so I must be immune."

That is what we call "fuzzy logic" or "magical thinking" in the world of infectious disease epidemiology (when we are being nice). While H1N1 is highly infectious, many people do not get it when someone in their house is infected. In fact, MOST people do not get it when someone in their house is sick with H1N1. This does not mean that they are immune to the disease, however.

In a study conducted in Kobe, Japan, the data only showed a secondary attack rate in households (people who got infected from someone in their family) of 7.6%.

This is lower than the estimate of the secondary attack rate of H1N1 by the World Health Organization (WHO) at 22-33%. However, even the higher WHO numbers indicate that the likelihood is that most household contacts will NOT get H1N1. Certainly, no one should assume that because they lived in the same house as someone who went through a bout of H1N1 that they are somehow teflon-coated and are immune to swine flu.

You can lower these statistics even more by following CDC recommendations on Caring for a Sick Person at Home, which includes precautions to further reduce the chance of a mini-epidemic in your own house.

Household Transmission of H1N1 Not Guaranteed originally appeared on About.com Infectious Diseases on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 09:23:43.

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