New Child Safety: Special Topic H1N1

We here at New Child Safety know that many of us have had enough conversation, sensationalism and time spent on H1N1. There is fatigue among the public as we see what appears to be a huge hype and over-reaction to a virus that is comparable, although slightly more risky for our young people. The entire vaccination campaign around the world was a huge flop where the majority of the world's population opted out of an untested vaccine that big pharma was given immunity to taking any responsibility for adverse effects months before the vaccine came to our communities.

We also know that there are families who lost loved ones this fall to H1N1 and many were also coping with other serious and chronic illness, our hearts and prayers go out to those families, who are facing this holiday season without that special person. It must be very difficult to consistently hear in the media, on the internet and at their local coffee shops that this virus is 'no big deal - I don't know what all the fuss is about' - for some that is simply not true.

We are strongly recommending a very level headed approach to the remainder of flu season this year, concerning both regular seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus. A proactive approach to staying healthy along with keeping our immune systems in tip top shape is a terrific start (see below for more information). At the same time, we are also suggesting that you keep a keen eye on a few topics in this area. First off, if you have not yourself or have not had your child vaccinated with the H1N1 shot, please become informed before you do and we mean informed on your own and in concert with health care professionals - do not simply take one clinicians point of view as solid advice, please do some on-line research. Of course, we should always have our critical thinking caps on when getting our information off the internet, especially concerning our health and the well-being of our children; however, that does not mean that all virtual information lacks credibility.

Second, there are 'pockets' of resistant strains of H1N1 around the world. Thus far, we have not had any large impact from this situation but that simply means so far so good and does not mean it could not be more problematic over time. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/oseltamivir_faqs/en/index.html

Third, the rates of infection are on the increase in Asian countries. It could be that the same situation evolves there as we've seen elsewhere, the virus sweeps through, lots of people become ill but the majority recover without any adverse events. However, there is one simple fact that is different in Asia and this is important - Bird flu or the H5N1 virus is also in circulation including a few cluster outbreaks (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12100902/H5N1_H1N1_Dien_Bien.html). Now this again is a situation that often occurs so there is no reason to sensationalize but there is cause for developing a keen awareness, staying informed and keeping an eye on things. There is always the potential that a recombining of the genes from various flu strains but particularly H1N1 AND H5N1 could produce a new version of the virus that has the ability to spread like we've seen this fall with the seriousness of severe illness and dramatically increase mortality rates of bird flu. Read more http://www.avianinfluenza.org/mutated-avian-influenza-virus-h5n1.php

So, what to do? Stay informed, do not take a laissez-faire attitude, flu season is not over despite a lull in infections and simply because H1N1 did not amount to what we were told by every one from world health officials to our local public health representatives does not mean that forever more we don't have to be informed and concerned about a serious public health concern. Finally, remain proactive, quietly and in a relaxed way do everything you can to stay flu free this year and go about your day with family and friends.

Of course, we will continue to bring you the latest and most up to date information.

Summary

If your still considering the H1N1 vaccination, do your homework

Watch the developments surrounding resistant strains of H1N1

Keep an eye on the potential risks of H1N1 and H5N1 recombining

Stay informed and proactive

Well it's flu season in the Northern Hemisphere and we are faced with a new strain of influenza that we've all heard about, H1N1 or pandemic flu. Many published sources are also using the term swine flu when referring the influenza responsible for the current flu pandemic. At New Child Safety, we are using the term H1N1 but will remind you to also think about the other things it's called, like swine flu.

As many areas across the United States, Europe, UK and Canada begin to see the number of influenza cases rising, we can't help but worry about our children getting sick.

New Child Safety wants to provide you with information you'll need to make good decisions about what to do this flu season. We have an epidemiologist here on staff at New Child Safety gathering information for you. Epidemiologists study, track and research the number of new and continuing cases of disease in the population. They also research and report on a variety health and wellness topics. Our epidemiologist is taking a lot of information and highlighting some of the things you need to know and do to remain healthy. We also provide the latest feeds from MedWorm, National Institute of Health and News organizations about H1N1 so you can stop on our lens to keep up to date if you want more in-depth information.

Of course, at New Child Safety we are dedicated and focused on child safety and wellness, but we are not clinicians so we strongly encourage you to talk to your health care professionals or contact the public health agency in your area if you have questions about how to diagnose or treat any type of influenza this year. Information can make you a strong, informed and feel less worried about potential risk and it's important to consult with your doctor and get their guidance.

We have heard here at New Child Safety from parents, teachers, grandparents and caregivers about how they are worried about H1N1 this year for themselves, children in the family and their communities. Here are some of the following things they've asked:

1) H1N1 is new, I do not understand what's really going on

2) Our family was pretty sick about a month ago, do you think we already had the flu?

3) We are visiting grandparents next month for Thanksgiving, my father-in-law has been ill, should we take the children to see him? They are always sniffling and we would feel awful if we brought Grandpa and Grandma any type of influenza

4) Are there going to be so many flu cases this year, that my child's daycare will close? What would I do?

We've summarized some key messages here on our Squidoo lens about H1N1 to help you get up to speed.

What the Heck is Going On With H1N1

This is a great question and no wonder we are all asking it. Even health care professionals, public health officials and our friends and neighbors are asking the same thing. What we have is an influenza or flu virus going around all over the globe called H1N1 or swine flu. There are a lot of infections across different ages and many people have already had the H1N1 flu. Since it first appeared in Mexico this past Spring, most people who have already had the illness are reporting this flu is mild, does not cause serious complications and the majority of people stay home, rest and recover like we all have from influenza at this time of year.

However, not every one's experience with H1N1 is quite so straight forward. Some people have become very ill with H1N1 and have died. For some families, this flu season has already become very serious. There are particular characteristics of people that make some more prone to a serious complication if infected with H1N1. There is a great deal of research on-going now about the virus and we do know, for example that women who are pregnant are at a higher risk of both a serious case of H1N1 and possible death. Also, people who are already sick with another disease like diabetes or have other risk factors such as being obese or a smoker also run a higher risk of having a complication should they get the H1N1 virus.

One of the most concerning issues with H1N1 is the ability for this flu compared to what we normally see in the winter months to make younger people very sick and in some cases our young people die from complications that arise from the virus. It's important to know that the younger (anywhere from 18 - 45 years of age) otherwise healthy people can get very sick from this flu. One way that happens is the patient who has H1N1 becomes very sick with the flu, often has serious breathing problems, requires hospitalization and ends up with a secondary infection, like pneumonia. If that happens, it can be very difficult for an extremely ill patient to fight a serious infection in their lungs.

It is also important to note that recently some patients with H1N1 have come down with influenza and become sick very very fast. If you child is sick monitoring them is very important and know when it's time to get help.

So, at New Child Safety we come at all issues from a safety perspective. In the case of H1N1, we see decisions and choices concerning influenza this year all centered around prevention. In public health, primary prevention or preventing an illness altogether is always the best choice. Our first bit of information for you is all about what to do to stay healthy and keep our children healthy in the first place.

1. Washing Your Hands

Washing our hands does not prevent the flu, but it is a very effective tool to avoid taking silly chances in getting H1N1 or the seasonal flu. When we are helping children remember and execute washing their hands, we can make it very easy for them to follow. Children love to sing and singing two complete versus of Happy Birthday (or substitute a child's favorite just make sure it takes about the same time as Happy Birthday) is long enough to wash our hands and have it be an effective way to prevent the spread of the influenza virus.

2. Learn to Avoid Touching Your Face

This is a very difficult one for children to avoid doing but worth trying to help them remember. We all touch our face throughout the day without even thinking about it. When we do, we can transfer the virus on our hands to places where the virus can enter our bodies very easily, through our mouth and nose. So, the more we can avoid touching our faces the better. Of course, frequent hand washing really helps when we forget about those easy access points for the virus and end up touch our face but we can begin to make improvements!

3. Enough Rest

This is always a difficult tip to give because so many of us are often tired, exhausted and have schedules that make getting just enough sleep and proper rest challenging never mind trying to get more sleep or to rest more often. We understand. It is important to be aware of times when you or children in your family are very tired and/or run down. It is precisely then that our body's immune system, which is in charge of taking care of possible infections has a much more difficult time doing ti's job, when we are also very tired. So even though life is always busy, during this flu season take stock throughout each week just in case there is an opportunity to have a slower day, take an afternoon break, give a child a little more down time on Saturday. Whatever you can do for you and your child to get a bit more rest will help you stay healthy.

4. Gathering with Lots of People

When lots of people are sick or when we are in close proximity to those who are ill, they have the potential to spread the virus around. The more cases we have in our communities, the more likely it is that when you share space with a number of people, you increase the chance of being exposed to the virus and possibly become ill. We are not suggesting that we all stop going out and participating in social activities or entertaining friends and family at home; we are providing you with the information so you can make the best choice in preventing the flu. If you should be going to see someone who is already ill or has been sick recently along with general outings, you need to assess the situation. How are you feeling now? Where will you be going in the days that follow a visit with someone whose been sick or had family members that are sick? How are the children in your family? Have they been sniffling? Do they seem tired? Are our family members going somewhere that we could potentially spread the flu virus, such as a grandparent?

This is not the time to become overly stressed about catching H1N1 or the seasonal flu every time you or family members leave home, rather it is about a new mind-set. Just take stock, ask your self "Is this a good time to be out socially?", "Have we been feeling well recently?" and "Is socializing or entertaining today the best choice right now?" - If the answer to these and other mindful questions is that 'all is well and yes I am going to go out', then go ahead, have fun, be social and remember to wash your hands while you're out!

The Whole Host of Other Things

Of course, washing your hands, reducing the number of times you touch your face during the day, getting enough rest and avoiding certain social gatherings are not the only things you can do to stay as healthy as possible and safe from an H1N1 infection. We encourage you to talk to your doctor, search boosting your immune system, exercise and lots of other things you can learn about and do in order for you and children in your family to stay well this flu season. For more information visit eHow at http://www.ehow.com/how_2112822_stay-healthy-during-flu-season.html

Recently an article from the Massachusetts General Hospital discussed the merits of Vitamin D and the body's immune system, read the full article at the link provided below.

"The findings of our study support an important role for vitamin D in prevention of common respiratory infections, such as colds and the flu," says Adit Ginde, MD, MPH, UC Denver Division of Emergency Medicine and lead author of the study" Massachusetts General Hospital. 18OCTOBER2009. ProHealth Library
http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?LIBID=14344

For the majority of us, preventing the flu is a great idea and we do basic things every day help ourselves, children and families avoid getting sick. A great deal of the concern or for some the stress surrounding H1N1 is really about us or someone we love getting ill. The most important information you need about this is that in the overwhelming majority of all cases of H1N1, from around the globe and including children is that the majority of people who have had an infection of H1N1 had a mild form of the flu. People are resting at home, albeit feeling quite sick and miserable but making a full recovery from the flu and most do not require medical attention.

At New Child Safety, we want you to know how to assess the situation if you or a child gets sick, be prepared to act if you need to - we want you to have a plan so you'll feel confident this flu season that you are well informed and have everything you need.

What You Need To Know

1. In order to know if you have the flu or care for someone you need to know the H1N1 symptoms, if you are looking for more information about symptoms be sure to also search swine flu symptoms as the terms H1N1 and swine flu are both used in the public domain. The H1N1 symptoms are just the same as we typically see for influenza in any year such as a fever, cough, aching, stuffiness and a runny nose. You can stay up to date on all you need to know about H1N1 symptoms including a comprehensive list by visiting the CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm

We want you to know what to look for if an illness is becoming serious:

1. A crucial sign to watch for is a child having difficulty breathing, especially younger children as they do not have language skills yet to really tell us how they're feeling. If a child has fast breathing or is struggling to breathe get immediate help. This can also been seen in watching for a blue color to the skin which means there is a decreased amount of oxygen in the body

2. A child that is difficult to wake, seems extremely tired, is not able to interact with you is a sign to have the child seem immediately by a health professional

3. If there is on-going or severe vomiting, especially if the child cannot drink and keep it down therefore is not getting fluids, again arrange for medical care

4. Any time a child has a fever and a rash also develops it is time to have the child seen by their doctor.

5. A persistent cough. A cough that continues to get worse and may persist after a fever improves or goes away. It's important to have a child examined by a doctor when they have a severe cough

*For adults the above flu symptoms above also apply and may include dizziness, confusion, chest pain or pressure in the chest

What You Need to Do

1. If influenza and specifically H1N1 infects you or your family the first thing to do is remain calm, provide the same care you would for the flu during a regular influenza season, all the while remember this year is different, we do have a pandemic of H1N1 (swine flu) so you need to remain extra vigilant because some people become very ill and it can happen quickly

2. Monitor the fever. It is important to know what the patient's temperature is, how it is changing or how quickly it goes up. We suggest you get a notepad and write down the temperature and the time you're taking it just to keep track. Ask your doctor what to do about treating the fever and continue to monitor during the infection. Regarding H1N1, some people who become seriously ill have shown that there can be a quick turn in their illness, they just come down with the flu and in no time they are very very sick, so take temperatures often, write them down, ask your doctor about how to treat

3. Get informed now about when you should seek medical treatment. Many communities have public education information on city and municipal websites, public health departments, local hospital sites and of course you can always call your doctor's office. Make a list of what over the counter medication you may want to have on hand, the contact information for your family doctor, community clinic and local hospital if case you need them. Finally, make sure someone else knows about your plan and the preparation you've done, just in case you're the one who gets sick!

4. Stock up on some food items that are good for everyone when we don't feel well and likely don't feel like eating to much. Here at New Child Safety, one of the parents on staff always follows the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. Good advice and can usually be tolerated by upset stomachs. Of course, good old chicken soup is a favorite and for our vegetarian families have some vegetable soup, likely just broth for easier digestion on hand for a warm comfort food. Remember to focus on fluids to stay hydrated and if your family only drinks bottled water make sure there is extra stored so you don't have to run out.

5. Have some DVD's, age appropriate books, puzzles or other items on hand to pass the time, especially once everyone is feeling a bit better. It is important not to spread influenza around to our neighbors and throughout the community so have some things on hand, it will prevent having to go out when you either don't feel well or need to be at home taking care of a family member

We want you to have thought about an H1N1 flu infection in your home before it happens. Take some time to think about what you already have on hand in terms of medication you like to use for the flu, check with health care professionals for specific clinical advice about what to watch for and when to seek medical attention, know your contact numbers and routes to clinics and hospitals, have some items like water, soups and other food items ready, give some thought to how you'll pass the time at home. One final note, if you're not familiar know your doctor's office hours or the local health clinic business hours, check if there are special flu clinics operating in your area.

We will archive all the posts from our current News and Media section above, so you can always check back if you would like to review something you've seen before.

|Nov 30, 2009: Have you heard that the H1N1 Virus is new? That there is one variant of H1N1 (Swine Flu) - we've investigated and found some interesting information - for a full list of H1N1 variants visit http://cafr1.com/variants.html - pay special attention the year of identification.



Nov 29, 2009: We've heard of a cat in the US getting swine flu, now 2 dogs http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=91271&sid=26254187&con_type=1



Nov 27, 2009: The Key to Staying Healthy This Holiday Season is Eating Well - that can be challenging during the holidays with kids - here are some things to consider http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172204.php



Nov 26, 2009: Emerging Discourse Surrouding H1N1 - We are beginning to talk more and more about drug resistant strains of H1N1 (Swine Flu). It remains unclear exactly what is happening but there are reports of isolated cases of resistant flu Get informed: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/in_the_news.htm#c and http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172265.php



Nov 25th, 2009: The buzz this week is Avoiding H1N1 While Traveling - Information is key and here are a few resources http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/23/earlyshow/health/main5745768.shtml and http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171470.php



Nov 24, 2009: Vaccine company GSK issues a recall in Canada of their H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccine because of a number of allergic reactions associated with a particular batch http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,576526,00.html and http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-canada-says-flu-vaccine-reactions-an-anomaly/article1375754/



Nov 23, 2009: Many people are very happy H1N1 (Swine Flu) appears to be waning in many areas: There is caution in becoming too comfortable - excellent reminders of how to stay healthy during the Holidays http://www.examiner.com/x-17574-Harford-County-Education-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m11d23-H1N1-may-have-peaked-for-now-but-CDC-recommends-precautions-for-holiday-travelers



Nov 20, 2009: Procter & Gamble is recalling Vicks Sinex nasal spray in the United States, Britain and Germany after finding it contained bacteria http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/20/vicks.recall/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29



Nov 19, 2009: 2009 Top 10 Most Dangerous Toys from W.A.T.C.H today, before you shop for Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday toys make sure it's safe http://www.kolotv.com/nationalnews/headlines/70538062.html



Nov 18, 2009: Kids Give Tips in Their Own Words About Influenza: Great video to watch with your kids http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g6OzM7X6mg



Nov 17, 2009: Public Health Agency of Canada: H1N1 Flu Vacine: Dosing Recommendations http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/h1n1/vacc/recommendation-recommandation-eng.php



Nov 12th, 2009: Surge of Cases, Including Children's Cases of Influenza Triggers Emergency Plan for NYC Hospital - First Time Plan Has Been Put Into Effect http://abcnews.go.com/Health/SwineFluNews/h1n1-surge-triggers-emergency-plan-nyc-hospital/story?id=9058170



Nov 9th, 2009:Children Worry About Their Pets Too: What to Tell Them

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=9017408

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_91462.html



Nov 6th, 2009: CDC TV released a short video listing the symptoms of influenza including H1N1 and a brief overview of when you should seek medical help. Children may have vomiting and diarrhea http://www.cdc.gov/CDCTV/IR_WarningSigns/index.html

Oct 25th 2009: The National Institute of Health http://www.nih.gov/ provides a whole host of health information for you and your family. Specific flu (seasonal and H1N1 (Swine Flu)) information can be found at http://www.flu.gov/

Need Canadian Information? http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/h1n1/index-eng.php

Oct 24th 2009: President Barack Obama has declared a National Statue of Emergency. Did you need individual state information? Do you know if your state has also declared statewide civil states of emergency? Visit The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials to find out http://www.astho.org/Programs/Infectious-Disease/H1N1/

Oct 24th 2009: President Barack Obama Declares National State of Emergency

Oct 23rd 2009: H1N1 [Swine Flu] Weekly Update: Oct 14-20 http://childrenshospitalblog.org/h1n1-swine-flu-weekly-update-oct-14-%E2%80%93-20/

Oct 22nd 2009 Vaccine approved for Canadians http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/nr-cp/_2009/2009_171-eng.php