The more you know about H1N1 (swine) influenza the better you can protect your children from the disease and treat them effectively should they become ill.
Even the experts do not have all the answers. This is a new virus, one never seen before. Ongoing worldwide surveillance indicates that H1N1 is presently (mid September) less prevalent than it was last spring but some cases continue to occur in most countries. However, the potency of the virus has not increased.
Based on the behavior of similar viruses in the past, there is good reason to believe that H1N1 will become more active this fall and winter. How prevalent and how potent, no one knows. Recommendations for preventing and treating flu are likely to change. Stay in touch.
• All influenza viruses spread from person to person in respiratory
droplets of coughs and sneezes. Droplets are propelled through
the air and deposited on the mouth, nose or eyes of people nearby.
• These viruses also spread from touching objects – door handles or
someone’s hands, for example, where viruses are present, and
then touching your face.
• Symptoms generally appear one to four days after becoming
infected.
• Adults are contagious from one day before symptoms appear
until 7 days following the onset of the illness. Children,
especially younger children, may remain contagious for longer
periods.
2. Prevention
• Show children how to wash their hands with soap and water
for 20 seconds, the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
• Use alcohol-based rubs when soap and water is not available.
Note that alcohol-based products are toxic if ingested by
children. The amount left on hands after use is of no concern.
• Demonstrate how to cough or sneeze into your elbow or to
cover your nose and mouth with tissues. Tissue should be
placed in the trash, not left lying about.
• Clean infant’s noses as soon as a discharge appears.
• Teach children not to touch their eyes, nose or mouth.
• Keep children at least six feet away from people who are
sick. Avoid crowds.
3. Contingency plans in case flu is reported in your area.
• Make alternative plans for childcare should schools and
daycare centers close.
• Do not keep children home unless local public health
authorities recommend that you do so. This is based on the
fact that the N1H1 outbreak last spring was mild. This
recommendation may change.
• If schools and childcare programs are closed and your children
are healthy, keep them home and away from social activities.
• Working parents may team up with other parents to take turns
staying home with children; such groups should be kept to small
numbers (less than 6) to minimize the risk of spreading viruses.
• If a family member is sick with the flu, keep school-age children
home for five days from the time that person becomes ill.
• Sick family member should wear a face mask and stay isolated
from other family members, if possible.
• One adult should be the caregiver for sick family members.
4. Recognizing flu symptoms.
• The symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to the symptoms of regular
‘seasonal’ flu. Differentiating them is difficult. Typically, children
with significant nasal congestion & no fever have “colds”, not the flu.
• Common flu symptoms include sudden onset of high fever, mild
nasal congestion, and cough. Older children may complain of
headache, sore throat, and muscle aches.
• Tell children to visit the school nurse if they feel sick during school.
5. Treating flu-like symptoms.
• Keep children home even with minor symptoms.
• Fever in children younger than 3 months requires immediate medical
examination. For children older than 3 months, how they feel and
act is more important than fever.
• See your pediatrician promptly when children are lethargic,
irritable, breathing rapidly, vomiting and refusing fluids.
• Encourage them to drink liquids.
• Keep sick children home at least 24 hours after they are free
from fever (100°F or 37.8°C).
6. Preventing spread.
• Isolate sick children from others as soon as possible and
as much as possible.
• When holding small ill children, place their chins on your
shoulder to prevent them from coughing in your face.
• Wash your hands often when dealing with sick children.
• Keep surfaces (including toys and bedside tables) clean –
wipe them down with a household disinfectant.
• Wash bed sheets and towels with laundry detergent in hot water.
Wash your hands right after handling dirty laundry.
• Keep your home well ventilated, if possible.
7. Children at risk from flu.
• Consult your pediatrician immediately if your children have chronic
medical conditions: heart, lung and kidney problems, weakened
immune systems, sickle cell disease, asthma, or severe neurologic
disorders, for example.
• Children under the age of 2 have a higher risk of complications
and hospitalization.
8. Signs that the flu is becoming worse.
• Most cases of flu are rather mild and symptoms disappear
within a few days. Signs that the illness is becoming worse
include: difficulty breathing, severe coughing, drinking much
less than usual, infrequent urination, extreme irritability.
• Children who seem to recover and then have symptoms
reappear may be coming down with complications of the
flu, pneumonia, for example, and require medical attention.
9. Recommended medications for children.
• Make children more comfortable with acetaminophen (Tylenol)
or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil). Never use aspirin-containing products.
• Cough and cold medications do not help, and should not be used,
especially in children under 4 years of age.
• Antiviral medications, Tamiflu and Relenza, for example, may
minimize symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness,
especially if given early in the course of the illness. Never
give these medications without consulting your pediatrician.
Relenza is not for young children.
• Medication is not necessary for everyone, even in proven
H1N1 infections.
• Treatment may or may not be helpful for close family contacts.
10. Breastfeeding.
• The influenza virus is not transmitted through breast milk.
• Mothers who believe they may be infected should
wash their hands before breastfeeding their baby.
• Consider wearing a face mask when nursing.
11. H1N1 vaccine.
• A vaccine against H1N1 is expected to be ready by early October.
• Many safeguards are in place to ensure that the vaccine
is as safe as possible.
• Expectations are there will be sufficient vaccine for the
entire population.
• The “regular” seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to protect
against the H1N1 flu.
• The seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines can be given simultaneously.
However, do not wait for the H1N1flu vaccine. Have your children
vaccinated against the regular flu vaccine as soon as it is available.
The seasonal flu is often a serious disease, especially in young
children.
• Individuals with priority for the H1N1vaccine are pregnant women,
people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months
of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel,
persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and
people 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher
risk for H1N1 because of chronic health disorders (see above.)
• Locations for vaccinating the public will vary by
state and community.
For more information, go to the following websites
World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/en/
Centers for Disease Control:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/
American Academy of Pediatrics:
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/may09swineflu.htm
For Travel and Flu Information
http://kidstraveldoc.com/wordpress/tentips-childrentravelinfluenzaprevention/
