Influenza.

[rivka]

Alex has been sick since Friday night. She's been running a fever and complaining of a headache, pains in her arms and legs, and a sore throat. Flu, in other words. We've kept her home, dosed her up with ibuprofen, and let her watch videos until her brain leaks out her ears.

When the fourth day of fever dawned, I made an appointment with her pediatrician. His reception staff made both of us put on masks (even though I don't have any symptoms) and hustled us into an exam room, bypassing the waiting room. They ordered us to keep the masks on in the exam room too.

When the pediatrician came in, I gave him a rundown of her symptoms and course and then said, "It seems like the flu; I just want to make sure it isn't the flu plus something else."

I thought he was going to cry with relief. Apparently every other parent whose kid has these symptoms has come in totally panicking about the Flupocalypse. He treated me to a perfectly unnecessary disquisition on flu prevention, treatment, and policy.

I asked him about typing the virus, just so we can make an educated decision about whether to have her vaccinated later for whichever kind she doesn't have. He said that the test has lousy specificity so there isn't any point. Based on what's going around, he thinks it's H1N1 and that she'll feel better tonight or tomorrow. If she's not better by the end of the week, I'm supposed to call back.

The incubation period for H1N1 isn't clear, but I'm hoping the rest of us missed out. We all feel more or less okay.

Comments

[naomikritzer]

Both my girls had a flu-like virus back in June. Neither Ed nor I caught it from them. The ped said that very few parents seemed to be catching it, and she thought it was because H1N1 had gone around when we were kids. I looked this up, surprised, because the media had been going on and on about how it went around in the 1950s, and I sure as heck was not around back in the 1950s.

The last time H1N1 went around was 1977-78; it wasn't counted as a pandemic because ONLY children got it. It was called the Russian Flu.

We are still going to go ahead and get the vaccine, because it might have been something else, but we will wait until those in more urgent need have had the chance to get it.

We did take Molly in during her illness, because she got dramatically worse three days in, and we were concerned about a secondary infection (or strep). She ran a fever for eight days. Kiera was sick for a much shorter time (and then came down with strep two days after Molly got over whatever it was she had) (it was the most awesome way EVER to start a summer vacation! sigh).

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor kids. I hope we're not in for eight days of fever.

I have no choice about getting vaccinated myself, because I work with people who are immunocompromised. I got my seasonal flu shot yesterday and was informed that they'd be coming for me again when the H1N1 shot comes in.

We probably won't get the kids vaccinated, though. We usually skip the flu shot, and our pediatrician isn't especially enthusiastic about it.

[naomikritzer]

Well, you're absolutely in a group who ought to be vaccinated, given the populations you work with; that makes sense. Are you supposed to get the nasal spray or are you supposed to wait for the shot? I've heard that the nasal spray is a bad idea if you'll be around immunocompromised people, but I've heard this from People On the Internet, which is not exactly what you'd call a reliable source.

I always get the seasonal flu shot for myself and the kids, not because we're in a high risk group but because having the flu sucks so thoroughly.

FWIW, Kiera was better in three days. This had Ed convinced it couldn't possibly be H1N1, but when she was in for the strep swab her ped said some kids had very mild cases.

[fairoriana.livejournal.com]

According to NPR yesterday, the nasal spray is a weakened live virus, ergo not so good for the immunocompromised.

[redbird]

That makes the "up to age 24" cut-off for age as a risk factor make more sense. (I know, it's empirical, but I like having ideas about why facts are what they are.)

I'm scheduled for a seasonal flu shot next week (I have a history of flu sometimes turning to bronchitis, and that once becoming pneumonia while I wasn't looking, so it seems prudent) but may well leave it at that, unless my employer offers H1N1 as well.

[kate_nepveu]

Hope she feels better soon.

I took SteelyKid into the doctor last week and also made sure to say, "if it's a cold or flu, fine, I just wanted to make sure it hadn't turned into something else." (Nope; cutting molars and postnasal drip were to blame for her random moments of distress.)

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

Poor Alex, and good luck to you and Michael and Colin!

I always get the flu shot, because Dale and I both work in incubators (grocery store and university, respectively). I don't know if it makes a difference, but it makes me feel better -- all hail Placebo and his twin sister, Panacea -- plus it's a donation to the local food bank.

[naomikritzer]

Personally, I am a firm believer in making the placebo effect work for me whenever possible! In fact, I see absolutely no downside to the placebo effect, and have wished a few times that I could go to my doctor and have her give me a nice sugar pill that I don't know is a sugar pill, because my own belief in its effectiveness would almost certainly fix me right up. (I take vitamins, instead; if I can find people on the Internet suggesting a vitamin that will fix the problem I'm suffering from, very often I find they're right. At the very least, vitamin supplements mostly fall into the 'can't hurt, might help!' category.)

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too, all of this.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

My (also not typed, but presumptive) H1N1 bout last month was not that bad. Videos were about all I was up for, too, but the fever quit on the fifth day, like your doctor says. It did take a while to build back up to normal activity levels, so you may have a frustrated Alex for a little while. Good luck not getting it! Our incubation period seemed to be around 5 days, though we were exposed multiple times and it might've been shorter.

[antonia-tiger.livejournal.com]

My brother's presumed case is taking him a long time to get over. I can see why medical staff are on the priority list, here in the UK.

[ailbhe]

My experience of it was that it was like normal flu, but milder and didn't last as long (I got out of bed on the 4th day). Both children were mildly ill and Rob had a headache. That was it.

[ailbhe]

Also, isn't Alex excellent for telling you what's wrong?

[ratphooey.livejournal.com]

Our pediatrician didn't bother testing, either.

The kids had it easy, just two days of discomfort. Me it hit like a ton of bricks.

[redbird]

Here's hoping.

[wild-irises.livejournal.com]

It's fascinating to me how this is actually a milder flu than the "seasonal flu," and yet the panic keeps cycling and cycling.

My current theory is that it's, in at least one sense, A Good Thing, because people do seem to be washing their hands more thoroughly and more often.

[journeywoman.livejournal.com]

It isn't always milder. It has a disproportionately large impact on young adults, whereas seasonal flu strikes the youngest and oldest age groups the hardest.

One of the concerns about H1N1 is its potential for mutation into something more lethal. So far, luckily for all of us, that hasn't happened.

[bosssio.livejournal.com]

and it is very dangerous for pregnant women. http://general-medicine.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2009/813/1
http://www.healthkey.com/a-z/swine-flu/sns-health-swine-flu-deadly-pregnant,0,3542891.story

[fairoriana.livejournal.com]

Flu is no fun, regardless of type. I hope she feels better soon and the rest of you dodge!

[acceberskoorb.livejournal.com]

Did I mention thank you for not coming over and spending hours in a tent with us for a Sukkot dinner? I have a charmed immune system, but there's no reason to tempt fate. If (god forbid) the virus finds its way to you or Michael, drop me a line. We'd be very happy to bring over a casserole or something for the rest of the fam. I'll wear my space suit. :) Good healing thoughts for Alex.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Did I mention thank you for not coming over and spending hours in a tent with us for a Sukkot dinner?

Well, you know. We do actually like you. Hopefully the germfulmess will be over before Sukkot is!

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Hope she's on the mend soon :)

And I'm glad y'all are keeping your heads about the H1N1 possibility. Yes, it is a bad bug, but not necessarily more virulent - just more contagious because no one has any history with it :(