16-year-old becomes fifth to die from swine flu in Dallas County (Hebron: house, buying)

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by bluescreen73

The only reason the swine flu is getting press is because *gasp* people are freaking out about it. The CDC and the WHO have said that the H1N1 strain of influenza is actually less virulent than the typical seasonal flu.

You cannot just dole out Tamiflu to everyone who presents with flu-like symptoms or tests positive for influenza. Virii eventually become resistant to antiviral drugs, just like their bacterial counterparts become resistant to antibiotics.

If/when influenza becomes resistant to Tamiflu, we're right back at square one with no medical treatment for the virus, and we have to rely on other medications to mitigate its symptoms.

Healthy people die from the regular flu every year, too.

The easiest ways to limit your chances of contracting the flu are washing your hands regularly and keeping your fingers out of your eyes and nose.

good advise and yes, I am inclined to agree with you. We need to keeps things in perspective. It scares me as well, but I do think the media is hurting, not helping.

Nita

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by bluescreen73

The easiest ways to limit your chances of contracting the flu are washing your hands regularly and keeping your fingers out of your eyes and nose.

Now we can tell our kids that you CAN die from picking your nose.

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Now we can tell our kids that you CAN die from picking your nose.

But boogers are oh so tasty!

[txgolfer130]

Originally Posted by bluescreen73

The only reason the swine flu is getting press is because *gasp* people are freaking out about it. The CDC and the WHO have said that the H1N1 strain of influenza is actually less virulent than the typical seasonal flu.

You cannot just dole out Tamiflu to everyone who presents with flu-like symptoms or tests positive for influenza. Virii eventually become resistant to antiviral drugs, just like their bacterial counterparts become resistant to antibiotics.

If/when influenza becomes resistant to Tamiflu, we're right back at square one with no medical treatment for the virus, and we have to rely on other medications to mitigate its symptoms.

Healthy people die from the regular flu every year, too.

The easiest ways to limit your chances of contracting the flu are washing your hands regularly and keeping your fingers out of your eyes and nose.

CDC H1N1 Flu | H1N1 Flu and You

The information analyzed by CDC supports the conclusion that 2009 H1N1 flu has caused greater disease burden in people younger than 25 years of age than older people. At this time, there are few cases and few deaths reported in people older than 64 years old, which is unusual when compared with seasonal flu.

Health | CDC: Swine flu more deadly to adolescents | Seattle Times Newspaper

Adolescents are at higher risk of dying of H1N1 influenza virus than younger children, a situation that is the opposite of that encountered with seasonal flu, federal health authorities said Thursday.

Normally, half or more of the children who die of the flu are 4 or younger. But more than 80 percent of the children who died with swine flu were 5 through 17. Dr. Beth Bell, a CDC epidemiologist, said that may be because older children spend time at school and summer camp, exposed to more people than younger children kept at home.

[Big G]

My son's school had over 100 people (from a population of around 850) out on Monday. Wow!

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by Big G

My son's school had over 100 people (from a population of around 850) out on Monday. Wow!

Just checked in with a friend whose kid was confirmed today. He's very sick. Several of his friends are also postive.

[xS☺B☺s]

Originally Posted by Cupcake77

My family and I were just diagnosed with H1N1 today.

Sorry to hear that CC. Hope you all fare well.

I may have had it last year. SF was definitely in this neighborhood and I definitely had the flu when it was present here. I never got it confirmed cuz my case just wasn't that bad and I didn't want to spend the $100 for an MD just to tell me something I already knew.

So take lots of vitamins get your rest CC. You'll be ok!

[MurphyPl1]

DH has been under the weather since Sunday. Mostly head stuff. Finally dropped to his chest. He did the online checkin at CareNow (his preferred provider) and it was a 4 hour wait. He got there and said it was packed. They'd even set up a make-shift waiting room in the back. He had to park in the next parking lot over.

And he has a sinus infection. Big whew!

[momof2dfw]

Hopefully my family stays well. As I said we do have one that is "high risk". If she starts to show any flu symptoms I will just call her specialist and go from there. If I have to take her in to them they will get her back into a room and out of the waiting room so as not to infect other patients that are "high risk". If she is bad enough they can check her into the hospital from their office as they have done before. The last place I will take her is a hospital emergency waiting area or even the regular doctors waiting area that are packed full of people with it.

They did say last night on the news that one CAN be contagious with the Swine Flu up to 5-7 days BEFORE you even start to show symptoms.

FYI: When you go to the doctors office do NOT use ANY of their pens to sign in, write a check, sign your charge slip, fill out paper work, etc. Try to touch as little as possible of items that are sitting in the doctors office be it in the exam room, waiting room or checking in. Take your own reading materials as well.

[TXboomerang]

Most everyone is going to get it sometime this year or early next year. There have been some surprising deaths, but overall, most people seem to recover from it like any other flu. I am not too worried about it. Honestly I worry far more about getting hit by one of these texting idiots you see driving mindlessly down the road all over the metroplex everyday. Now THAT is scary!