Dr. Dennis Sandler
I think most people are like me – they hear 20 different versions of how dangerous the Swine Flu is and 20 different recommendations on how to handle this year’s flu season, and they become paralyzed by information overload (TMI as my kids put it!). Below is an article from the Wall Street Journal Health Blog by Shirley S. Wang.
In updated guidelines about the use of antiviral medication like Tamiflu for the H1N1 flu virus, the CDC now recommends that these medicines be used to treat only those people with risk conditions or severe forms of the illness.
Earlier, the CDC urged that those who had some symptoms of flu take antiviral medicines as a preventive measure. It now advocates “watchful waiting” as an option.
“The majority of adolescents and adults and most children won’t need antivirals,” said the CDC’s director of the National Center for Immunization & Respiratory Diseases, Anne Schuchat. Most people just need “mom’s chicken soup, rest and lots of fluids,” she said in a call with reporters.
The agency has seen some evidence of resistance to the medicine. Thus, these antivirals need to be used “very carefully,” said Schuchat. But for those who need it, the more quickly they take it, the better.
Warning signs in children include fast breathing, bluish skin color, not drinking enough, not waking up or interacting in a normal way, being so irritable they don’t want to be held and flu symptoms that get better then worse, according to Schuchat.
Cases of the H1N1 flu are on the rise in some southern states, but the virus is unchanged and is still responsive to antiviral medicine, she said.
OK, so what do you really need to know?
1. Prevention is the best policy! We all need to do our part. The most important thing we ALL can do to decrease the spread of any flu is to become compulsive about HAND WASHING. Oh, and those hand sanitizers are very effective. Stock up and carry one at all times.
2. Be smart about staying home from school or work! But what do we use as a guidline about when to keep ourselves at home or keep our kids from going to school? Richard Besser, MD, former acting head of the CDC and the new Senior Health Editor for ABC said it very simply today on Good Morning America – if you or your kids feel lousy – STAY HOME! You do not have to wait for a fever to stay home or keep your kids home. Stay home until there is NO FEVER for 24 hours (without the use of fever reducers like Tylenol or Advil).)
3. Who needs to take antivirals when they get the flu? As the article above states, antivirals such as Tamiflu should be reserved for use by high risk populations only (elderly, very young, pregnant women.) For the most part, the flu will be relatively mild if you do not fall into a high risk category.
Be well,
Dr. S
My family & I use Protector
