H1N1 In Children

It is understandable that H1N1 is a particular concern for parents, because the first cases of H1N1 in the United States, initially reported as  Swine Flu in the media,  included many school-aged children.  Outbreaks were often centered around schools, often among students that had visited Mexico.

This was especially concerning, because the early information from Mexico seemed nearly apocalyptic.  There were numerous reports of otherwise healthy young adults who were hospitalized with rapidly progressive pneumonia, frequently resulting in respiratory failure and occasionally death.

That set off a frenzy among parents, but the current situation is not nearly as dire as was believed possible from the early reports.  This is a serious situation, but there is no reason to panic.  Read the rest of this page and perhaps even print it for easy reference.  If you recognize the symptoms and treat it correctly most people infected with H1N1, including children, fully recover within two or three weeks.

The H1N1 Pandemic In The United States

Most people, including children, infected with the H1N1 virus in the United States have had MILD disease, but some have had more severe illness, and young children, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease may be at higher risk for complications from this infection. However, there are steps you can take to protect your family and to know when to seek medical care.

The symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to the symptoms of regular flu. They include:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Chills and fatigue
• Body aches
• Headache
• Occasionally, vomiting and diarrhea

These are the same basic symptoms as adults, but there are some specific concerns with children.

H1N1 Symptoms In Children

Young children may have difficulty breathing and low activity, but few other symptoms. There is little is known about how H1N1 may affect children. However, the infection may be similar to other flu infections.

Typically, common seasonal flu infections cause mild cases in children, however parents should always pay special attention to children under 5 years of age, because they are more likely to become seriously ill than older children. Rarely, severe respiratory illness (pneumonia) and deaths occur with flu infections in children, and obviously flu infections tend to be more severe in children with chronic medical conditions.

If your child is under five years of age or has a serious pre-existing condition pay extra attention to the possibility of H1N1.

Prevention

H1N1, like all flu viruses, spreads from person to person mainly through the coughing or sneezing of a sick person. H1N1 may also spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with the virus and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Generally, it is believed that H1N1 spreads the same way as other flu viruses. Right now, there is no vaccine available to protect against H1N1, but everyday actions can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like H1N1:

• Be sure your children wash their hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. Teach them by setting a good example, but also because you can infect your children through unsanitary practices.
• Children should be taught to cough and sneeze into a tissue or into the inside of their elbow, and you should set the example for them.
Teach your children to stay away from people who are sick.
• Sick children should stay home from school and daycare and until they are better.
• If you live in a community where H1N1 has occurred, stay away from shopping malls, movie theaters, or other places where there are large groups of people.

Having said all of this it appears that prevention will be very difficult, because of the nature of this virus.  In fact, the current best practice appears NOT to always close schools at the first signs of infection among students.  So, listen closely to the educators and public health officials in your community and if they do close schools KEEP your child at home.  Remember, it is pointless to close schools if students are still going to go out in public.

If Your Child Is Sick

Keep sick children at home unless they must go out for medical attention. Do not send them to school or daycare.
Be sure that they drink plenty of liquids, because dehydration is a major concern with the flu.
  Rest and comfort are important for sick children.

Use fever‐reducing medicines that your doctor recommends based on your child’s age. However, DO NOT use aspirin with children or teenagers; it can cause Reye’s syndrome, a life‐threatening illness.

Keep sick members of you family away from those that are not sick.

Be sure that the sick person has tissues available for coughing and sneezing and have a trash bag within reach for disposing used tissues.

If your child does come into contact with someone with H1N1, ask your doctor if he or she should receive antiviral medicines to prevent getting sick from H1N1.

If your child, particularly small children, exhibits any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care:

• Trouble breathing, including rapid breathing.
• Gray or bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being irritable and not wanting to be held
• Not urinating or no tears when crying
• The symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough