a swine flu question (I think I have it)

[Anonymous]

I've come down with symptoms that seem to match swine flu. As a precaution, I'm staying away from others, but does anyone know if one is supposed to get oneself tested to confirm whether it's swine flu or just the regular flu? Presumably public health officials want to track the spread?

[Anonymous]

Not anymore. The H1N1 flu is so widespread at this point that it is not being tracked like it was in the beginning, and public health field is concentrating a lot on college campuses now for surveillance since it is so widespread in that population now that the fall semester has started.

In fact, if you do have it and go out to the dr. you will probably just infect more people. The advice is to stay home until 24 hours after your fever has gone, without taking advil/tylenol or other fever reducer.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Anonymous]

yes to the above, unless you are in one of the so called "high risk" categories. Then get to a dr right away (better to call) and hopefully get Tamiflu.

Or even if you are NOT in a high risk condition, but you are having any difficulty breathing or other wise have a severe illness, call your doctor or seek medical help, of course.

No need to be tested. Treatment shoudl NOT wait for test results and should not be withheld because of a negative flu test.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/recommendations.htm

•Treatment with oseltamivir or zanamivir is recommended for all persons with suspected or confirmed influenza requiring hospitalization.

•Treatment with oseltamivir or zanamivir generally is recommended for persons with suspected or confirmed influenza who are at higher risk for complications (children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 years and older, pregnant women, persons with certain chronic medical or immunosuppressive conditions, and persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy.

•Persons who are not at higher risk for complications or do not have severe influenza requiring hospitalization generally do not require antiviral medications for treatment or prophylaxis. However, any suspected influenza patient presenting with warning symptoms (e.g., dyspnea) or signs (e.g., tachypnea, unexplained oxygen desaturation) for lower respiratory tract illness should promptly receive empiric antiviral therapy.

•Clinical judgment is an important factor in antiviral treatment decisions for all patients presenting for medical care who have illnesses consistent with influenza.

•Treatment should be initiated as early as possible because studies show that treatment initiated early (i.e., within 48 hours of illness onset) is more likely to provide benefit.

•Treatment should not wait for laboratory confirmation of influenza because laboratory testing can delay treatment and because a negative rapid test for influenza does not rule out influenza. The sensitivity of rapid tests can range from 10 % to 70%. View information on the use of rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs).

•Testing for 2009 H1N1 influenza infection with real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) should be prioritized for persons with suspected or confirmed influenza requiring hospitalization and based on guidelines from local and state health departments.

•Groups at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 influenza complications are similar to those at higher risk for seasonal influenza complications.

•Actions that should be taken to reduce delays in treatment initiation include:

?Informing persons at higher risk for influenza complications of signs and symptoms of influenza and need for early treatment after onset of symptoms of influenza (i.e., fever, respiratory symptoms);
?Ensuring rapid access to telephone consultation and clinical evaluation for these patients as well as patients who report severe illness;
?Considering empiric treatment of patients at higher risk for influenza complications based on telephone contact if hospitalization is not indicated and if this will substantially reduce delay before treatment is initiated.

•In selected circumstances, providers might also choose to provide selected patients at higher risk for influenza-related complications (e.g., patients with neuromuscular disease) with prescriptions that can be filled at the onset of symptoms after telephone consultation with the provider.

•Antiviral chemoprophylaxis generally should be reserved for persons at higher risk for influenza-related complications who have had contact with someone likely to have been infected with influenza.

[Anonymous]

Many drs office are not specifically testing for swine flu strain. If you have the flu now, it is probably swine flu. Call and see if you can get Tamiflu if you want.

[Anonymous]

feel better OP!!

[Anonymous]

why do you think you have it? just lab tests can tell the diff between the viruses. the symptoms are exactly the same as the other kinds of flu.

[Anonymous]

Please, please don't get Tamifu if you are not in a high risk category. The CDC has stated Tamiflu is greatly being overprescribed, and it is not limitless so should really be reserved for high risk populations. For example, there are certain people with muscoskeletal diseases who have much more intense symptoms. Plus tamiflu is really tricky - it reduces symptoms by a day or two but only when prescribed and taken in a certain window of time.

Agree with the PP who said you should go to the dr. if you are concerned you are dehydrated or you have a chronic illness that will make flu symptoms worse. Otherwise, it is best to stay home, rest, drink fluids, and remember that it will be over and you'll feel better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why do you think you have it? just lab tests can tell the diff between the viruses. the symptoms are exactly the same as the other kinds of flu.

Not the OP but... right now, if it is flu, it is probably swine flu.

Just plain statistics.

As of August, 2009, more than 98% of circulating influenza viruses in the United States were 2009 H1N1 influenza (previously referred to as novel influenza A (H1N1). Among people who become infected with 2009 H1N1, certain groups appear to be at increased risk of complications and may benefit most from early treatment with antiviral medications. Approximately 70% of persons hospitalized from 2009 H1N1 influenza have had a recognized high risk condition (approximately 60% of children and approximately 80% among adults). These high risk conditions are the same conditions that increase the risk of complications from seasonal influenza infection.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/recommendations.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please, please don't get Tamifu if you are not in a high risk category. The CDC has stated Tamiflu is greatly being overprescribed, and it is not limitless so should really be reserved for high risk populations. For example, there are certain people with muscoskeletal diseases who have much more intense symptoms. Plus tamiflu is really tricky - it reduces symptoms by a day or two but only when prescribed and taken in a certain window of time.

The problem I have with that is that of kids hospitalized for this flu, only 60% of them had an identified at risk condition.

The other 40% were not in an at risk group. That seems really close to 50/50 to me....

Approximately 70% of persons hospitalized from 2009 H1N1 influenza have had a recognized high risk condition (approximately 60% of children and approximately 80% among adults).

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/recommendations.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why do you think you have it? just lab tests can tell the diff between the viruses. the symptoms are exactly the same as the other kinds of flu.

Not the OP but... right now, if it is flu, it is probably swine flu.

Just plain statistics.

As of August, 2009, more than 98% of circulating influenza viruses in the United States were 2009 H1N1 influenza (previously referred to as novel influenza A (H1N1). Among people who become infected with 2009 H1N1, certain groups appear to be at increased risk of complications and may benefit most from early treatment with antiviral medications. Approximately 70% of persons hospitalized from 2009 H1N1 influenza have had a recognized high risk condition (approximately 60% of children and approximately 80% among adults). These high risk conditions are the same conditions that increase the risk of complications from seasonal influenza infection.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/recommendations.htm

I'm the OP, and just as the other poster indicated, I'm assuming it's swine flu because it's the prevailing flu of the moment, pretty early for the regular flu season. Either way, I am about to become the pariah of our neighborhood!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why do you think you have it? just lab tests can tell the diff between the viruses. the symptoms are exactly the same as the other kinds of flu.

Not the OP but... right now, if it is flu, it is probably swine flu.

Just plain statistics.

As of August, 2009, more than 98% of circulating influenza viruses in the United States were 2009 H1N1 influenza (previously referred to as novel influenza A (H1N1). Among people who become infected with 2009 H1N1, certain groups appear to be at increased risk of complications and may benefit most from early treatment with antiviral medications. Approximately 70% of persons hospitalized from 2009 H1N1 influenza have had a recognized high risk condition (approximately 60% of children and approximately 80% among adults). These high risk conditions are the same conditions that increase the risk of complications from seasonal influenza infection.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/recommendations.htm

I'm the OP, and just as the other poster indicated, I'm assuming it's swine flu because it's the prevailing flu of the moment, pretty early for the regular flu season. Either way, I am about to become the pariah of our neighborhood!

You are not alone. I am pretty sure I have it. I was recently diagnosed with asthma too, and will be calling the doc first thing in the morning. If, and only if, I don't go to the ER tonight since I can't seem to break my fever. It was 102 before ibuprofen, 103 an hour later, and still 103 after taking Tylenol too. It's also really settled in the chest.

I did take oscillococcinum and drinking some green tea with ginger, lemon, and honey.

[Anonymous]

I just got over the swine flu, took me 10 days. Yes, 10 days with fever. Some nights it wouldn't go away even after ibuprofen. But really, there's not much the docs can do other than have you take Tamiflu (which only works 24-48 hrs at onset of symptons) and lots, lots of rest.

[Anonymous]

All I can say is, I'm really glad H1N1 turned out to be such a non-lethal flu bug. After seeing such hotspots as the college campuses flare up, and how easily spread this is b/c no one has immunity - - we really dodged a bullet and will hopefully gain some traction for the next time around in getting vaccines delivered even faster.