For those whose family has had h1n1 -- how did symptoms start?

[Anonymous]

thanks. Of course every sniffle now has me worried.

[Anonymous]

I believe fever is the key that many people are watching for. Sniffles seem to apply to nearly everything, but a fever or sore throat and certainly an upset tummy are key signs. Respiratory problems (trouble breathing, blue lips, etc) are an immediate seek medical attention.

It is worth noting that many who have had H1N1 report a relatively mild first instance, fevers around 100-101 or so and then a slight improvement for 24-48 hours, followed by a second far more serious bout with the bug (much higher fevers, vomiting, aches, etc).

24-36 hours with no fever (i.e. no fever naturally, not Tylenol assisted) is considered a sign things have passed.

[Anonymous]

The two of us who got sick had headaches as the first symptom.

[Anonymous]

Eeek this worries me. My DS had a low fever in the 100-100.5 range yesterday and vomited once. He was totally fine in the evening and this morning. He woke up from his afternoon nap with another fever. He has no other symptoms....and his energy level is normal...does this sound like H1N1 to anyone?

[Anonymous]

Fever is a key symptom, but so are muscle aches. Parents in my child's 2nd grade class were kind enough to email some of the symptoms as their kids got sick, so i knew what to look out for.

My daughter came home one day complaining of a headache and her body hurting, but she had no fever. Several hours later she had developed a low fever and a cough. One of the places I turned to for solid information about symptoms was the CDC website (now I know we bash on our government alot, but I am now and forever a fan of the CDC)

Check out this report:
Novel H1N1 Flu: 2009 H1N1 Early Outbreak and Disease Characteristics
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/surveillanceqa.htm#table

There is a chart in this article that breaks down the symptoms of 268 hospitalized H1N1 patients when the outbreak first occured back in April. Fever and cough are at the top of the list. It's also important to understand the emergency warning signs signs http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/2009-10/pdf/what_to_do_if_you_get_sick.pdf

I also kept checking my daughters temperature every few hours. Now she is almost 24 hours without a fever.

Unfortunately I am coming down with it.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone provide the link to the offical sympton checker? I saw it on a different thread Wednesday but can't find it. There were two asking identical questions - one was affliated with Emory, I think?

[Anonymous]

PP here - found it myself. It's https://h1n1.cloudapp.net/Default.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe fever is the key that many people are watching for. Sniffles seem to apply to nearly everything, but a fever or sore throat and certainly an upset tummy are key signs. Respiratory problems (trouble breathing, blue lips, etc) are an immediate seek medical attention.

It is worth noting that many who have had H1N1 report a relatively mild first instance, fevers around 100-101 or so and then a slight improvement for 24-48 hours, followed by a second far more serious bout with the bug (much higher fevers, vomiting, aches, etc).

24-36 hours with no fever (i.e. no fever naturally, not Tylenol assisted) is considered a sign things have passed.

Completely agree with this. This is how it has gone for me and most of my friends. Unfortunately, it is that "mild" stage where kids are being sent to school and everyone is getting it. Keep them home and stay home yourself if you have it!!

[Anonymous]

My whole family had it last week- 2 adults and 2 18-mo-olds. Kids got it first, obviously they can't tell us about aches and such, but the started with low fevers for a couple of days- in 99-100s range, along with coughs, congestion, and runny noses. Fevers lasted about 3 days, respiratory symptoms about 10 days. Their energy level was low and they were generally fussy, but okay enough to get out of bed and play quietly. Appetite was low too. Husband and I started symptoms 3 days after kids, beginning with headaches and sore throats. Husband then had full-on body aches, fever, congestion and was in bed for two days. I never got more than a very sore throat and congestion.

We all stayed inside for four days straight, used cool mist humidifier, Motrin, etc. There was no "second wave" for us. We thought it was the regular flu, since the fevers were not very high, but the pediatrician said that only H1N1 is circulating now so that's what we had. I'm very grateful that our cases were mild.

[Anonymous]

It says on the CDC site "It is important to note that not everyone who gets the flu will get a fever."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My whole family had it last week- 2 adults and 2 18-mo-olds. Kids got it first, obviously they can't tell us about aches and such, but the started with low fevers for a couple of days- in 99-100s range, along with coughs, congestion, and runny noses. Fevers lasted about 3 days, respiratory symptoms about 10 days. Their energy level was low and they were generally fussy, but okay enough to get out of bed and play quietly. Appetite was low too. Husband and I started symptoms 3 days after kids, beginning with headaches and sore throats. Husband then had full-on body aches, fever, congestion and was in bed for two days. I never got more than a very sore throat and congestion.

We all stayed inside for four days straight, used cool mist humidifier, Motrin, etc. There was no "second wave" for us. We thought it was the regular flu, since the fevers were not very high, but the pediatrician said that only H1N1 is circulating now so that's what we had. I'm very grateful that our cases were mild.

unless you were actually tested and received a lab result saying positive for h1n1--you nor your Dr can assume this was swine flu.

[Anonymous]

my son had a headache and low fever last weekend then seemed fine...but then got a stuffy nose with some coughing, no fever this week. i am assuming it's just a cold since he has no fever. or might this be a flu with no fever?

[Anonymous]

it might be flu with no fever. That's the problem..there's really no way of telling.

[Anonymous]

Two year old started crying in the middle of the night. He had a fever @ 102 or something and runny nose. Then came
a cough. Low energy, not eating (except bottle) and very sleepy. I reduced fever with Ibuprofin every 6 hours. He is feeling
better but still not eating much and has a hard time walking, due to the flu's effect on his muscles. It has been 7 days. We
had the flu confirmed at Dr. Office with test. (test was not specific about whether H1N1 or seasonal).

He had a bout of diaarhea and I suspect his crying has to do with overall malaise feeling, though he is not able to tell us.
He threw up only in relationship to the coughing making him throw up. Dr says lungs, ears looked good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My whole family had it last week- 2 adults and 2 18-mo-olds. Kids got it first, obviously they can't tell us about aches and such, but the started with low fevers for a couple of days- in 99-100s range, along with coughs, congestion, and runny noses. Fevers lasted about 3 days, respiratory symptoms about 10 days. Their energy level was low and they were generally fussy, but okay enough to get out of bed and play quietly. Appetite was low too. Husband and I started symptoms 3 days after kids, beginning with headaches and sore throats. Husband then had full-on body aches, fever, congestion and was in bed for two days. I never got more than a very sore throat and congestion.

We all stayed inside for four days straight, used cool mist humidifier, Motrin, etc. There was no "second wave" for us. We thought it was the regular flu, since the fevers were not very high, but the pediatrician said that only H1N1 is circulating now so that's what we had. I'm very grateful that our cases were mild.

unless you were actually tested and received a lab result saying positive for h1n1--you nor your Dr can assume this was swine flu.

A positive flu swab is currently considered to be h1n1, because that is the only flu currently circulating. Labs are not breaking it down further than that.