Am I wrong for wanting to go to the doctor?

[Anonymous]

DD appears to have come down with some sort of flu-like illness. Most likely H1N1 since they say the seasonal flu hasn't started yet (plus, we did get that vaccine a few weeks ago). I want to take her in to the doctor tomorrow to confirm whether or not it is H1N1. If it's not, then I'm still going to want to have her vaccinated if/when the vax becomes more widely available. If it is, I'd like to know so I don't end up wasting my time getting a vax for something she's already had.

In addition, we're planning to travel by plane to visit our ILs in a few weeks -- yet another reason I would be pursuing the vaccine if this ISN'T H1N1. Yet I've read in numerous places that the doctors don't want people coming in unless the flu symptoms are more serious. Am I wrong to simply want to know precisely what my kid has?

[Anonymous]

I don't think you are wrong, but the standard of care is to vaccinate regardless. They will test for flu (maybe) at your ped, which is general. Highly unlikely they will send it out (less that 5% of samples are being differentiated for H1N1-- it is too costly to send every positive out) and it may be negative as there is a 10-70 FALSE NEGATIVE for the H1N1 per the flu test. So. . unless symptoms take a turn for the worse, you should follow the H1N1 general population advice. See CDC.GOV

[Anonymous]

It's not like a strep swab, it is difficult and costly to diagnose it precisely. Get her vaccinated regardless. I hope her symptoms are mild and that she is feeling better soon.

[Anonymous]

A colleague told me about her friend's six year old daughter who had the flu (H1N1) and died two days after getting the H1N1 vaccine. They didn't know she had H1N1 when she was vaccinated. Please check with your pediatrician.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A colleague told me about her friend's six year old daughter who had the flu (H1N1) and died two days after getting the H1N1 vaccine. They didn't know she had H1N1 when she was vaccinated. Please check with your pediatrician.

OMG, what? She HAD H1N1 and got the vaccine while she had it and then died?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A colleague told me about her friend's six year old daughter who had the flu (H1N1) and died two days after getting the H1N1 vaccine. They didn't know she had H1N1 when she was vaccinated. Please check with your pediatrician.

OMG, what? She HAD H1N1 and got the vaccine while she had it and then died?!

There's GOT to be more details to this.... Did she have underlying conditions? I guess I just don't undersdtand your point. Are you implying the vaccine pushed her over the edge, so to speak?

[Anonymous]

This is how panic starts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is how panic starts.

Am I am... makes me a touch nauseated. You?

[Anonymous]

I don't think an autopsy has been completed, so I don't know if there is an underlying condition. If your child is sick with flu-like symptoms, I would check with your pediatrician before getting the H1N1 vaccine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think an autopsy has been completed, so I don't know if there is an underlying condition. If your child is sick with flu-like symptoms, I would check with your pediatrician before getting the H1N1 vaccine.

I've heard of plenty of people who came down with H1N1 days after getting the vaccine--but I haven't read about any perceived risks of getting the vaccine during incubation period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A colleague told me about her friend's six year old daughter who had the flu (H1N1) and died two days after getting the H1N1 vaccine. They didn't know she had H1N1 when she was vaccinated. Please check with your pediatrician.

Something about this story seems off. Of course, always check with your pediatrician if your child has symptoms of illness at the time of immunization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think an autopsy has been completed, so I don't know if there is an underlying condition. If your child is sick with flu-like symptoms, I would check with your pediatrician before getting the H1N1 vaccine.

Absolutely. I don't know who posted that the "standard of care" is to vaccinate regardless, but my pediatrician diagnosed us all as having H1N1 and I am sure he would NOT give any of us the vaccine -- why would he, because he doesn't trust his own diagnosis? Absurd. If you have had H1N1 (diagnosed by a doctor -- no one is testing for it anymore) then you do not need the vaccine.

[Anonymous]

What I have read is that without a lab confirmation that kids should still get the vaccine. To OP's point, it is almost impossible to get a lab confirmation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I have read is that without a lab confirmation that kids should still get the vaccine. To OP's point, it is almost impossible to get a lab confirmation.

Yes, but the pediatricians are diagnosing it, per CDC guidelines. So why would they then turn around and vaccinate those very patients against it? Makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think an autopsy has been completed, so I don't know if there is an underlying condition. If your child is sick with flu-like symptoms, I would check with your pediatrician before getting the H1N1 vaccine.

Absolutely. I don't know who posted that the "standard of care" is to vaccinate regardless, but my pediatrician diagnosed us all as having H1N1 and I am sure he would NOT give any of us the vaccine -- why would he, because he doesn't trust his own diagnosis? Absurd. If you have had H1N1 (diagnosed by a doctor -- no one is testing for it anymore) then you do not need the vaccine.

My ped diagnosed my DD with H1N1 and recommended she still get the vaccine.