As the start of another school year is upon us, parents are asking what to do should their children come down with symptoms of influenza. The World Health Organization just released updated guidelines with regards to children and the H1N1 (swine) flu. The current recommendation is prompt treatment for children who show severe or deteriorating illness, and those at risk of more severe or complicated disease. This includes all children under 5 years of age because this age group is at an increased risk of severe H1N1 infection. Children who are otherwise healthy and older than the age of 5 do not need to be given antiviral medication unless their illness persists or worsen. Most patients, including children, who are infected with the pandemic H1N1 virus will experience typical influenza symptoms and fully recover within a week, even without any form of medical treatment. The two antivirals currently used are oseltamivir and zanamivir. They can help to reduce disease severity and reduce the need for hospitalization. [via WHO]
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Tags: flu, H1N1, influenza, oseltamivir, swine, WHO, world health organization, zanamivir
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
August 24th, 2009 at 6:58 am
What guarantees do we have regarding side effects of anti viral medication on children under five years?
August 24th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Let us honestly admit that some members from the medical fraternity along with media (electronic as well as the print) are indulging in creating a global panic unnecessarily. Facts are:
1. Swine-Flu is not a great killer. While many individuals will be infected, only very few will die.
2. We do not have any dependable vaccine which may be as effective as the Small-Pox Vaccine and the like.
3. Till date, here is no specific drug that can cure this disease.
4. The illness is a self limiting one and no drug or doctor can claim any credit to this end.
6. Till date we are not in a position to cure any H1H1 infected patient. Cure, if any, is a natural process irrespective of medical intervention.
6. Many Governments are creating unnecessary pressure to open indoor facilities for persons infected or even suspected to be infected with Swine-Flu at the cost of other diseases where these hospitals were rendering life-saving services.
7. Misinformation is leading to unnecessary use of antivirals, and sale and use of masks without any logic to a great extent.
8. There are reasons to believe that all these are being done at the unethical interest of the Drug Industry and Mask Manufacturers.
Hope the big-wigs in various governments and WHO will cease escalation of the unnecessary PANIC.
August 24th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I ALREADY KNOW PEOPLE THAT ARE IN A PANIC, AND HURYING OFF TO THE DOCTOR AT THE FIRST SIGN OF A LITTLE SNIFFLE. THE NEWS MEDIA BLOWS EVERYTHING OUT OF PROPORTION. TURN OFF THE NEWS.
August 24th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Dear Doctor,
Some two or three weeks ago a small, round sore appeared on my penis ( right below the head of penis ). I didn’t pay it any attention because it had happened in the past after a somewhat extended session of masturbation, and the sores always disappeared afterwords. But this time it happened again after I had sex with my wife. We had sex for about 2 hours, she did had a multiple orgasm, But i did NOT, Hour later we try again to have sex and could NOT have orgasm and she did, about half hour after that i did see the swelling on my penis right under the head and it was very hard when i touched. It looks like is a vein, which is really swollen. I am sure that it will go away, but can you please help me understand why is this happening., and what do I have to do. Also lately, when I have an orgasm I am not coming as I have, it looks like I’m coming less and less every-time. Thank you for taking the time and look forward to your answer.
Sincerely,
Kari
August 25th, 2009 at 4:04 am
to anyone that is enterested in this flu…the vaccines that have been produced and stokpiled in a huge warehouse are not safe. There have been published medical reports from many countries including Japan/Germany that those that recieved the Tamiflu had delierium/hallucinations and death had occured. Their reports were several years back and reported to the CDC and the WHO. Not new.
The pig farmers stay in touch with each other and their vets through the online AASV. They have also published the fact that A type of EBola has already been seen in their pigs. Now this was thought to be only a monkey to human thing. Usualy this is true. One farm in the Phillapines sends the monkeys to the US to be used for testing and those have been infected with the Ebola. This also has been ongoing for years. What is new is the monkey strain of Ebola has crossed over to pigs. This has also found it’s way to the food chain and humans. This is why this particular Swine Flu(H1N1) is so harmful to pregnant people. Hemoratic = hemorage.
This combination is deadly. I and my husband had this swine flu on the first go-around. We both took an herb called Pau d’ Arco. It does not kill the virus but rather raps around it. Then since it is trapped the white blood cells can then do their job. Sick time = 4 days. At home. No hospital time.
Everyone take care. their are people not telling the whole truth. Either about the true form this virus has taken and the so-called vaccines.
August 26th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
My concern is my son, he is almost 7 but he was born in Germany and lived in Italy until 5.5years………….all of us. I am SCARED about tropical deseases because for the last 12 months, we moved to Latin America to see my parents and because of the GREAT weather! Cold and humid seasons in Europe, were to hard for my son´s sensible respiratory system. The whole year, is been nice and healthy. Nothing serious, just 1-2 stomach infections and everythin quit in order……………………but, while raining, humidity, tropical atmosphere, warm…………..heavy weather, he is reacting with a dry-cough and rynithis……..both by pediatric control. And now, diarrea and nauseas, also controled. WHAT CAN I DO, DEAR DOCTOR, TO EMBRACE AND PROTECT my son´s health in this “total different weather and enviroment”???
THANK YOU.