My cousin's 10 Y/O daughter almost died from FLU. She was MEDEVACED to SHANDS.

[DemoTex]

She was intubated at a USAF hospital and flown by USAF Learjet to Shands Pediatric Clinic in Gainesville, Fl. My cousin was recalled from IRAQ. It took him two days to get back. She almost died. She is still in critical condition at SHANDS. From the Flu! There is discussion of lower extremity paralysis.

This news comes from my brother in ATL, who is a radiologist. He was on the losing end last week of a 3 year-old with the flu. She was intubated at my bro's hospital, but the surgeon was not happy with the results. My brother did the imaging and called the surgeon back to move the tube a few CMs, STAT! The surgeon said the child had died. AGAIN, THE FLU!

[mike_c]

1. influenza is no joke....

We tend to take it for granted because most human strains are survivable for people with good health and medical care, but flu is the real thing-- a communicable disease that is both highly virulent in many cases, mutates constantly, recombines readily, and so on. Influenza is one of the most perfect human epidemic diseases. It is no lightweight.

[Skittles]

4. yes

it's why last year, when there was a shortage of flu shots, lots of us elected to not get a shot in the hopes that the most vulnerable would get theirs - I hear this truly limited the number of deaths

[DemoTex]

8. HEY - YOU!

Take care of youse-self. Got to have my Skittles!

BTW dear: Check out my Misty (F-100F) question in the Lounge.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=7528555&mesg_id=7528555

[Skittles]

12. I AM GOING TO GET THAT BOOK

I am an avid reader - yes INDEED....as it is, no, I know nothing of it. :o

[DemoTex]

5. My brother, the radiologist, just got over the flu ...

His entire hospital staff (almost) got the flu. The radiology department was decimated for a week or so. He had 103-F fever. So did some other friends in Atlanta. I'm outta-there for a few weeks. Don't need that shit!

[minerva50]

79. My grandfather lost 4 siblings in the epidemic of 1918.

He was 14, his older brothers and sisters in their early 20's died. His mother was left with him, two younger sisters and an orphaned grandson. She had to sell their business and do her best to hold the family together.

[scarletwoman]

2. Good grief! I'm so sorry -- I hope she recovers!

A 12 year old girl in my hometown just died of the flu a few days ago. What the hell kind of flu is this that gets so lethal so fast?

[frogcycle]

10. the "Spanish Influenza" in 1918

killed some within hours of the first onset of symptoms. One guy told of taking a streetcar ride into the countryside - by the time the round trip was finished, four passengers had died.

[DemoTex]

16. Dr. D's uncle died in 1916 .. as an infant in Texas.

Influenza

[mac2]

65. My grandmother talked about the Flu.

She said her family all survived the Flu epidemic (many families died around them) with two Aspirin and a hot whiskey (one shot) and water (1 tsp. honey). It's not for the young of course.

It has a punch. I tried it in my teens when I got a bad cold. If one worked two would be better was my reasoning. You can bet I had not only a bad cold but a hang over the next day. Never tried it again.

[Virginia Dare]

78. My Great Grandmother died of the 1918 flu...

they said she still had a pie in the oven baking, not sure if that's true or not, but it's family lore.

[Critters2]

3. Sorry to hear this. I'll keep your cousin's family in prayer.

I had a 7 yo parishioner hospitalized last week with a fever of 105, with the flu. My dog's obedience coach, an adult, was also hospitalized with a high fever with flu. Around here, they're saying a strain mutated and the shots are useless. A lot of people--especially kids--are really sick!

[frogcycle]

6. ouch

best wishes for her recovery. Chances are she'll be fine - she's got the care she needs. Haven't heard of paralysis as a side effect, but flu can do various things besides respiratory.


I am just finishing a book about the 1918 influenza pandemic - killed 100 to 160 million people! Too many people think the flu is just a bad cold. Some strains are little more than that, but every now and then a really bad strain develops.

[Missy Vixen]

7. Please, everyone, for the sake of the above two children

WASH YOUR HANDS. I can't say it enough. Wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough, get enough sleep and make good food choices. DemoTex, I hope your cousin's daughter makes a full recovery.

Washing your hands may not completely ward off the flu, but it'll cut down on communicable disease.

Julie

[DemoTex]

13. I'm using surgeons hand-wash: HIBICLENS. Available OTC at most drug stores.

Apply to wet hands. Wash hands for 15 seconds. Avoid open wounds and eyes. Excellent protection from STAPH-A and MRSA. US Navy supports this regime for barracks environs.

JulieRB is right. Wash by any means. The CDC says that the alcohol-based hand cleansers are fine. Just use something!

[EFerrari]

18. Keep your hands away from your mouth, mucous membranes.

Wishes to your friends, Mac.

[DemoTex]

29. Thanks sfexpat2000 .. that's a perfect segue into another warning (STAPH-A)

The largest repository of Staphylococcus Aureus in you body is your nose. A "Staph-A." infection is usually a bitch .. at best. Last May I had a Staph-A carbuncle on my back. I was on Bactrim for eight weeks.

Staph is hard to treat. MRSA is almost impossible to treat. My 86 y/o mother had MRSA last year. She was in the hospital for 8 weeks on I/V Vancomycin. She almost died.

[kestrel91316]

40. And keep those fomites (doorknobs, phones, etc)

wiped down with those very handy disinfectant wipies they have now!

[mac2]

20. Do you think this is a good idea?

Last year I wrote to ask the CDC to stop the spread of Flu, etc. why not educate our citizens to not shake hands?

The Japanese don't do it but bow their heads a bit in respect.

I always wipe the food store cart handles with those sterile wipes they supply. So many hands touch them during the day. OR buy that hand gel and give your hands a wipe after handling anything public.

We should also insist the airlines filter the air too since the cabins are so close. That recycled air isn't good. My husband always get a sore throat in the winter after traveling by plane.

We should try the non-drug preventive methods before giving everyone the Flu shot. I understand they failed to have the right type this year. People were not protected against that horrible Flu.

It might be they weren't given money to protect against the Flu strain as it muted. No funds for American disease/pandemics but we buy a lot of Tamiflu (Rumsfeld profits) for their profit.

Can anyone tell me why Florida has no Flu? Tourists do go there from all over the country...or did it occur in a later time than the holidays?

[Mojorabbit]

22. We have flu in Florida

My husband is seeing a lot of it in his office(family doc) but it is mostly localized, not widespread like the rest of the country.

[uppityperson]

23. Florida does have flu. Check out this link

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm
You can click back week by week to see how it spreads. And yes, handwashing is a really good way to prevent a lot of exposure. Don't touch your nose or eyes with your hands also since this is the main entry of the virus. Think not only of shopping cart handles, but even money and door knobs. Everything you touch can be contaminated.

Making a flu vaccine is always part guess work since it mutates all the time and they are making their best guess as to what it will be when the vaccine is needed. The vaccine does protect against some strains, just not all.

[MountainLaurel]

51. Amen

I work with the public (and not the most hygenic folks you'll find) and wash my hands frequently. Not to mention baptizing myself in Purell a few times an hour.

[mac2]

61. Did that save you from the Flu?

[MountainLaurel]

83. Thus far, it has

I also had a flu shot earlier this winter. I haven't gotten sick yet, though all of my coworkers have had bouts with stomach bugs as well as the cold flu. It helps that my boss is very clear that if we're sick, she doesn't want us coming to work (unlike other employers I've had, who expected you there unless you were bleeding).

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

55. Note:

When you cover your mouth *dont use your hands!* use your upper arm!

[defendandprotect]

101. And, MEN . . . please stop spitting in the streets --- !!!

It's a disgusting disease spreading habit --- !!!

Which we seem to have been teaching to men for the past two decades!!!

[BOHICA06]

9. Super nasty year ....

...like the Hong Kong & Swine flu years. Pray we don't see a Spanish Flu reappear: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu

It's so sad that the very younger are the targets of this strain.

[Coyote_Bandit]

11. Sending good vibes

I know a doctor whose father died of the flu. Sad.

[RB TexLa]

14. I'm surprised by the recalled from Iraq part. I didn't know they did that for troops

when someone was sick.

[McCamy Taylor]

15. This year's flu shot was ineffective and Rumsfeld's Tamiflu is ineffective in many cases too

[halobeam]

17. Very sorry DT...

This is one scary season for many people. The flu map that was on another thread around here shows it is wide spread across the entire country.

My best wishes for her FULL recovery. :hug:


Our family has had three strains of virus's in the past seven weeks. My 12 yr. old had all three of them, back to back. No one here has any immunities left. We tested neg. for flu, all of us, so that's good for now, but we are like walking magnets right now. It's a damn frightening time to be anywhere public.

Both kids of mine have asthma, and they both had the flu shot early in the season, although I know they missed the boat on the worst of the strains in the shot. Why not, right? Seems no agency can do much right lately.


I kept my little guy out extra long to try to build his immunities up as much as possible, but he failed his second quarter and struggled with the first one to begin with. I just got a nice little note during vacation that he's in danger of failing the year in three core subjects. Yet, I'm almost reluctant to send him to school at this point anyway, for this and other reasons. Oh hell, it's such a long story and I'm not into hijacking your thread here.

It's just that even at 12, you can't get sick in Bush world even if they screwed up the flu shot. Not their problem...


Just a side note:
Does anyone know how the UK is doing with the flu? Serious question. I guess what made me think of it, was the last time we had shortages and they were good to go, iirc. I wonder if they nailed the worst strain in their shot? I don't know who decides which strains are in the shots; if all countries do the same shot. I do know there are diff. places that make it.

[uppityperson]

19. This one? Link takes you to map you can go back wk by wk.

Influenza/flu is no joke.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm

[halobeam]

27. that's it....

thank you.. I tried to navigate the site to find EU and other countries.. maybe its just me, I'm tired.

[uppityperson]

46. Couple interesting pages at CDC, and links from there...

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/ which has lots of info

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/intsurv.htm which leads to other sites:

http://www.eiss.org/index.cgi Welcome to the website of the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS) which leads to:
http://www.eiss.org/cgi-files/bulletin_v2.cgi?season=2007 and to the info on:
http://www.eiss.org/cgi-files/bulletin_v2.cgi?display=1&code=255&bulletin=255

Canada: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fluwatch/index-eng.php

Bunch of world wide stuff http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/influenzanetwork/en/index.html

Bunch of different world/country search criteria gives you info http://gamapserver.who.int/GlobalAtlas/home.asp
http://gamapserver.who.int/GlobalAtlas/DataQuery/listInstances.asp

This last site, found USA summary, first slight decrease in 2008:
http://gamapserver.who.int/GlobalAtlas/DataQuery/ViewDetailInstance.asp?objInstanceID=34734

2/17/2008
Date To: 2/23/2008
WCR: During week 8 (February 17 - 23, 2008), influenza activity decreased slightly in the United States. o Two thousand three hundred twenty-one (30.0%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories were positive for influenza. o The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza was above the epidemic threshold for the seventh consecutive week. o The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) and acute respiratory illness (ARI) was above national baseline levels. ILI decreased in seven of the nine regions compared to week 7, and was above region-specific baselines in all nine regions. The East South Central, Mid-Atlantic, Mountain, New England, Pacific, South Atlantic and West North Central regions reported ARI at or above their region specific baselines. o Forty-nine states reported widespread influenza activity; one state reported regional influenza activity; and the District of Columbia reported local influenza activity.

The week before:

2/10/2008
Date To: 2/16/2008
WCR: During week 7 (February 10 - 16, 2008), influenza activity continued to increase in the United States. o Two thousand three hundred forty (34.0%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories were positive for influenza. o The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza was above the epidemic threshold for the sixth consecutive week. o The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) and acute respiratory illness (ARI) was above national baseline levels. ILI increased in six of the nine regions compared to week 6, and was above region-specific baselines in all nine regions. All nine regions reported ARI at or above their region specific baselines. o Forty-nine states reported widespread influenza activity; one state reported regional influenza activity; and the District of Columbia reported local influenza activity.

Interesting and scary.

[mac2]

50. Florida and DC have less Flu. Interesting.

[Mojorabbit]

26. I don't know about the UK

but a lot of countries are having a horrendous flu season. I read yesterday that Macedonia has never seen so many cases, and a few weeks ago Russia was having a horrible season too. It isn't just us.

[halobeam]

31. Interesting..

I don't know how they do, compared to us during other years though. That's one reason I thought about the UK..

I'll have to keep searching at a more normal time... someone on this thread did ask us nicely to get some sleep! lol :rofl:

[mac2]

48. Interesting. Thanks.

It is a worry to many Epidemiologists that we do little about the spread of any contagion. The plane flights not stopped between nations, etc. We could not stop profit.

If there is a pandemic it is because of sloppy disease management by the UN.

[uppityperson]

21. Best wishes to her and you all, hope recovers quickly.

Everyone, wash your hands, stay home if you're sick, take your vitamins, get enough sleep and water.

[tavalon]

24. It's not a well known fact, but many people die each year from the flu

or secondary complications. The vast majority are the elderly and children, two groups with poorer immune systems. I'm glad your cousin's child is hanging on and I hope the other part is wrong.

[Warpy]

25. The flu is nothing to sneer at

even though most of us will get it and survive it. For an unlucky few, it can be fatal.

I wonder if this might have been the new adenovirus strain, though. Have they isolated the virus?

[idovoodoo]

28. Woah...that's horrible Mac...did she contract it in Atlanta?

I read the current flu shots don't even protect against a couple nasty strains...yikes.

[DemoTex]

32. No .. she was living near Eglin AFB, FLA, while her dad is in Iraq.

Quite ironically (exquisite irony, actually), her grand-dad and I served together in Viet Nam. He (her grand-dad) is married to my mother's youngest sister. He got a DFC for an RF-4C mission that I supported (not knowing that he was Gunfighter-1) over the A-Shau during Lam Son 719. He was an O-6 (full-bull-colonel) at the time.

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. My prayers are with your family

and... this is why if you are in a high risk group, you should get the vaccine, It is NOT a joke

[DemoTex]

33. Indeed! Listen to Nadinbrzezinski!

Not only is she one of my favorite DUers, but she is as smart as a tree full of owls.

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. You are making me blush

:blush:

[TahitiNut]

54. I think I've slept under a tree like that.

:dunce:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

34. A 12-year-old girl in Minnesota died of the flu a couple of days ago

She went from mildly sick to dead in just a couple of hours. I can't find the newspaper article now, but it said that a surprising number of children die from the flu each year, especially if they have some underlying condition. (This girl had asthma.)

[mzmolly]

36. I guess she developed a staph infection and was asthmatic?

Here is the KARE11 story: http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=500605

Tragic.

[mzmolly]

37. Horrible. I'm so very sorry.

The flu is said to take 36,000 lives in the US annually, this due to secondary infections.

I'll be thinking of you, your family and this poor child.

[FloridaJudy]

38. Oh dear.

Shands is very close to my apartment. Is there anything I can do for her? Does she need toys, books, etc, when she's on the mend? PM me if you can think of anyway for me to help. She's probably in one of the best places in the world for pediatric intensive care - I used to work there in another department, and I've seen some real miracles.

Meantime, I'll keep your family in my thoughts and prayers. Flu can be very nasty indeed, and the flu shots this year were not as effective as expected.

:hug:

[casus belli]

39. I'm sorry to hear that.

There have been some really nasty bugs this Flu season. My family had a respiratory illness that was viral in nature (not Flu according to doctors), that came with a high fever for 3-4 days followed by WEEKS of lingering respiratory illness. They said they were seeing a one to two week interval between exposure and the first sign of physical symptoms - so you can imagine this moved from one to the other in my family over about a month and a half. My wife just had a baby 3 weeks ago so we have been absolutely paranoid with this cold and flu season being what it is.

I hope your family recovers. Best wishes to you. :hug:

[RL3AO]

41. Influenza will be the next global pandemic.

We can try to stay on it, but soon or later there will be a strain that goes uncontrolled.

[RaleighNCDUer]

43. After all the scare stories about Avian Flu people are dismissive

about it, but the focus should not be on the Avian, but on the Flu - That is what tells us how virulent and dangerous it might become.

[AngryAmish]

56. Influenza is already a global pandemic

I guess you mean a big killed like HIV or 1918 flu, and you are right. But the flu kills millions in a normal year.

[Xithras]

60. It was also the last one.

Flu has been a major killer of man just about as long as we've been around. Just about everyone in the west is familiar with the Black Death and the damage it did, but the reality is that history is full of stories where more minor epidemics swept through towns and villages doing a massive amount of damage. Many of these are today attributed to severe flu outbreaks. Hell, Hippocrates described it happening over 2,400 years ago. There's one estimate out there supposing that the FLU may be responsible for more human death throughout our history than every other virus combined. The 20th century following the 1919 Spanish Flu outbreak (which killed 50 million people) was a lull in the normal cycle of this virus.

[Hardrada]

42. The flu shot helps in some cases. I had this horrible flu

mid-February with 103 F temperature for two days and my lungs sounded for a week like crumpling wrapping paper each time I breathed. But my wife had had the flu shot and never got this strain which was good since she nursed me back to health whenever she had some spare time in her schedule! (Mostly I just lay inert on a couch).

[taught_me_patience]

44. shows the importance of getting a flu shot

especially for the very young or very old.

[mac2]

47. It didn't work.

[w8liftinglady]

45. one Christmas,about 10 years ago,I lost 5 women to the flu

=well,4 to the flu,and one to Chicken pox.I respect people who choose not to vaccinate,but I have been religious about making my kids(and me) get ours.

[mac2]

49. Good idea is they work.

[mac2]

62. Sorry about my post...I can't type well.

Good idea if they work is what I meant to say.

[Echo In Light]

52. Had an unprecedented two bouts just several weeks apart. Horrible

Thankfully our daughter didn't get nearly as sick with it ... but I was laid up for quite a bit. It's easy to see how flu used to kill so many.

[mzmolly]

59. We've had a horrible virus and are coming into our fourth week

with it. I can't help but wonder if it's a strain of flu? The ped ruled out flu because we had runny noses, but I've read that can happen in some cases?

Whatever we have, it's nassssty.

[halobeam]

91. We are in our seventh week of passing a virus of sorts back and forth

Our little guy (12yrs.) got it three times, back to back with going into secondary sinus infections twice (3 rounds of anti biotics to rid the infections.) I've had it twice, hubs once and our oldest(17) just started yesterday (he fought it off the longest). Hubs and I both started with sore throat again two days ago.. that is how all of us started each time.

All negative for flu (3 strains they test for, anyway).

Very bad year. Now that flu is widespread here, we have no immunities, it's scary. Both kids asthmatic. We are avoiding public places that are closed up, but if it hits the schools we may be in a bit of trouble.

It could be a strain of flu they aren't testing for, I've thought of that too.. I think they test for the flu that they "think" is going to be most prominent, as they do for the shot, and we all know how that went.

Get better soon, and your family too! Good luck.

[mzmolly]

92. Wow, I'm so sorry. Isn't this stuff strange?

I too have wondered if we have a strain of flu that they haven't tested for? We too are avoiding public places given our situation. YUK!

[halobeam]

94. It is rough... my sore throat turned to fever within the past two or so hours.

Here we go again!

Thanks for caring... get well over there too!:pals:

[mzmolly]

95. Thanks HB. Remember gargle with warm salt water and get plenty o fluids.

:hi: I think we're on our way out of this mess. OY!

[mac2]

63. I've heard that happens.

You can have re-occurring Flu. I'm debating going back to my swim classes until the Flu is less around the country. Can't afford to be sick like my first bout again.

It started with a sore throat and then it went into my sinus...from there to my bronchial. My nose was mostly clear after a few days. I ended up with Bronchial Pneumonia. My doctor (when I got his office a few days later on the phone) prescribed Azithromycin. I had problems getting to the drug store because of a bad storm. So I was very sick with a fever, blockage, and hacking. I think over three days the "macrolide antibiotic" drug did start to help. I'm still congested a bit after a month. I have a bad case of "cabin fever".

A young Asian girl at the Y coughed it out all over the woman's locker room. I couldn't figure out why she was there at all. A week later I got the same thing. Why don't they just stay home when sick.

[mzmolly]

97. "Why don't they just stay home when sick."

Good question! I often wonder the same thing.

[robcon]

53. There are 36,000 deaths per year from the flu.

Deaths are usually concentrated in the over-65 and under-5 year old groups though. Ten-year olds usually have strong enough immune systems to fight off the flu.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/07/health/main535605.shtml

edit:link

[JCMach1]

57. Great hospital- I wish her the best...

[mzmolly]

58. DemoTex,

Please keep us posted if you can. I've been sending thoughts/prayers to you and yours and will continue.

[BlackVelvet04]

64. My mom and I both got hit with the flu

last Wednesday while we were out of town. It hit fast and furious and I was really concerned about her. We're both still weak from it.

[mac2]

66. Sorry. I'd send you some hot chicken soup if you were my

neighbor. Both sick? Can you send someone to the store for you? Don't let it go too far without calling your doctor.

[BlackVelvet04]

67. Thanks.....

I was able to drive home yesterday....I don't know how I made it for the 6 hour trip but I did. We are each in our respective homes with our husbands taking care of us.

It sucks to be sick but it REALLY sucks to be sick when you are in someone else's home. It's really embarrassing throwing up in someone else's floor. I was so embarrassed. This is the second flu I've had in 4 weeks. I was just getting over a respiratory flu when this flu hit.

I wish you lived close...I would LOVE some chicken soup. I haven't eaten a meal since Wednesday morning.

[mac2]

70. Drink a lot of water and some Ginger Ale

It re-hydrates you and the sugar in the Ginger Ale gives you some carbs. There is ginger in the pop which helps to settle you stomach. Ginger tea also.

You can let the Ginger Ale warm and the bubbles gone if it bothers you.

A supermarket chicken soup can help too. It's light and full of salt. Things you got rid of on that floor.

We got sick in a DC hotel one time like that...away from home. Thank god there was a pop machine with Ginger Ale down the hall. For three days we were very sick. Later the hotel sent us sandwiches.

[BlackVelvet04]

72. For some reason ginger Ale makes me

nauseous so I drink coke instead. I've had some saltine crackers and yesterday I had a scrambled egg but it made me feel sick again. I've stuck with sweet tea and toast today.

Oh, man, getting sick in a hotel would really suck.

[mac2]

75. I found this link on teas to help cold and Flu

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/conditions/cold-flu/flu/alternative-therapies/medicinal-teas

If vaccines and antibiotics fail these may be all we have.

Eat a little at a time...over the day til your stomach adjusts again.

[BlackVelvet04]

77. thanks for the link.....

I'll check it out.

[BlackVelvet04]

68. I hope your cousin's daughter gets well quickly...

this flu is an ass kicker.

When will you get an update? Please let us know how she is doing.

[Rex]

69. Got the flu a few weeks ago, first time since I was in high school

It knocked me off my feet. I was delirious for days, I finally checked my temperature (I'm used to allergies making me feel bad/airheaded) and it was 103! I had a high fever for about 6 days. Horrible stuff. Never had anything like it.

[renate]

71. best wishes to your cousin's daughter

:hug:

And how sad about the little three-year-old girl. That's so heartbreaking. :cry:

[martymar64]

73. I hope she gets well soon

I've been lucky so far while everyone at work has been hit hard. I came home early today with a headache and an earache but hopefully it's nothing.

[callous taoboy]

74. I have been bad sick with respiratory infection

for the past week. Really bad bronchitis, fever, no energy. I almost never get sick
and I'm around 9 year olds all day.

Hope your cousin's daughter gets well soon.

[mac2]

76. See post #63.

I had it too. My doctor gave me something that brought down my fever.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

80. Quite Disturbing Trends

This year we have had at least 5 deaths from Influenza or Influenza related Pneumonia in patients between the ages of 18 to 30 all with healthy immune systems prior to contracting the flu. Also it seems that the virus is mutating faster and reinfecting patients. In patients who are sick longer than one week it seems that the virus is mutating and reinfecting the patient with the mutated strain. At least one patient who was sick for a month was found to have 3 strains that had mutated from the initial strain and reinfected the patient. The patient had no known immune compromise prior to the initial infection. The pandemic is predicted to come next year. Please get a flu shot next year. I know they screwed it up this year, at least they think they did, they had no idea it was mutating this fast. If you have elderly parents or small children please get them the flu vaccine next fall. A lot of people are going to die when this hits; and I didn't mean to say IF. It's coming and it's going to change the world as we know it now. I'm not trying to be a fearmonger but, I haven't had a flu shot in 18 years and I'm getting one as soon as it comes out next year.

Dave

[mac2]

87. Let's hope they have the funds to make a new vaccine for the

mutated Flu.

[Dr. Death]

81. Great, you guys have all just made me really scared

My 18-month old son came down with the flu today. I had to go and pick him up at daycare; he was running a temp of 101.8 F. Took him to the doctor, and they gave him Tamiflu. I just put him to bed half an hour ago, and he is now asleep. Mom is out of the country for 2 weeks on business, so it's just me.

No sleep for me tonight.

[mac2]

89. Tamiflu didn't work in many cases.

If he doesn't do well ask for another similar type antibiotic.

Give him lots of fluids and C fruits.

[mzmolly]

96. Poor Dad and little one.

Please keep us posted. I'll add you all to my thoughts and prayers.

Give him lots of fluids, Ms Grass soup is good as well. Easy on the tummy and helps retain fluids. My daughter has a list when she's ill > Gatorade, Ms. Grass Soup, and soda crackers. That's about all she'll take in for a time.

Best wishes on a swift recovery for your wee one.

[mac2]

99. Thanks for the food list.

[lightningandsnow]

82. OK - I am annoyed with my parents now.

My mom never lets me get a flu shot - she thinks it's an unnecessary vaccine, and therefore dangerous.

And I'm asthmatic.

I hope your cousin's daughter gets well soon, by the way.

[mac2]

88. I doesn't matter and isn't worth being angry at your family.

The Flu shots didn't work. Let's hope they have a new one next year which will.

[KitchenWitch]

84. I hope she recovers very soon.

:hug:

[lonestarnot]

85. I hope she's going to be ok and is in good hands.

[tammywammy]

86. My boyfriend got the flu and strep throat

He's just now starting to feel better and it knocked him out for over 2 weeks. He had to do two rounds of antibiotics, the 2nd one being Cipro.

He said he's never been that sick before in his life.

[NC_Nurse]

90. I've got it at the moment, and I was vaccinated. It's a BAD one this year.

I hope she recovers fully and quickly.

[aroach]

93. Sick for three weeks now

I've been sick for three weeks. So have both my kids and my husband. It was a good two weeks before I quit running a fever and I don't think this cough will ever stop.

My grandfather is in the hospital now with this flu.

[mac2]

98. It was a month before I stopped having that.

[lovuian]

100. this flu is especially hard on children

their airways are extremely small

Its been a scary year