The news media has had a field day with H1N1, otherwise known as swine flu. It’s been nearly impossible to escape the daily reports of outbreaks, constant warnings and even conflicting reports. According to a recent article from U.S. News and Yahoo!, concerns are growing that patients will have difficulty separating typical flu symptoms from those of H1N1. Even doctors and health professionals have misgivings. The similarity in symptoms could result in an increase of potentially unnecessary doctor and ER visits this flu season.
“That’s a great question,” says Richard Wenzel, a swine flu expert and former president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. “You really have no way of knowing if it’s the flu or just a cold.”
To help combat the confusion, nurses and medical professionals need to keep themselves educated on the symptoms specific to H1N1. Symptoms might include:
- Fever above 100.4 °F
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Chills
- Muscle aches
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
When should nurses and parents alike be seriously concerned? To name a few – Fast breathing, difficulty breathing, blue or gray skin, persistent vomiting and even typical flu-like symptoms that cease, but return again with fever and a worse cough.
The CDC says warning signs in children that warrant immediate medical attention include fast breathing or trouble breathing; bluish or gray skin color; not drinking enough fluids; severe or persistent vomiting; not waking up or interacting; a child so irritable that he does not want to be held; and flulike symptoms that improve but then return with fever and a worse cough.
What’s on the horizon for H1N1? First up is the H1N1 vaccine should be ready in early October – with kids being among the first to get the vaccine. The CDC has said that parents can choose to pass up the immunization for their children if they’ve recently had a potential swine flu respiratory infection. But due to the wide spread confusion, many of these children be given the vaccine regardless. Additionally, the CDC recommends that children over 6 months old and pregnant women should get the vaccine.
Yes, the CDC will still stick with its recommendation to get any children over the age of 6 months vaccinated–and pregnant women too–unless a previous infection was confirmed via a lab test.
And it should go without saying, but all nurses, doctors and health professionals need to remember basic prevention tactics. Wash your hands. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Be responsible and remind patients to do the same. With flu season just around the corner, and the threat of a heavier than normal influx of patients, it’s more important than ever to remain safe.
Photo courtesy of Froge at Flickr.
