Influenza - H1N1
Many people are concerned about the novel H1N1 flu virus. CDC has determined that this new H1N1 virus is contagious and is spreading from person-to-person, probably like seasonal flu.
The symptoms of this new H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. A significant number of people also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
Most people who have been sick with this virus in the U.S. have recovered at home without treatment. If your child has flu-like symptoms, please keep him or her at home for seven days or 24 hours after symptoms resolve, unless given other instructions by your pediatrician or their staff or school nurse.
Like seasonal flu, complications can occur with novel H1N1 flu. Seek IMMEIDIATE medical care if your child becomes ill and experiences any of the following warning signs:
Fast breathing
- Trouble breathing
- Bluish or gray skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Not urinating as much as usual
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Not waking up or interacting as usual
- Being so irritable that your child does not even want to be held
- Fever returns after being absent for a day, or a significant change in fever pattern occurs. For example, it was 101 degrees Fahrenheit for several days and now it's 103 degrees.
It's important that your child not be exposed to other children who are sick, and that if your child has a flu-like illness that he or she does not expose other people, in order to keep from spreading illness. If you need to bring you son or daughter to the Pediatrician's office, Pediatrics@Nite or the Emergency Department; please bring only the sick child and one adult. Keep your other children healthy by keeping them home.
There are some things you can do to keep you and your child healthy:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands. Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
- Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
- Avoid close contact with sick people. For example the Emergency Department, Hospital or other crowded places with sick children.
- If you or your child gets sick with a flu-like illness, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
You can decrease the severity and spread of both seasonal flu and Influenza A 2009 H1N1 by immunizing:
- Children 6 month to 21 years of age with seasonal flu vaccine available in your pediatrician's office.
- Flue Mist Information
- Influenza Injection Information
- The 2009 Influenza A H1N1 will be available in October at your pediatrician's office and Pediatrics@nite for high risk groups as follows :
- Pregnant Women
- Caregivers to Infants 6 month or less
- Healthcare workers
- Children 2 years to 24 years
- Other groups at risk
Swine Flu Vaccine
Diagnostic Test:
The Rapid Influenza Test in the Pediatrician's Office, Pediatircs@Nite and Emergency Departments is not able to "rule out" Influenza A 2009 H1N1. Therefore, when negative it should not be used to guide the start of therapy or return to work/school.
- Interim Guidance for the Detection of Novel Influenza A Virus Using Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests
Treatment:
- Treatment with Tamiflu ( Download PDF Tamiflu Brochure) or Relenza ( Download Relenza Brochure) generally is recommended for persons with suspected or confirmed influenza who are at higher risk for complications (children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 years and older, pregnant women, persons with certain chronic medical or immunosuppressive conditions, and persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy.
- Persons who are not at higher risk for complications or do not have severe influenza requiring hospitalization generally do not require antiviral medications for treatment or prophylaxis. However, any suspected influenza patient presenting with warning symptoms (e.g., shortness of breath) or signs (e.g., fast or labored breathing) for lower respiratory tract illness should promptly receive empiric antiviral therapy.
- Clinical judgment is an important factor in antiviral treatment decisions for all patients presenting for medical care who have illnesses consistent with influenza.
- Treatment should be initiated as early as possible because studies show that treatment initiated early (i.e., within 48 hours of illness onset) is more likely to provide benefit.
- Treatment should not wait for laboratory confirmation of influenza because laboratory testing can delay treatment and because a negative rapid test for influenza does not rule out influenza. The sensitivity of rapid tests can range from 10 % to 70%. View information on the use of rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs).
If you'd like more information on novel H1N1 flu, please visit or call:
- Your Pediatricians Office or web site
- The CDC website at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.
- www.pedsatnite.com
- Your Child's School Nurse
- http://h1n1.nejm.org/.
- http://www.vdh.virginia.gov.
- VDH Inquiry Center at 1-877-ASK-VDH3 or PHIC@vdh.virginia.gov.
If you would like to hear a similar message in English or Spanish please visit http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/clinicians/ped_message.htm.
If you would like to hear a video about H1N1 click below.
If you would like to download our patient education tool please click here.
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H1N1 (Swine Flu)
This page was updated by Herbert F Bravo MD, 9/17/2009 and is based the CDC Transcript with information for physicians and patients. Messages for Pediatrician Clinics Caring for Children. It is not intended to replace a complete evaluation by your child's physician. Please consult your child's physician as information is changing day to day.
