Comments on: waiting. coughing. sneezing. http://findingatman.com/2009/10/13/waiting-coughing-sneezing/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:33:13 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: rimarama http://findingatman.com/2009/10/13/waiting-coughing-sneezing/comment-page-1/#comment-1173 rimarama Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:28:55 +0000 http://findingatman.com/?p=602#comment-1173 Oh, no!!! I really hope it's just a cold! I've been doing mucho independent internet sw1ne flu research myself, and I have to say that I tend to agree with Cold Spaghetti. Keep your fingers crossed, and I hope everyone is all better in time for all the festivities! <em>rimarama's last blog post..<a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Rimarama/~3/kHDtqTMoI3M/fairytale.html' rel="nofollow">A Fairytale</a></em> Oh, no!!! I really hope it’s just a cold!

I’ve been doing mucho independent internet sw1ne flu research myself, and I have to say that I tend to agree with Cold Spaghetti. Keep your fingers crossed, and I hope everyone is all better in time for all the festivities!

rimarama’s last blog post..A Fairytale

]]> By: Cold Spaghetti http://findingatman.com/2009/10/13/waiting-coughing-sneezing/comment-page-1/#comment-1169 Cold Spaghetti Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:37:16 +0000 http://findingatman.com/?p=602#comment-1169 WARNING: Public Health Geek cannot resist temptation of talking flu!!! Did they actually test Alex? And, if so, I'm assuming they did a rapid test. In general, rapid tests are good for specificity (correctly identifying those who don't have the flu as negative), but NOT very good at sensitivity (correctly identifying those who have the flu as positive). In other words, if the test came back positive, it's likely that it's correct. (If it came back negative and he still had symptoms, then it would be a more suspicious result.) Tamiflu is often prescribed both to "treat" flu and "prevent" it -- BUT, the symptoms of the medicine is WORSE than the actual flu. So much so that the CDC does NOT recommend that doctor's prescribe it. If Alex has a stuffy head and cough, I'd be seriously doubtful of the flu, particularly H1N1. The hallmark of this one is high fever and vomiting. (Just like most flu.) Cough and stuffy sounds like a cold or sinus issue. I think the "official" report is that just about ANY symptom is the flu, which is one of the reasons schools are calling ANY symptom "flu" and sending kids home. There is so much of that going on that it makes the issue look like it's blown out of proportion. The flu IS serious and vaccination is incredibly important. No overstating it. We all have been and will be exposed to it, period. The only real defense we have is vaccination and good hygiene. Once you get it? The best defense is to keep yourself from spreading it. Even if you've had it, still talk to your doc about vaccination. You CAN get it again. We shed flu before we begin having symptoms, which is why kids pick up everything so easily and quickly. Even the most vigilant parents can't keep a kid immune. But I'm with you: why does it always have to happen at the WORST times??? (I'm really relating here, too... we were sick for several months here... it took a long time to kick whatever bug we got back in August. I'm STILL having symptoms.) I hope he feels better soon and no one else succumbs to illness!!! WARNING: Public Health Geek cannot resist temptation of talking flu!!!

Did they actually test Alex? And, if so, I’m assuming they did a rapid test. In general, rapid tests are good for specificity (correctly identifying those who don’t have the flu as negative), but NOT very good at sensitivity (correctly identifying those who have the flu as positive). In other words, if the test came back positive, it’s likely that it’s correct. (If it came back negative and he still had symptoms, then it would be a more suspicious result.)

Tamiflu is often prescribed both to “treat” flu and “prevent” it — BUT, the symptoms of the medicine is WORSE than the actual flu. So much so that the CDC does NOT recommend that doctor’s prescribe it.

If Alex has a stuffy head and cough, I’d be seriously doubtful of the flu, particularly H1N1. The hallmark of this one is high fever and vomiting. (Just like most flu.) Cough and stuffy sounds like a cold or sinus issue. I think the “official” report is that just about ANY symptom is the flu, which is one of the reasons schools are calling ANY symptom “flu” and sending kids home. There is so much of that going on that it makes the issue look like it’s blown out of proportion.

The flu IS serious and vaccination is incredibly important. No overstating it. We all have been and will be exposed to it, period. The only real defense we have is vaccination and good hygiene. Once you get it? The best defense is to keep yourself from spreading it. Even if you’ve had it, still talk to your doc about vaccination. You CAN get it again.

We shed flu before we begin having symptoms, which is why kids pick up everything so easily and quickly. Even the most vigilant parents can’t keep a kid immune.

But I’m with you: why does it always have to happen at the WORST times??? (I’m really relating here, too… we were sick for several months here… it took a long time to kick whatever bug we got back in August. I’m STILL having symptoms.)

I hope he feels better soon and no one else succumbs to illness!!!

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