| wellbody Blue Valley Pediatrics FLU ALERT |
| Treatment includes: Good hydration- Gatorade, water, non-caffeinated drinks Anti-pyretics- Tylenol or ibuprofen for fever (not aspirin) Tamiflu- This medication is only helpful within the first 24-48 hours of illness and can be used for the treatment and even prevention of the disease. Some doctors require a test to "prove" influenza is effecting a family before using the medication. While not eliminating the symptoms, it can reduce the days of illness and the chance for spreading the disease to others. It is FDA approved for people over one year of age and there are suggested non-FDA doses for those under one year old. There are suggestions from the CDC on when health care providers should and should not think of prescribing the medication. There are now strains of the flu where Tamiflu will not help (resistant flu). Other medications must be considered depending on each case. Tamiflu has warnings from the CDC and FDA- Click here: 2008 UPDATE |
| The symptoms of "flu" (Influenza A and B) and H1N1(swine flu) include: Fever- usually above 101 and commonly with a headache Cough- and other respiratory symptoms such as runny nose Abdominal pain- and sometimes nausea and vomiting Fatigue- and other signs of viral illness such as decrease in appetite and muscle aches The "Clue" is there are multiple symptoms from multiple places in the body! Like any virus, most people get over the flu in 2-4 days without serious problem. Some people are at "high risk" though for hospitalization and serious illness. These people include children under 5, adults over 65, and those with chronic illness such as asthma, heart problems, and poor immune system function. The H1N1 virus appears to affect children more than the typical influenza A or B. |
| The best prevention is good hand washing, limiting exposure from ill contacts, and getting the influenza vaccine. Dr. Goldstein recommends the injection vaccine for
You should not get the vaccine if you are allergic to eggs! Flu Mist and Nasal Spray for H1N1 for 2 years to 49 years old: is an alternative to the injection and can be used in patients 2-49 years old that DO NOT have asthma, lung disease, or immune system disease (such as AIDS, cancer, patients on chemotherapy or steroids). Flu Mist and nasal H1N1 vaccine are live attenuated vaccines and can not be used in patients living around someone else with an altered immune system- such as AIDS or patients on chemotherapy. Patients under 2 years old, over 49 years old, those allergic to eggs or the flu shot, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have asthma or a weakened immune system, or have had another live vaccine within the last 30 days should talk to a health care provider about the nasal spray before administration. Some patients will need two immunizations (nasal or injection) All children 6 months to 9 years old receiving their first flu vaccine (the injection or nasal spray require a second vaccine 30 days after the first. Those under 10 years old receiving only one vaccine last year also require two vaccines this year as well. All children above 9 years old require only one vaccine. |
| Does the flu shot make you ill? NO, the flu immunization is the inactivated (dead) virus "teaching" your body what the flu looks like so when the live virus attempts to make you ill- your immune system can recognize it and fight it. It is always possible to get a different virus at relatively the same time you receive the vaccine and you could mistake the timing of the shot causing you to become ill- even though it had nothing to do with the different illness you would have gotten anyway! The flu shot only protects you against Influenza- not the common "stomach flu" or H1N1. The H1N1 vaccine is a separate vaccine. Does the nasal spray make you ill? The nasal spray is weakened influenza (and partially alive). It has precautions to those under 2 years old, over 49 years old, pregnant women, people with immune system weakness, asthma, and those receiving other live immunizations within the last 30 days such as MMR, Varicella, and influenza vaccines, or an allergy to eggs or the seasonal flu vaccine. While some people complain of muscle aches and headache after administration- the nasal spray should not make you ill. (Dr. Goldstein got the H1N1 nasal mist and the seasonal flu shot) |
| NEWS: October 31, 2009 wellbody is recommending Seasonal Flu AND H1N1 immunizations for 6 months-19 years even those people that have already been ill this season If your family is able to get the immunizations before wellbody has its supply- we encourage you to do so. Risks and side effects of H1N1 vaccine is similar to that of seasonal flu vaccine and is not expected to cause increased side effects. Children under 10 years of age will need (2) H1N1 vaccines Both the nasal spray and injections are effective- the nasal vaccine does have slightly more "rules and precautions" ---------------------------------------- While fever is present in most cases of H1N1- some younger children have had no fever with H1N1 |
| wellbody is currently giving SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINE to patients 6 months old and up Nasal Mist H1N1 is IN STOCK NOW for 2 years to 49 years old |