<p>I have been sick for about eight days with this thing, sore throat, body aches, severe headache, dry cough, fever etc. I finally went to the doctor two days ago and was basically told to rest and come back if my breathing worsened. No Tamiflu, because I am not in a high risk group and no testing to confirm that I have H1N1. I suggested to my daughter I picked this up while at her school for parent’s weekend, but she thought that was just crazy talk.</p>
<p>emdee - I hope you are feeling better soon!</p>
<p>Thanks-Today I am feeling much better.</p>
<p>""No Tamiflu, because I am not in a high risk group and no testing to confirm that I have H1N1. “”</p>
<p>Tamilflu is effective at the very onset of the Flu. After the six days you waited to approach a doctor, the virus has had its way with your system and it is too late for Tamiflu to do anything.
You don’t need to be tested for H1N1 to receive Tamiflu. It has been prescribed for all flus for years.
The flu strains that develop a Tamiflu resistance can be traced back to Asia and their over users of Tamiflu on their livestock (pigs, chickens, ducks) . That is where Tamiflu resistant strains come from, not from humans in the USA.
There should be no refusals from a doctor for a prescription of Tamiflu from a patient at the early onset of flu symptoms. It could save your life.</p>
<p>^^Our personal physicians do not routinely prescribe Tamiflu for influenza. Of course, we have never been to the doctor for the flu, and if we called, even now, they wouldn’t encourage us to come in, particularly not for an early onset.</p>
<p>Likewise here. We have been told that unless you are in a high risk group you will not be receiving Tamiflu. We have had outbreaks here but only 3 deaths since September.</p>
<p>H1N1 is pretty rampant right now in my part of Southern New England- 20% absent in the local public schools this week. I know that it has spread through most of the New England boarding schools as well, including yours, Keylyme. The symptom that most of the kids seems to be having are a the usual flu symptoms with emphasis on the body aches and a pretty high fever for about 3 days. Pediatricians don’t even want to see you unless you are in respiratory distress, and then they tell you to go to the ER. They are not describing Tamiflu unless there is an underlying condition. The kids are left with a dry cough for about a week, and then they are done.</p>
<p>Just looked at our daily email update on the flu at goaliegirl’s school. The percentage of community memebers with flu-like symptoms has risen to almost 10%. Headmaster cancelled supervised study hall for tonight and sent everyone to their dorms for some cleanup and rest (no mandatory study time). Tomorrow’s classes are cancelled, with a Sunday meal service (brunch instead of breakfast and lunch). No sports practices or EC meetings, although school facilities are available for boarding students. No day students are to come to campus. Regular study hours will be in effect tomorrow night.</p>
<p>Basically, they are trying to slow down the transmission of the virus, as it has been quickly spreading since students have returned from fall break. By minimizing the number of healthy students an infected (but not yet showing symptoms) student comes in contact with, they are hoping to slow the rate of spread.</p>
<p>I’m not sure how successful they will be with this strategy, but it is better than doing nothing. I think you need about 72 hours (or the maximum length of incubation) of total isolation to identify who is truly uninfected before you can know that you’ve effectively quarantined all of the infected people.</p>
<p>This is where a distance learning would be nice. Let em take classes from their dorm rooms. Cabin fever sure beats the flu.</p>
<p>Your doc’s refusal to give you Tamiflu for early any flu symptoms could be legally dangerous for him/her. I would change docs. There is no “official” restrictions on its usage for only swine flu at this time. It will shorten the duration of most flu by several days.</p>
<p>Prior to Jan 06, there was some shortages of the drug and restrictions were placed by some governments. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>In fact, one could appropriately argue that kids should be Rx’ed the prophylactic dosage of the drug at some of these schools.</p>
<p>^^We really like our peds and, as a nurse, I can totally relate to the fact that you can’t have patients coming in en masse every time they have a sniffle. I personally would not even want to take Tamiflu. Of course the pharmaceutical companies want everyone to get it!</p>
<p>Doesn’t overexposure to meds lead to more restistance in the virus and/or bacteria?</p>
<p>Taking an antibiotic or antiviral when not needed leads to resistance; taking it when needed does not.
You need to decide if your child (or you with work) missing 5 - 7 days of school vs 2 -3 is important. For example, emdee has been sick for over 8 days and out. Had emdee been Rxed Tamaflu in first 24 hours, probably 3 days.</p>
<p>As to the prophylactic usage (one a day for as long as needed); many infectious disease docs are recommending and doing so themselves. Again, closing study halls and sending kids home from school does not seem a very efficient usage of their time (nor money for school).</p>
<p>
you don’t take if for a sniffle. There are definite symptoms of the flu which can be diagnosed over the phone - of course the docs want everyone to come in for charging.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for the concern over my treatment, or lack thereof. I didn’t ask for Tamiflu and didn’t really want it. My doc just said that Tamilflu was not necessary for me, since I am generally healthy and had been sick already for a few days. I only went to the doctor after four days of illness because of my severe sore throat and ear ache. I was starting to think I had strep, which I did not. I can remember having the flu once before, but I don’t remember being as sick as I have been for this length of time. I am definitely feeling better, my appetite for food and cc is back. :)</p>
<p>emdee,
Was using you for example of why if taken within 24 hours (would not have worked for you after 4 days), one can lessen the time one is sick and out of work or school and avoided the 8+ days of illness.</p>
<p>[CORRECTED</a> - H1N1 to cause more deaths in northern winter - WHO | Markets | Europe | Reuters](<a href=“http://www.reuters.com/article/swissMktRpt/idUSL547831320091105?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=11604]CORRECTED”>http://www.reuters.com/article/swissMktRpt/idUSL547831320091105?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=11604)</p>
<p>H1N1 to cause more deaths in northern winter - WHO</p>
<ul>
<li><p>No evidence of virus mutation, antivirals still effective</p></li>
<li><p>Pandemic vaccine seen as “very safe” after millions get it</p></li>
<li><p>WHO has yet to receive 200 mln vaccine doses for poorest</p></li>
</ul>
<p>GENEVA, Nov 5 (Reuters) - The H1N1 swine flu virus has picked up steam in the northern hemisphere and is expected to cause more serious infections and deaths as cold weather sets in, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday.</p>
<p>But the virus is not known to have mutated, including in people infected in a large outbreak in Ukraine, meaning that antivirals continue to provide effective treatment, it said.</p>
<p>Mexico is reporting more H1N1 cases than early in the pandemic, which began in April, and the United States shows higher levels of flu-like illness than in past years, top WHO flu expert Keiji ***uda said. Swine flu is also on the rise in Europe and Central Asia.</p>
<p>“We anticipate seeing continued or increased activity during the winter period in the northern hemisphere. This also means that we expect to see continued reports of serious cases and deaths,” ***uda told a news conference. “At WHO we remain quite concerned about the pattern that we are seeing.”</p>
<p>Most people recover without specialized medical care for symptoms such as fever, cough and sore throat, but pregnant women and people with underlying chronic conditions like asthma are at higher risk of potentially fatal complications, he said.</p>
<p>At least 5,712 people worldwide have died from swine flu, which is now present in virtually every country, according to the United Nations agency. Most serious illness and fatalities occur in patients younger than 65, a different pattern to seasonal influenza, which traditionally strikes the elderly.</p>
<p>The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said that as of Wednesday, some 500,000 cases of acute respiratory illness and 86 related deaths had been reported in Ukraine.</p>
<p>VACCINES SAFE</p>
<p>Pandemic vaccines given to millions of people in some 20 countries in recent weeks have shown them to be “very safe”, providing protection with no unusual side effects, ***uda said.</p>
<p>However, the WHO has yet to receive some 200 million vaccine doses donated by 11 countries, which are intended for distribution in 95 poor countries lacking supplies, he said.</p>
<p>“Vaccine companies out there are producing as much vaccine as quickly as possible. Much of the vaccine has been allocated to different countries on the basis of contracts,” he added, referring to deals between drugmakers and governments.</p>
<p>GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) are among some 25 companies producing pandemic vaccine.</p>
<p>The known cases of resistance to antiviral drugs have been “isolated and infrequent”, according to ***uda. [ID:nNWLA7419]</p>
<p>“We see no evidence at all that there is widespread occurrence of antiviral resistance,” he said.</p>
<p>Antiviral drugs such as Oseltamivir, marketed by Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding (ROG.VX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) as Tamiflu, are considered the front line drug against the H1N1 virus.</p>
<p>Norway’s decision to allow over-the-counter sales of the drug so as to relieve stress on primary health-care systems appears to be “innovative and prudent”, ***uda said. (Additional reporting by Jonathan Lynn in Geneva and Kate Kelland in London)</p>
<p>So, does WHO really think the US should give our allotted H1N1 vaccines to other poorer nations before every American citizen that wants one gets one?</p>
<p>[Recombinomics</a> | Elegant Evolution](<a href=“http://www.recombinomics.com/intervention_monitoring.html]Recombinomics”>http://www.recombinomics.com/intervention_monitoring.html)
The interesting thing is, we pledged these vaccines to these poorer Asian and African countries months ago in exchange for these under developed nations to give to WHO the genetic information of their Flu Viruses, which hit them during our summers ( usually the virus originates in their countries due to their pig, duck, geese, chicken farming habits) . WHO sell the genetic information to the Vaccine companies, and makes a ton of $$.</p>
<p>[Recombinomics</a> | Elegant Evolution](<a href=“http://www.recombinomics.com/expression_profiling.html]Recombinomics”>http://www.recombinomics.com/expression_profiling.html)</p>
<p>It is interesting that it appears the majority of public schools are vaccinating the kids for swine flu under the local health dept. At many, they are giving Tamiflu once daily to those who cannot take the shot.</p>
<p>I have not heard of any private schools who are mandating treatment. Perhaps because public schools/county officials cannot be sued?</p>
<p>Our local schools are not mandating the vaccine, nor is our local hospital or the specialty hospital I am employed at.</p>
<p>DW just came down with the flu last night. Got her to primary care this morning and started her on tamiflu. I am taking it as well to prevent the spread while I care for her. Hopefully we will be through with it before Thanksgiving break, so we don’t send it back to school with goaliegirl.</p>
<p>^^ Best wishes for a speedy recovery. We (the general poplulation) cannot get Tamiflu here unless there are special circumstances (which I understand from a previous post does apply to your wife). I work at a children’s specialty hospital and we are just starting to see cases pop up this week. Expect to see quite a few as a high percentage of the parents have refused the vaccine. All who are ill here will get Tamiflu, though, as they are a fragile population.</p>