<p>At D’s school, all sick students are supposed to stay in self-confinement in their dorm rooms (the ones who live not too far are encouraged to go home by a private vehicle driven by a relative or friend). “Quarantined” students get food deliveries to their room and are not allowed to wander around except for a few trips to the bathroom. D’s roommate moved out for a couple of days while D was in “quarantine”.</p>
<p>This summer, at several area sleep away camps, H1N1 was rampant and parents were called to get their kids. Among 5 of my friends who went to get their kids not one of them got sick even though the drive was at least two hours. Additionally, I have several friends who have had young children get it in the last few weeks, and even though they were providing care for them, the mothers didn’t get sick. For the most part, and of course there are exceptions, this is a young person’s disease.</p>
<p>One of the first reported outbreaks was at the first week of Boy Scout Camp. Even though the one of the local scoutmaster’s brought a handful of boys home to his house (so as not to expose their families) he never got sick.</p>
<p>Not saying that you won’t get sick, just saying that for whatever reason, the over 40 crowd seems to have some built in resistance.</p>
<p>It’s interesting to me to hear the mixed bag of reactions on the part of various schools…250 reported cases at Clemson–wow! Sounds like some schools are leaving the kids to fend for themselves. Call food services for a take-out flu kit meal and assume you have a brave friend who will play courier. Meanwhile some schools are accepting responsibility to deliver meals to isolated patients in separate dorm facilities and/or sending them home when feasible. </p>
<p>Can anyone confirm the reliability of various diagnostic tools used by school health services? Guess some are doing blood work, others are doing ten minute cultures, others are saying “Just stay home if you’re sick as you probably have the flu” Is there any merit in having an absolute diagnosis?.</p>
<p>BTW my friend’s kid stayed at school to recover, at student’s request. Guess he’s getting fairly good care…</p>
<p>Not to alarm but be aware - must read:</p>
<p>[Swine</a> flu deaths show this flu is different: experts - Swine flu- msnbc.com](<a href=“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32863511/ns/health-swine_flu/]Swine”>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32863511/ns/health-swine_flu/)</p>
<p>They are requiring sick students within a 100 mile radius to go home. They are sequestering students from farther away in special dorms etc. if they are sick.</p>
<p>Most cases of swine flu are fairly mild in comparison to the hype about it. HOWEVER, every case is different and should be taken very seriously. The majority of deaths are occuring because pneumonia develops in the lungs and gets out of control before they can treat it sufficiently. Its vital to monitor your fever, keep fluids in you (for the diarrhea and vomiting problem so you don’t dehydrate). If you worsen, seek medical attention immediately and DEMAND they send you to the hospital, or go to the emergency room if necessary. </p>
<p>Most grown adults over age 35 or so are not in immediate danger because of built up immunities. (cf. asthmatics and diabetics or other autoimmune diseases). The higher risks are with young adults, oddly enough, kids aged 16-25. </p>
<p>Excessive alcohol consumption also lowers your immune system’s ability to fight off disease. (no, the booze does not “kill the germs.” It kills YOU.) Get lots of rest, eat properly, reduce stress (planning really helps with that), stay away from large gatherings like sports functions IF PEOPLE ARE SICK IN YOUR COLLEGE. Get your food in the cafeteria and eat outside or in your dorm room, if you can. DONT SHARE UTENSILS OR DISHES. DONT SHARE DRINKING CUPS OR MUGS for any beverages. Get a NEW toothbrush frequently. Wash your hands with soap and water frequently during the day. Change the sheets in your dorm room often. Let in fresh air, or if you cant open the windows use disinfectant spray. Avoid handrails and doorknobs if you can do so safely. If not, IMMEDIATELY wash your hands. </p>
<p>common sense stuff.</p>
<p>the SF is going to be different for everyone, but like others have been saying, for me it was a short (missed 2 days of classes) but very intense flu. It took so much effort to get out of bed to go get something to eat. I never took my temperature but I wouldn’t be surprised at mid/high 100’s.</p>
<p>UT Austin is doing business as usual. I know people who have gotten the swine flu, but it only lasts a couple of days and then they were all fine. I heard one entire sorority got it, but most people are healthy, including myself. All of the campus eateries have hand sanitizer, btw. I guess it helps, because the spread seems to be pretty limited.</p>
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<p>This was my D’s experience as well. She was “quarantined” on Sunday, fever-free by Tuesday but still exhausted, and plans to return to class tomorrow. There was a fire alarm in her dorm today, which enabled her to go outside for the first time in days!</p>
<p>My son’s roommate has been running a fever since Monday. I just got an email from his mom. I hear that many people (parents, students, alumni, staff) that attended the same event on Saturday/Sunday are ill. I wasn’t there, but my husband and student-son were along with his roommates and their parents. </p>
<p>The guys seem to think they are under control – but there’s a lot of concern on their campus for very good reason. I am stressing to my son that he must take care of himself and his roomies and friends.</p>
<p>Emory puts all the swine flu kids in an isolation dorm, they are quarantined until they are either confirmed for swine flu (they get quarantined voluntarily if they have symptoms), and if they are feeling better and are deemed okay to leave, they leave.</p>
<p>My daughter informed me that her school sent them all a letter telling them if they live within 6 hours of campus they are going to be sent home.
Fortunately she is only two hours away.</p>
<p>“Just spoke to a friend whose DS has recently been diagnosed with swine flu.”</p>
<p>Their Nintendo DS has swine flu?</p>
<p>Post #24: “Can anyone confirm the reliability of various diagnostic tools used by school health services? Guess some are doing blood work, others are doing ten minute cultures, others are saying “Just stay home if you’re sick as you probably have the flu” Is there any merit in having an absolute diagnosis?”</p>
<p>Believe the ten minute nasal culture would confirm flu and blood work must be done to confirm H1N1.</p>
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<p>I’ve been wondering about this. I don’t think there’s any merit in terms of management of the illness, but what happens a couple of months from now when the vaccine becomes available. Is it contraindicated for those who have had the disease? If so, then an absolute diagnosis would have merit because it would enable people to make the correct decisions about vaccination.</p>
<p>I know several kids who have or have swine flu. Confirmed by nasal swab (not blood work). Nasal swab takes 10 minutes. So far, the illness that I am aware of have been fairly mild. Fever (under 103*), mild cough, some nasal stuff. Not a big deal. Of course, I know kids vary widely. My experience thus far has shown me that H1N1 is far less disruptive than regular flu or God forbid, mono.</p>
<p>I would tell each student to get to a local drug store and pick up a digital thermometer…since many schools health centers do not stay open on evenings & weekends. If symptoms present themselves after health centers close they will at least be able to track the severity of any fever. Also speak to your pediatrician (if you are far away from your child) and see if he/she can’t give you a prescription for Tamiflu for your child to have on hand IF flu symptoms (not cold symptoms!) start. Tamiflu is very effective if taken within 48 hours of symptoms showing. Any parents who haven’t already set their kids up with hand sanitizer whoucl encourage your students to pick some up and use it regularly (all those door knobs and stair railings! Eww!). It is my understanding that docs will still give H1N1 vaccines to people even if they’ve had swine flu. And don’t forget to encourage your student to get a regular flu shot in October for best results.</p>
<p>D’s school posted the updated guidelines (60+ unlucky ones, including my D, had reported being ill so far):</p>
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<p>Anyone who has a fever and ANY other flu like symptoms at Emory is told its best if they were quarentined in a seperate residence hall.</p>
<p>Its not a forced quarentine, but they are told its best if they get away from the general student body.</p>
<p>Following is an excerpt of a letter that Harvard sent to student and parents regarding H1N1. It appears that Harvard is asking students who live close to Cambridge to go home while they are ill; for those who do not live close by, they are going to house them in the infirmary and/or in isolated rooms:</p>
<p>I wanted to bring you up to date on H1N1 flu activity at the College.</p>
<p>As you know, we have been working for months to prepare for the return of this novel Influenza A to campus, coordinating our efforts with departments across the Harvard campus, from Dining Services to the University Health Services.</p>
<p>I’m pleased to report that, while UHS has reported seeing a number of students and staff with flu-like symptoms, those cases are not significantly high in number. More importantly, all of these patients have exhibited mild to moderate symptoms and they have been returning to their normal activities quickly.</p>
<p>It is probably worth noting that none of these cases are confirmed H1N1. Since treatment for H1N1 flu is the same as it would be for normal seasonal flu, UHS, following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control, is not testing for confirmation.</p>
<p>The height of the flu season is still ahead of us and if there is a sudden influx of cases we will be prepared to care for ailing students until they are well enough to return to class. Students who live within a couple of hours of campus will be encouraged to call for a ride home if they become ill. For others, UHS has beds available in its infirmary, and resident deans have identified more than three-dozen single rooms throughout the House system where students who are sick can recover before returning to rooms that they share with a roommate. Dining Services will deliver food to these students so that they do not have to visit a dining hall at mealtime. To date, we have not had to make use of any of these spare single rooms.</p>
<p>In the meantime, the best way to combat the spread of flu is to practice good hygiene. Our advice is: wash your hands often with soap and water, and cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Avoid close contact with people you know are sick. Symptoms of H1N1 influenza include body aches, fever, malaise, chills, and, in some cases nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you feel ill, please avoid crowds and make an appointment to see your clinician. It will be important for you to communicate with UHS so that we can keep track of the number of cases occurring on campus.</p>
<p>Look, SkepSkap, if you got a bad case of diarrhea and are saving a sample of your stool to take it to the doctor’s office to be tested for C. difficile, I’ve got some bad news for you: by the time the test results come in, you will be dead if you do have C. difficile. The good news, of course, is that you don’t really have diarrhea. You are just a bored to the bones kid ■■■■■■■■ the parents’ forum. So… go wash your hands, brush your teeth, and let your mama tuck you in.</p>
<p>Back to our regular programming… H1N1 and collges’ response. Moderators, please feel free to remove SS’s post and my reply as well.</p>