H1N1 (Swine) Flu striking healthy, young people October 13, 2009
Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Swine Flu, public health.Tags: antiviral drugs, antivirals, asthma, asthma deaths, CDC, childhood, complications of Swine Flu, disease causation, disease prevention, disease treatment, doctors, early death, flu, flu vaccines, H1N1, H1N1 Flu, health, health news, hospital acquired pneumonia, illness, influenza, news, Novel H1N1 Flu, pandemic, pneumonia, prevention, pulmonary, research, respiratory failure, Swine Flu, Tamiflu, vaccine, vaccines, viral, viral pneumonia, virus, viruses, young adults
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The recent publication of articles in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) reveals a concern that has been with us from the start of the H1N1 (Swine) Flu pandemic – that many healthy young people will become ill, deteriorate and die. This concern seems to be manifesting itself as a reality in the latest data, published in express fashion by JAMA. Once again, the unpredictable nature of the Swine Flu pandemic leads us to rely upon traditional public health measures more and more: hand washing, cover and cough, limiting exposure to crowds, careful isolation of those who become ill to limit spread of the virus. We can only hope that the new vaccines will work and arrive in sufficient quantity in time to make a real difference . . . ben kazie md
H1N1 striking large number of healthy, young people
One of the best aspects of the 2009 novel H1N1 flu virus is that most people infected get nothing worse than the symptoms of a bad cold.
But the worst and most mysterious aspect is that the disease strikes an unusually large number of healthy young people and can be fatal for adolescents and young adults even when they receive intensive care treatment, according to two studies released Monday.
Both showed that the largest numbers of H1N1 deaths occurred in the adults and early middle-age ranges – 21 of 24 deaths in the Mexican study occurred in the 20-to-50 age group, as did 14 of the 29 Canadian deaths. This is not the usual pattern for flu, which hits the youngest and the oldest.
Critical illness due to 2009 influenza A(H1N1) in Canada occurred rapidly after hospital admission, often in young adults, and was associated with severe hypoxemia, multisystem organ failure, a requirement for prolonged mechanical ventilation, and the frequent use of rescue therapies.
Critical illness from 2009 influenza A(H1N1) in Mexico occurred in young individuals, was associated with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and shock, and had a high case-fatality rate.
H1N1 flu risks high for healthy youths – http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/13/flu-risks-high-for-healthy-youths/?feat=home_headlines
Study: Swine flu just as risky to healthy people – http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view/20091013study_swine_flu_just_as_risky_to_healthy_people/srvc=business&position=recent_bullet
Children’s Hospital ER inundated with swine flu fears – http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_647718.html
Hospitalized swine flu patients often deteriorate rapidly – http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/10/hospitalized-flu-patients-often-deteriorate-rapidly.html
Critically Ill Patients With 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) Infection in Canada – http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/2009.1496
Critically Ill Patients With 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) in Mexico – http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/2009.1536
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A friend’s son was recently in the hospital in DC with appendicitis, and asked the nurse how many cases of swine flu they had, and was shocked to hear “none.” Over the next several days she asked the different nurses and each confirmed there had been none. We have heard repeatedly the past months about the raging epidemic and that it is more seriously affecting children. On her son’s last day at the hospital, the nurse seemed in a hurry to get them out of the room, and when asked why, the nurse said there were a lot of very sick children. When asked what they were sick with, the nurse replied “asthma.”
Two studies that were never written about in any major newspaper in the US, but which are very significant. One, “Childhood asthma is reduced by half when the first dose of diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT) is delayed by more than 2 months vs given during the recommended period, according to the results of a retrospective longitudinal study reported in the March issue of the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology.” Second, from “ScienceDaily: Children Who Get Flu Vaccine Have Three Times Risk Of Hospitalization For Flu, Study Suggests.” Both studies paint a clear picture about the relationship between vaccination and chronic illness, and many other studies can be easily found with a few strokes of a keyboard.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America:
* Asthma accounts for one-quarter of all emergency room visits in the U.S. each year, with 2 million emergency room visits. [7] (This epidemic dwarfs the swine flu epidemic)
* Each year, asthma accounts for more than 10 million outpatient visits and 500,000 hospitalizations. [8]
* The average length of stay (LOS) for asthma hospitalizations is 3 days. [9]
* Nearly half (44%) of all asthma hospitalizations are for children. [10]
* Asthma is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization children. [11]
* Each day 11 Americans die from asthma. There are more than 4,000 deaths due to asthma each year.In addition, asthma is indicated as “contributing factor” for nearly 7,000 other deaths each year. [14]
* Since 1980 asthma death rates overall have increased more than 50% among all genders, age groups and ethnic groups. The death rate for children under 19 years old has increased by nearly 80% percent since 1980. [15] (22 doses of childhood vaccines recommended from birth to age 6 in 1983 – 48 doses of childhood vaccines by the age of 6 recommended in 2009 – not including swine flu vaccine)
There is no action without an equal and opposite reaction. In the effort to prevent all experience with infectious disease, children are becoming immunologically and neurologically poisoned and have developed high rates of chronic illness and disability.
It is so, so hard as a parent to know which studies and websites to believe. If you believe your pediatrician, then you are flying in the face of thousands of websites that claim that immunizations are poison, and can and will hurt your child. Some of these websites even have doctors on them, who have credentials that make them look like anything but a quack. However, they may be quacks. It’s a very hard road to travel these days, with all of the controversy out there, regarding immunizations. We all love our children (well, most of us) and want to do the right thing for them. Some day, I dearly hope that the knowledge, true knowledge, is condensed and agreed upon by most, if not all, doctors.
Sally, good post and excellent thoughts. Yes, having children these days and feeling confident in the decisions made as a parent is very difficult. The amount of information available, especially on the web, makes confusion a more likely outcome of personal research. Suffice it to say that all is not known about the H1N1 situation and all a parent can do is to read and make an informed choice. Outcomes of these choices (such as do I vaccinate or do I not vaccinate) are impossible to determine. What we do know is that most case of the swine flu are mild and statistically few result in death or major illness. However, if a child has underlying serious illness or other medical conditions which might move them into a high risk group, strong consideration should be given to having the child vaccinated. Keep up the good work and informed parenting.
What would you do if you had been trying to have your 12 year old child vaccinated since September, However, the pediatric group failed to vaccinate you child because your child is on state healthcare. I am not a welfare recipient. I lost my healthcare, due to the economy, so my employer is not providing it anymore. I needed something. The point is my daughter is a asthma patient and the pediatric group said that they were only vaccinating patients with regular insurance. I could not find anywhere to have her vaccinated.
The pediatric group even lied and said that they did not have the vaccination. my friend’s daughter went to the pediatric group’s office and requested to have her children vaccinated. The receptionist said that they were only vaccinating patients with regular insurance. She said, “when is Blue Cross Blue Shield not regular insurance?” They receptionist said, “we had you down as having state insurance, we will give you an appointment for next week.”
I finally went to a government healthcare advocate that in turn forwarded the matter on to C.H.R.O. I am still awaiting the response, since, mid October. In the meantime, my daughter was rushed to the hospital with a 103.3 fever and has been ill with H1N1 for a week. She has been on a steroid, antibiotic, and a nebulizer machine. I had to rush her to the ER yesterday, to find out she now has bronchitis.
You tell me, do you think that we need healthcare reform?
With respect, not sure your story makes sense. You lost your job – understood – but what about COBRA benefit? Did you have insurance with your employer? Also, you say you are on state medical care, but not Medicaid. Not sure what state you are in so cannot comment on their system or rules. Here are some observations.
First, if you are talking about the swine flu vaccine, which it seems you are, there are many, many areas of the country that do not have it or do not have sufficient supplies. Distribution is handled by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) which IS a federal agency.
Second, if you are talking about the seasonal flu, almost every Walgreen’s Drugstore in America, as well as many other chains have flu shots available for modest fees, usually $15-$30. This is also true of many free standing urgent care centers as well.
Third, almost all physicians are not paid (at all or sufficient to cover their costs) to administer ANY vaccine. This is likely true of H1N1 as well. The reimbursement policies for Medicaid and SCHIP are generally very, very poor. Not an excuse, just a fact, but that may be the reason.
Fourth, even if every thing you say is 100% accurate, every community has health clinics that are available, as well as ER’s, which you did get to, where patients may receive vaccine if needed (if it is available as I noted).
Your comment about health reform is correct, we need it, but not sure real health reform will solve all the issues you have. Best wishes for a quick recovery to your daughter.