Understanding H1N1!

August is when kids and parents are preparing for the beginning of the new school year. Families are busy buying new gear for school, shuttling kids to sports try- outs and annual school exams.
For pediatricians, back to school is also a time when we talk about the upcoming flu season and flu shots with families.
Parent have many questions about the flu, here are the top 5 most important things to understand about swine flu.
1.) Who is at risk for H1N1 (swine flu)?
High risk individuals for H1N1 include pregnant women, and those with other chronic medical conditions including diabetes, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease.
Vaccines are assumed to become available in October. The CDC currently is advising vaccination for those who are at greatest risk for H1N1 including the following:
1.)pregnant women, 2.)people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, 3.)health care and emergency medical services personnel, 4.) persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age, and people from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders including diabetes, asthma, heart and kidney disease.
2.) Do I need the H1N1 vaccine if I get the seasonal flu vaccine.Yes. The H1N1 vaccine is to be given in conjunction with the seasonal flu vaccine. They can be administered on the same day.
3.) What are the symtpoms of H1N1?They symtopms are similiar to seasonal flu and include, fever, cough, sore throat, chills, faitgue. Some people have reported vomiting and diarrhea also.swine flu symptoms are simliar to regualr
4.) How is H1N1 (swine flu) different from seasonal flu?it affects more people less than age 25 than the older population and most individuals with serious complications were between 25-64 years old. Seasonal flu generally causes more seroious complications in the population greater than 65 years.
5.) Who needs tamiflu, the anti-retroviral medication?The CDC recommends it only for those kids who are at high risk for severe complications or those with severe disease. Not for those with mild H1N1.