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The reports of those severe cases
are part of what can drive people to seek medical care, even
when they don’t need it.
“Just because you are exposed to the flu, doesn’t mean you will
get it,” says Dr. Nauert. “We have people calling who want to
bring their children in because they were at a birthday party
and someone there developed swine flu. But your physician
doesn’t need to see you if you don’t have any signs of illness.”
Michael Romain, M.D., an
internal medicine physician at ADC, agrees that people who
do not have symptoms don’t need to be trying to get in to see
their doctors.
“If you don’t have any
symptoms–no fever, no body aches, no other flu-like symptoms–the
best thing you can do is to get plenty of rest, drink plenty of
fluids, and stay away from people who do have symptoms of flu or
other illnesses,” points out Dr. Romain.
Dr. Nauert says the idea is not
to discourage people from seeking medical help, but rather to
avoid unnecessary visits. She says parents may call a nurse at
any time and discuss their symptoms in order to help decide if
it’s time to see a doctor or stay at home.
Health officials say a fever
isn’t always a bad thing–fevers are one of the body’s protective
mechanisms and most fevers are good to help fight infection.
It’s also important to note that body temperatures are never
constant–they actually fluctuate by several degrees throughout
the day. A temperature measured orally, for example, can vary
anywhere from a low of 95.8 degrees Fahrenheit in the morning to
99.5 degrees in the late afternoon and still be considered
normal.
Although people who are not
displaying symptoms don’t need to see their doctors, there are
cases where people should be seen by a doctor. And in some
cases, the Emergency Room is the right place to go.
Symptoms Your Shouldn’t
Ignore
“If you have a child
who is under two years old or if you have a child with a chronic
illness, these are children we need to treat and diagnose within
the first 48 hours of the start of symptoms,” explains Dr.
Nauert. “For these kids, it’s important to be seen by a doctor
because there is a specific treatment that has to be prescribed
by a physician.”
Children older than two who do
not have chronic illnesses will generally not be treated with
antivirals like TamiFlu, explains Dr. Nauert, because of
“resistance to the drug that is emerging.”
But even for older children and those without chronic
conditions, there are still instances where the child needs to
be treated by a doctor.
“If your child is not able to
take any fluids or is dehydrated, that child needs to be seen
whether the symptoms are caused by the flu or by something
else.” Symptoms of dehydration include no urination for eight
hours or a totally dry mouth.
Children with chronic kidney
disease, chronic heart disease, or chronic arthritis also should
be seen by their physicians if they exhibit symptoms of flu.
“There are also some forms of
immune deficiencies or cases where children take immuno-suppressing
drugs that mean you need to quickly consult your doctor if you
suspect the flu,” adds Dr. Nauert.
In some cases, Dr. Nauert says that the child can be taken to
the ER by the parents. In other cases, the parent should call
EMS.
“If your child has signs of
respiratory distress–meaning color changes or is not able to get
air in or out--then you need to go to the ER,” explains Dr.
Nauert. Another sign of respiratory distress is when the “skin
retracts or sinks in between the ribs when a child takes a deep
breath.”
In babies, a child who will not
take a bottle or nurse for several hours–but does not have a
stuffy nose–may also be experiencing respiratory distress.
“If your child is
non-responsive–if you cannot wake them up or get them to respond
to you–that’s not someone you should put in a car and take to
the ER. That’s the time to call EMS.”
Serious Symptoms for Adults
While many of the reported instances of serious cases of H1N1
involve young children, older children and adults can also
exhibit serious symptoms. Some people are more likely to develop
complications from the flu and should be seen by their
physicians as soon as they believe they have contracted the flu.
“You should call your doctor if
you suspect the flu and you are over 65, have a chronic health
problem, or are on medications that can affect your immune
system,” says Dr. Romain. Likewise, Dr. Romain says that any
adult who runs a fever for more than three days should consult
their doctor.
“If your flu symptoms appear to
get better but then worsen, you should immediately let your
physician know,” says Dr. Romain. “It’s important that people
monitor their fever, get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids,
and stay home to avoid passing the flu on to others.”
“Adults should go to an ER if
they are having trouble breathing, have blue or purple lips, or
get dizzy when they stand,” continues Dr. Romain. “Also adults
who are vomiting continuously and have stopped urinating should
be seen by the ER.”
Extreme symptoms such as chest
pains or loss of consciousness are situations that should be
handled by EMS. “While these types of symptoms or problems are
rare, they are serious and need to be treated by experienced
medical personnel,” says Dr. Romain.
Both Dr. Nauert and Dr. Romain
emphasize that for most people H1N1 will mean three or four days
of fever, body aches, and not feeling well.
“In most cases, people will not
even need to be seen by their doctors,” says Dr. Nauert. “But if
you are feeling anxious about your own health or a family
member’s health, you should always call your doctor’s office.
They can help you feel more confident in your decisions. Knowing
when to make that call or when to take action and go to the ER
can help prevent more serious problems.” |
