The news of the swine flu is spreading faster than the influenza virus itself, and this is very unsettling for many parents. The reports of 50 cases in the United States and 152 deaths in Mexico might lead some parents to panic, since babies and small children are often the most vulnerable during a serious flu outbreak. But according to Dr. Jay Tureen, pediatrician and infectious disease specialist at UCSF Children’s Hospital, “Parent’s shouldn’t panic. They should be aware and concerned, but not panicked.”
Here are Tureen’s answers to additional questions parents might have about swine flu:
What exactly is swine flu? It has been identified as a type A influenza that has taken pieces of influenza viruses from pigs, birds, and humans and combined them into a new virus. These sorts of viruses often evolve into a pandemic. It has the potential to spread widely because humans haven’t been exposed to it before and they haven’t developed any resistance. But at this point we don’t know if this particular virus will spread widely and if it does we don’t know how severe it will be. We’re still in the early stages of the virus.
But the reports from Mexico sound quite severe? Yes, the reports from Mexico indicate that this flu is associated with a higher mortality rate than usual. But we really shouldn’t be too concerned at this point because it’s entirely possible that the death rate in Mexico is higher due to incomplete reporting. And the cases in the United States have been very mild. Nobody has died.
What are the symptoms? If your child has influenza-like symptoms–including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea–you should contact their doctor. Your doctor can give your child a test to determine if he has a type A influenza. If that’s the case then they can have a public health official determine if it’s swine flu. Also, if your child or anyone in your family has the flu, they should stay at home and avoid exposing others. Right now we don’t want to be spreading any flu around.
Should my children be washing their hands more than usual? Yes, this is the best way to prevent the spread of a flu virus.
If my child didn’t get a flu shot this year, should I take her in for one at the last-minute? No. This year’s flu shot doesn’t offer protection against this virus.
Can I feed my child pork? Absolutely. You don’t catch the virus by eating swine. It’s spread by human-to-human contact only.
If I’m planning a family vacation to Mexico in the near future, should I cancel my plans? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site is your best resource for travel advisories and updates on the swine flu situation.
If my child contracts the virus can she be treated? This particular virus can be treated with antiviral drugs. You can also take medication prophylatically, so if one child contracts it others in the family can take drugs so they won’t catch the flu.