Let’s get it started with the always-fascinating Effect Measure:
How H1N1 Kills, Bacterial Infections or Otherwise
This post discusses research into severe and fatal cases of H1N1. For the purposes of this blog, the key portion comes in the second half with the news that over half the fatalities in a recent study on swine flu death were infected with the bacteria that causes pneumococcal pneumonia, and guess what?
There’s a vaccination for that – a vaccination, in fact, the author of the post advises for children and adults over age two.
And speaking of vaccines:
Parents to Forgo H1N1 Vaccine Over Safety Fears
This is an article from my city’s paper, but it speaks to the attitude of many parents all over the U.S. Here’s the part I find disturbing:
[A Consumer Reports] poll found that 43 percent of parents were not worried one of their children might get swine flu.
Yeah.
Um, I recognize getting children vaccinated is a personal choice that involves multiple variables, but basing that decision on just a guess or the blind hope that kids simply won’t catch this highly transmissable strain? Is stupid.
Whatever H1N1 is/isn’t and will/won’t mutate into, it is highly contagious, and that’s well-documented.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch:
H1N1 Mutation Discovered
By “ranch,” I mean Effect Measure, which is fast becoming my primary source for sober, thoughtful H1N1 news. Now those EM folks, they’re all professionally scientific and stuff, but I will attempt to translate into southern for you and hope for accuracy:
Proteins are comprised of amino acid chains, right? Well, at a certain position in the chain for a certain protein within the flu, there sits glutamic acid or *E* in birds (generally) and lysine, or *K* in people (generally).
Are you with me so far?
Okay, so when scientists first started studying H1N1, they found E and not K, which surprised pretty much everybody who knows about such things, since they thought the E–>K switch was sort of a done deal in order for viruses to adapt to humans. The E position was also thought to result in higher severity, like in H5N1 (avian flu), while the K position was thought to equal easier transmission from person to person.
Except, apparently, in this H1N1 because it’s been highly contagious while remaining not very deadly, all at that E position. Now it’s switched to K, as expected, but no one knows what that means yet.
On a side note, this post also addresses something AG’s pediatrician told me last week, that H1N1 is so prevalent, no one’s seeing much seasonal flu.
You Might Want to Reconsider Those Fever Fighters
This isn’t swine-flu specific, but it’s pertinent. You know fever is a sign of illness, right? Well, this post explains why using fever reducers – except in severe and/or emergency situations – may actually hurt your chances of healing even as they make you feel better. Chew on this:
A fever enables the body to increase its production of interferon, an important antiviral substance that is critical for fighting infection. Fever also increases white blood cell mobility and activity, which are instrumental factors in fighting infection.
So my question is if my kid has already gotten the Prevnar vaccine and HiB, does he also need Pneumovax? Do those already cover S. pneumoniae?
That’s what I’d like to know too, Allison. My kids are 6 and 4 — do their vaccinations cover them? I’d love to hear from a health care professional on this topic. The CDC website isn’t clear on this.
Now that’s a good question. I have no idea, and so I turn to Twitter. I’ll let you know if I find out anything.
Hi again, really appreciate all the info and advice! Good to hear feedback from those in similar shoes. Did further research too and it seems clearer now. H1N1 kills & asthma sufferers at an increased risk: known fact. Vaccine tested enough and totally safe? No concrete proof otherwise. My son with asthma and daughter without will both be getting the vaccine as soon as available at their school clinic. I can know in my heart this was the logical choice now. Thank you, Amy, and the rest of you that that commented. Salud!
I asked my doctor, and he said HiB and Prevnar cover him. I also read that in one of the comments on the Effect Measure — something about Prevnar basically being the kid version of Pneumovax.
I also realized unfortunately that I skipped Prevnar for my older child (w/out asthma). Now she’s too old for it. It was the only vaccine I skipped. shoot.
Tamara–So happy you’ve got a decision and a little peace of mind now. I completely agree–there’s nothing like “talking” to other people who’re worrying about the same things.
Allison–Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Asthma sucks, but Asthma Mom readers, you guys are the BEST. Thanks for helping one another out!
I am caring for my very own h1n1 asthma girl. She came down with a 102 fever fast and hard yesterday. Rushed her to urgent care with a headache, wheezing, runny nose, cough masked up and all. She is on tamiflu and steriods, she threw up her first dose of both
Doing better on keeping meds down today. We are holding on for the ride and hoping it goes well. She’s pretty miserable. Hoping my asthma boy and asthma hubby don’t get this too.
I don’t know that I would say effect measure is fascinating… I am caring for my very sick asthma boy (not the flu), but trying VERY hard to avoid steriods… read the article about how modern care/ventilators don’t save those dying ofr h1n1… scares me more than I need to me. I just don’t know how to get thru this winter without going crazy with worry… I have cried my self to sleep more than one night already… please some tips for sanity & balance? You do great, I just need more!
So, her h1n1 came back neg but from what I understand there is a very high false negative rate. I am not sure what to make of it. She came down with the fever so fast, headache, cough, chills, etc. Sounds like a flu to me, and since she is high risk should I just treat her like she has the flu and keep her home any way? She still has a fever, and she is steroid induced chatty cathy. I don’t know if I want to send her to school on steroids anyway. Advice? What would you do as a fellow asthma mama?
Ang — I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this! My son used to throw up prednisone too. In fact, he hated it so much, he learned how to swallow pills because of it (and he’s only 6). We just cut them in half or quarters and he gets them down.
That sure sounds like the flu to me — and even if it’s not, it sounds pretty yucky! I’d keep her home as long as you can stand it!
I am so, so sorry to hear about what you have been going through in your house over the past week. I’m happy to hear your daughter is feeling better.
I wanted to say that the pneumococcal vaccine doesn’t 100% protect against pneumococcal pneumonia. Despite receiving the vaccine, my daughter had seven pneumonias last year. After the third, she had a bronchoscopy where her sputum was cultured. She was positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae, the bacteria that causes pneumococcal pneumonia.
Also, I am with you regarding the overuse of fever-reducing medications for mild fevers.
Karen–This is a pretty good PBS article on the severity of H1N1. While it’s a little nerve-wracking b/c it states swine flu may make people more prone to secondary infections b/c most of us have no natural immunity, on the other hand it details a pretty reassuring study. So far, research indicates H1N1 doesn’t appear to combine easily w/seasonal flu to form a more severe strain, although it HASN’T been tested w/avian flu yet:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/health/july-dec09/flu_09-10.html
Anyway, check it out–while the no-immunity thing is definitely scary, this article does imply H1N1 doesn’t appear headed down the 1918 path.
Ang–I gotta admit, it sure sounds like what AG and I went through, which was confirmed as H1N1. And I’ve definitely read the quick-response tests aren’t as accurate as they could be. I agree w/Allison–I’d keep her home if it were me. So sorry she’s having trouble keeping her meds down, too–I know Tamiflu has that effect on some kids.
thanks Allison and Amy. The clinic called and told me to keep her on the Tamiflu, keep her home, and treat it like it IS h1n1 because they have had so many false neg’s. So, that is what I am doing. She is still wheezing, still has a 101 fever, still hacking. sigh.
p.s. I completely agree w/ not fighting a mild fever. I don’t treat under 102, period.
We got a false positive on Friday, then a positive on Saturday. The difference? The second nurse stuck the swab WAY UP in there; even my 6yo noticed the difference. The doctor said that’s one reason for a false negative. The symptoms were just as you say, Ang, but our fever was 104, wouldn’t come down with anything for three days.
I have just been reading CDC website, and am trying to determine in my mind whether a Pneumococcal Vaccination is necessary for my 9 year old son, whose asthma only appears when he is sick, but can get quite severe. Firstly, the CDC recommends this vaccine for 2 – 64 year old who are at high risk for complications from the flu. Then they go on to say, and I quote, ” expanding the use of PCV7 to >5 age group at this time is not indicated because circulation of the 7 stereotypes in this vaccination are now uncommon”. So, I ask, why do we need to worry about whether our children should have it. It seems that I know just have one more thing to add to my list of decisions to protect my son! How long do the Pneumococcal vaccines last from infancy? Also, for a child who is 3 months away from turning 10, how do I decide if he needs one or two shots for H1N1? A question for the doctor I know? Maybe they go by weight? I would hate to get one shot and it not be enough. What’s with the 9 year age group. Have you ever noticed kids clothing listed as size small for ages 7 to 8, size medium for ages 10 to 12?
While this topic can be very touchy for most people, my thought is that there has to be a middle or common ground that we all can find. I do treasure that you’ve added relevant and intelligent commentary here though. Thank you!