Mondays and Tuesdays I look after my grandkids. Today my eldest son called to say that he himself had been exposed to Swine Flu. In the first couple of seconds of the call I felt he was over-reacting. I cont'd to listen. Last Thursday one of the guys working on his house was not feeling too well. Son said the guy didn't look too well either. They worked together for a couple of hours or so.
Today Son found out the fellow was hospitalized with the H1N1 virus. So if he was hospitalized, he's very sick - yes? Son went to the children's school and talked to the principal and said "what would you like me to do about my children since I have obviously been very close to them since last Thursday". Principal said - take the children home and if you yourself don't come down with any symptoms (I believe the timing is 10 days) then the kids can come back to school. Now the waiting game begins. Only 4 days have passed. My son is diabetic. His son has CP and weak lungs. I've heard so many people say "Oh it's just like having a bad cold". Maybe it's not quite like just having a cold. I'm feeling concerned.
I am sorry to hear that this flu has come into your families life.
Hopefully it will pass you by.
And perhaps your family now has immunity, if you were exposed, and that would get you and yours ahead of the game.
Flu, or influenza is a virus.
As such antibiotics will have no effect.
Antibiotics only work on bacterium.
There are three or four commercially used antiviral drugs.
They are expensive, difficult to use and of limited efficiency.
My advice in general is to follow your health local practitioners advice.
Get a second opinion from another health specialist if still in doubt.
Use the disinfectant wipes now found in a lot of stores.
If you cough or sneeze do it into your sleeve or a tissue out of common courtesy.
Wash your hands when returning from public places.
If you feel sick stay home and avoid contact with large groups of people.
If your doctor says you or yours need to get immunized, get immunized.
Follow a mothers advice:
Quoting karrie
Well, I'd be doing everything I could to prepare for it right now. I'd stock up on Gatorade and chicken stock, onion soup, nice teas, honey etc., any of the fluids that your house uses when sick. Stock up on BOTH Tylenol and Advil (during a really bad fever, they can be used together if either one isn't cutting it alone) in whatever strengths are needed for the whole family. Thermometers are a must if they don't have them already. And, if I was home essentially waiting to get sick, I'd prep a freezer full of ready to re-heat meals for when the kids are feeling okay and I'm not, or, when appetites are on the mend but energy levels aren't.
Unquote.
Vitamin D has shown to be useful in keeping the immune system on an even keel, but it is only useful if you are deficient.
Be careful as vitamin D can be toxic in large amounts, therefore only use as recommended.
If you or yours become infected with H1N1 press your doctor for prophylactic antiviral medications for other family members.
Last but not least ignore uninformed and uneducated conspiracy theorists and rely on family medical practitioners and close family for advice and help, if required.
Trex