Dr. Jeremy F. Shapiro
Pediatrician
Dr Shapiro completed his undergraduate education at UC San Diego earning a B S in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and a B A in Political Science He furthered his education at UCLA where he earned a Masters Degree in Public…
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LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA, USA
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AFFILIATIONS:
  • Attending Physician, Providence Tarzana Regional Medical Center
YEARS IN PRACTICE: 6
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Hey Doc, Are You Still Seeing the Swine Flu?
14
Posted in Avian Flu by Dr. Jeremy F. Shapiro on Jul 19, 2009
This question seems to be popping up quite a bit in my office these past couple of weeks and well, the answer is, most likely yes.  You see, unlike typical summers where we don't check for influenza (AKA the flu) in our office using a rapid diagnostic test, this summer we have continued to check for the flu secondary to the fact we continue to see it.  I've been waiting for the opportunity to stop ordering the flu test kits but there hasn't been a reason to.  And despite the fact the county in which I practice is not confirming routine flu cases for swine flu (AKA H1N1 influenza) unlike 2-3 months ago, I'm pretty confident this is what I'm seeing...and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is confirming my suspicion when they state it is clearly circulating in summer camps, military units and anywhere there are close living quarters. 

 

But why this is happening in the summer when typically the heat helps to reduce the transmission of this virus is unclear.  The simple and most logical thought is the fact that many of us do not have any resistance to this virus as we've never been exposed to this strain of the virus before.  But again, no data supports this premise at the present time. 

 

But according to the CDC, what the data does show is there have been more than 40,000 laboratory-confirmed cases, 4,800 hospitalizations, and 263 deaths here in the U.S.  In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) now states there have been 100,000 confirmed cases worldwide...although the true number is probably much much larger.

 

So what to look out for as we eventually move in to Fall?  Probably a pretty good increase in the numbers when the kids are back in school as well as a vaccine...although a time of availability of the vaccine is still in question. 

 

And for those of you who are always curious as to what else I'm seeing these days...some strep throat, the regular summer "colds", and the occasional herpangina (no, not herpes but where some nasty vesicles/ulcers appear in the back of the throat).  And remember, good preventive measures we can all take when it comes to avoiding illness include using a tissue when coughing and sneezing and throwing it away after using it, good hand washing techniques, and keeping your hands out of your eyes, nose, and mouth. 

 

 

Dr. Jeremy


CATEGORIES: Personal Opinion
CONDITIONS AND COMMUNITIES: Avian Flu  •  Colds & Flu  •  Grandparents Raising Children  •  Immunizations  •  Parenting 'Tweens (9-12)  •  Parenting Big Kids (5-8)  •  Parenting Newborns & Infants (0-1)  •  Parenting Preschoolers (3-5)  •  Parenting Teenagers (12-18)  •  Parenting Toddlers (1-3)  •  Single Dads  •  Single Parenting  •  Twins, Triplets & More
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Displaying comments 14-1 of 14
14
THANKS!!!!!JEANNA
By Bluegrassangel  Aug 01, 2009
13
THANKS!!!!!JEANNA
By Bluegrassangel  Aug 01, 2009
12
THANKS!!!!!JEANNA
By Bluegrassangel  Aug 01, 2009
11
Thanks doc! I agree that we should ask for medical help before the flu worsen because it might be a case of H1N1. Health is very important for Health is Wealth as the saying goes. But with the present situation of the Health Care issue, we are caught in the middle! Right now, health care reform is an abstract goal that everyone wants. Excitement and anticipation are high. But as the substantive process of health care reform gets underway, two things will happen: first, ideas will be crafted into policies—concrete plans of action and complex administrative measures—and second, politicians will become involved in the reform process. Policy can get pretty complicated; so the public will rely on the media to help it navigate the ins and outs of the issue. Once politics begins to shape policy discussions—that is, once politicians enter the picture—it’s all the more important to keep the focus on policy, because it’s at this point that policies have a real chance of being implemented. Americans should know their options. Or else they might try Payday Loans No Fax if ever they have health care expenses.
By SwanS  Jul 30, 2009
10
My best friend's husband just left St. Johns Hospital in Santa Monica, where he was fighting for his life as a result of complications from a confirmed case of H1N1. He suffered from asthma before the onset of the flu, and it developed into a type of pneumonia of the lungs. It was touch and go for a long time--he was told to settle his affairs at one point. My friend's son also contracted H1N1, but had only mild symptoms. My advice to anyone who has asthma, or a child with asthma, is that the moment they come down with flu-like symptoms, rush to get medical help. Don't let the symptoms worsen, thinking, "Oh, it's just the flu." H1N1 can be deadly to the vulnerable populations.
By Kathryn28  Jul 27, 2009
9
I've never had a summer where I've had so much influenza in my office, so I agree. It's out there. I have a 5 year old in the hospital with it now, initially thought to have a viral meningitis because of severe headaches and vomiting, but the spinal tap was normal and the influenza screen + but no word yet from the county health department on weather the strain is actually the swine flu. Thankfully, she is getting better and will likely be discharged before we know for sure, but I'm telling my kids to be extra fastidious about sharing drinks and ice cream cones and wash those hands often.
By pianogirl  Jul 25, 2009
8
Thanks letting us all know what you know and what you are seeing.
By LanyL  Jul 24, 2009
7
No offense, but I am certainly glad we haven't had to see you this summer. Don't want swine flu, bird flu, any other sort of flu.
By DLR77  Jul 21, 2009
6
It was on the news that this flu could only be man made and that there is a criminal investigation against the WHO etc. for making it and releasing it to start a pandemic so they could make a killing in the stock market because all of them they own Pharmaceutical stocks. The pharma companies are immune to lawsuit for taking these vaccines because they are intended to make the public sick, so the stock holders can continue to turn a profit from others illnesses. The first shot will turn off the immune system, the second will inject the live virus which can now multiply in the absence of an immune response, then the third shot will reactivate the immune system causing a cytokine storm, aka, a run away inflammatory response. This will kill those who already have autoimmune disorders and general obesity caused by inflammation and the rest will be lifelong users of pharmaceuticals. This is also why they chose to use squalene in the flu vaccine even though the gov't pulled it off the market for causing Gulf War Syndrome.
By deoxyribose  Jul 21, 2009
5
Would people please stop calling it the swine flu??? It is a misnomer as we CAN NOT GET IT FROM PIGS!!! We can give it to them, though. There was a farm, I belive in Alberta, Canada, that one of the workers transmitted it to the livestock and they had to destroy many of the animals and quarantine the rest. You can't get it from the meat, or even from the animal itself. It's not the same as BSE (aka mad cow). It is destroying the pork industry, at least in Canada. Oh, by the way, you can get salmonelly, e-coli and various other bacterial infections from fruits and vegetables, not only meat! Stop slamming the livestock industry.
By findmydream  Jul 21, 2009
4
I am terrified of the Swine flu, not so much for me, but for Grace. I know the elderly and young are more prone to die from the flu illnesses, but I am just so scared. I want to put her in a protective bubble. I know that most people are contagious before they even show symptoms, Dr. J, what are some preventitive measure a Mom can take to prevent exposure. I keeping her away from people period extreme?
By sja  Jul 20, 2009
3
The makers of the swine flu vaccination have how been pardoned from any harmful side effects including it making you sicker than the swine flu itself (pardoned? before anything has even happened?). Despite the huge panic over swine flu, regular flu kills thirty six thousand people per year in the US according to the CDC. Chances are that the vaccination will kill more people than the actual virus does.

I might also add that bird flu, pig flu and a whole host of other diseases are due to the meat farming industry. Another good reason to spread the word about veganism as this industry not only harms the animals, but it harms us human beings directly and indirectly through health problems (cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, cancer), viruses and bacteria (swine flu, mad cow disease, salmonella) , and devastating environmental effects just to name a few.
By hlks  Jul 20, 2009
2
I just wanted to add that I work in a Pediatric emergency room and of my patients that were tested for influenza, I had 3 patients in my 12 hour shift that tested "+" for Influenza A. None of those patients were sick enough to be hospitalized, but we are still seeing quite a few flu cases this late in the flu season, and you can only imagine which flu they say it is.
Have a wonderful day
Tess
By TessE  Jul 20, 2009
1
So far there appears to be no reason for panic, although the 24 Hour News Channels will certainly try to panic us. The vast majority of flu cases are mild and a mere inconvenience, not the end of the world.
By Appleby  Jul 20, 2009
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