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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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Remember back in childhood when Johnny got the chicken pox, everyone else in his class soon followed with those hundreds of lesions scattered over their bodies. Children would be out of school until every single one of those lesions scabbed over. In fact, I remember those chicken pox "parties" where Johnny's parents would invite any one over who wanted to expose their child to chicken pox, hoping to be done with the illness sooner than later. Well, I've had that same vibe this past week as something has been circulating in my child's school...in the kindergarten corner of the campus no less.
Four nights ago, while at my mother's house for dinner (really good, thank you for asking), I realized my son just wasn't feeling great. Couldn't put my finger on it but something was off. The next day he awoke with a slight cough and maybe a low grade fever, but nothing too extreme. In fact, I remember asking him if he wanted to go for our routine Sunday morning trip to the nearby middle school to kick the soccer ball around. He actually said no but since my girls were ready to go, I didn't make too much of it when he declined the invitation. But in hindsight, I should have assumed something was amiss right then and there as he usually is the one to be found dribbling a soccer ball around the house both day and night. But it wasn't until he started complaining of a sore throat later in the day that I acknowledged the idea he was clearly coming down with something. His temp wasn't too bad but his spirits were a bit off and he was beginning to have that crummy look.
I called home during the next day to check in on him (no, not like Ferris Bueller...he is only 5) and my wife said other than a low-moderate temp, a sore throat was the only complaint. Now I had looked at his throat the night before and wasn't too impressed from the standpoint that we were dealing with strep throat, but on Monday, I decided to bring home a rapid strep test (7 minute test) to confirm we weren't dealing with this annoying bacteria. And no surprise, he was negative for strep. Now keep in mind, I'm a general pediatrician and these sort of symptoms are bread and butter pediatrics but I must admit it wasn't until later that night, did I think we were dealing with anything much more than a good upper respiratory infection (AKA cold). But Tuesday when I left for the office I really felt we were actually dealing with something more...even the flu perhaps.
During the day, my sources told me that one of the kindergarten classes at my son's school had ½ of the students out with similar symptoms to my son's and then I felt certain about my son's diagnosis. H1N1 (still known as the swine flu to many) had found its way to my son's school just the 3rd week back to school. Now I must admit it is possible this is just the regular seasonal flu just a few weeks early as all I could do to confirm my son's status is perform a rapid flu diagnostic test which says if we are dealing with strain A and/or strain B. But since my son tested positive for strain A of the influenza virus (which is what the H1N1 strain is) and the county health department feels the same as I do, I feel confident we are dealing with the first cluster of H1N1 in our county since school has been back in session. It was bound to happen at some point and other than good flu symptoms for 3-4 days, the only thing I've been impressed with is how easily it has spread...just like the chicken pox of yesteryear. My son is now on the mend, just a slight temp and a lingering cough, but he is now glued back to the soccer ball once again. It appears most of my son's fellow students who have acquired this illness are recovering in the same pattern as my son and most will be back to school when this low grade temp finally runs its course. As far as the rest of us, I'm pretty sure my oldest and me picked this up in the Spring and it appears my youngest must have as well, as she is hanging in there just fine. My wife may be dealing with the initial stages now but she's determined not to let this be more than a simple cold...she's a fighter like that.
I've elected not to treat anyone in the house with Tamiflu or other antivirals as none of us reach high-risk criteria and frankly, these antivirals do need to be saved for those who may need them down the line. And by the time this week ends, I'll feel confident my family has natural immunity to H1N1 (whether from the Spring or this past week)...often the best immunity one can find.
Now, as I don't wish to underscore how this virus can be quite compromising for certain groups within our population, I refer you all to the CDC website for more complete details of where the H1N1 virus stands and the vaccine that will be soon available here in the United States.
Be well,
Dr. Jeremy
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we are much better off taking health into our own hands and eating well exorcising getting enough vit D from all sources including sun useing proper sanitation (but not over santitation as done in hospitals that breeds super bugs) and supporting our immune systems.
I take it that you're not very familiar with Vitamin D's huge impact on your innate immunity system? www.vitaminDcouncil.org for a lot of information about vitamin D. When the vitamin D blood level is maintained at 50-80 ng/ml, you're pretty much protected from flu and cold. It also cuts down drastically on some cancers and many others.
Since all indications are that this virus is man made, and then it was release to test it's effect, this whole mess strikes me as nothing more than some kind of major effort to make people sick or worse.
I know big pharma is bennefitting, but what about the ordinary person.
The shoulting of pandemic! pandemic is nothing more than a massive scare tactic.
The regular flu kills lots of people every year. But apparently we now have this new and imporved flu that we "have" to get this vaccine for.
I have listened to several doctors who are standing against this redicilous mess.
There are nurses in the uk who have refused it.
If these people who have gone through school and have degrees are standing against it and saying it's bad and all the information that is avalible on the vaccine and it's ingredients are telling us point blank this is a bad deal, then why is it still being sent out and administered?
I was the 1st in our family to have it (altho I didn't realize it at the time) next my youngest, 11 years old. Many people took the tamiflu I opted not to give it to my family. The only difference between us and those that took the meds seemed to be a bit more comfort and possibly 1 day less before they recovered. One family with an 8 year old diagnosed with H1N1 ended up with the Doc rec the entire family take tamiflu. The parents, 26 and 32 included with no symptoms! I am not of the mind set that you suppress the bodies symptoms and thus do not allow it to do its job in healing you. My 13year old has just returned to school after her turn with it, it takes (at least for us and most around us) about 10 day to 2 weeks to really recover, but I believe we have all built up our immunity by allowing it to run its course. Be vigilant, give them rest, watch the fever, ours got very high and only then did we take tylenol (over 103) I have always been taught the fever is your body doing its job, let itrun unless it reaches danger level. For most it is not anywhere near as scarey as the media made it out to be. Just my 2 cents worth :-)
this is her last time getting vaccinated with flu vaccine.
I had a relationship breakup a little time later, I was unhappy beyond belief (I have a very tender heart). I suddenly came down with the flu, and I had never had the flu before in my life. I had to go to the toilet, and the next thing I found myself laying on the floor, I had to call my daughter in to help me up, I was 31 at the time, and a reasonably fit person thankfully.
I had the symptoms for two weeks, and for sure as hell believed I was going to die, afterall this strain of flu was a deadly one. I did not die obviously, yet another media overstatement then perhaps? I was guilty of believing something that in reality did not exist, I no longer allow outside plant seeding of me.
Of course unhealthy people run the risk of contracting illnesses of a deadly kind for so being, but I am firmly of the belief that acceptance of misinformation can be just as deadly. Our Federal Government (Australia) apparently will soon have enough vaccine to immunise every one of our 19+ million population, an over reaction then perhaps?
like this link
They are quick to say the kid died "from the flu"
Here nearby our old home, a girl died. They claim it was H1N1. I think there was something not understood. The girl was given medication by the doctor, but it is unclear what else, as if she had additional and not compatible something else, or a reaction to the med.
I thing the sick party is a great way to develop a health immune system. Personally though, I do not party that much, so I tend to just be healthy without flu vaccines.
Fortunately I am old enough as well to have had every childhood disease except mumps, which swept my family but never me, and that includes the last round of Swine Flu, and I am immunized against everything else. But if anyone tells me to quarantine, I will certainly do so.
I am taking my chances and not taking the flu shot. The risk is not worth it to me. I live far out of town and am outside in the fresh air and live alone. I think I might have already had a mild case of the flu earlier this summer. Fever, sore throat and a cough.
Last week I read several articles about vacs for H1N1 and the other general flu shot. Even though I have a 7yo and I have asthma, I am opting to not get the shots for him, nor I. Call it a gut feeling or whatever, but the articles helped to put it in place so it's something more than just a feeling. Thanks for the reminder to watch our kids more closely and identify illness more quickly. I know sometimes I'll wonder why my child is so crabby, and then the next day I know why! I think we can help our natural defenses along with getting adequate rest, eating well, and all the things you doctors tell us. = )