The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta released a report on 12-2-09 that estimates as many as 22 million Americans have suffered an H1N1 related illness between April and mid-October. Included were these statistics:

·        98,000 Americans were hospitalized with H1N1

·        There were 3,900 deaths attributed to the illness

·        Persons with diabetes accounted for 12 percent of all H1N1 hospitalizations

·        25% of all diabetics hospitalized with H1N1 required intensive care

·        8 million children have contracted the virus resulting in 36,000 hospitalizations and 540 deaths

·        Children continue to account for most of the hospital admissions (Children with diabetes and asthma have been hit hardest by the novel virus)

Obviously from the data, all persons with Diabetes and Asthma and particularly parents of asthmatic children need to be hyper vigilant in watching for signs of the illness. The CDC has recommended the following for diabetics:

·        All diabetic patients 6 months to 64 years should receive both the regular and H1N1 flu vaccines now. As supplies of vaccine improve in three or four weeks, all diabetics over age 6 months should be vaccinated.

·        All diabetic patients over age 6 months should receive a pneumonia vaccine as those who develop H1N1 are at much greater risk of bacterial pneumonia.

·        All diabetic persons with suspected seasonal or novel H1N1 influenza should receive antiviral therapy as soon as symptoms are obvious. (Do not wait on lab results!)

·        Asthmatics and diabetics with a fever combined with cough should seek medical attention promptly

In addition, these suggestions to help protect you and your family from influenza should be applied to all persons with asthma as H1N1 has taken a heavy toll on them as well.

What else can you do to protect your family?

Only about 50% of asthmatics hospitalized for H1N1 had sought medical help when they first got sick. Learning more about the disease will allow you to make decisions at an earlier stage of your loved one’s illness so you can decide about need for doctor office visits and treatment.

Overall, it appears prevention by vaccination and good hygiene are the two most important steps you can take in protecting yourself and family from the terrible effects of the swine flu.

Dr. Frank

You can learn more about Novel H1N1 Swine flu by reading these articles:

http://drhuggiebear.com/information/howtoavoidthefluupdate2.htm

http://drhuggiebear.com/information/H1N1.htm

http://drhuggiebear.com/information/abouttheswineflu.htm

http://drhuggiebear.com/information/swinefludeaths.htm

http://www.drhuggiebear.com/information/howtoavoidtheflu.htm

References

Weekly 2009 H1N1 Flu Media Briefing/U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

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