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National News See other National News Articles Title: Swine flu isn’t perilous to most Posted on Fri, Sep. 18, 2009 11:33 PM Swine flu isn’t perilous to most By ALAN BAVLEY The Kansas City Star An otherwise healthy 24-year-old woman with swine flu dies in Independence. A 44-year-old man with swine flu but no underlying health problems dies in St. Louis County. These cases are tragic and scary, certainly. But is swine flu any more dangerous than seasonal flu? Are the lives of healthy people in particular jeopardy? Health experts say no. This flu is no more deadly than the seasonal variety, though it has targeted a different population. Children and young adults have been harder hit than older people by this flu. That may be because those born before 1957 have some immunity to the H1N1 virus from earlier outbreaks, said Lee Norman, chief medical officer at University of Kansas Hospital. More than 500 people with swine flu have died nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But in an average year, regular seasonal flu will contribute to 36,000 deaths. So far, most cases of swine flu have been moderate or moderately severe, the CDC said. While some patients have been admitted to KU Hospital for swine flu, cases seen there generally have been mild. “Most people are getting better uneventfully,” he said. Norman offered answers to these concerns about swine flu: As with seasonal flu, most people who have died or been hospitalized with swine flu have had underlying health problems, such as diabetes or heart disease. Why would someone in apparently good health succumb to the flu? Flu can trigger a relatively rare and unpredictable condition called respiratory distress syndrome, Norman said. The syndrome is believed to be caused by an overreaction to the infection by the immune system. The lungs stiffen, fill with fluid and make breathing difficult. It often is fatal. People who get flu symptoms are being told to call their doctor, but to stay home in order to avoid infecting others. When does flu become serious enough to warrant a trip to a doctor’s office or emergency room? Here are the guidelines for seeking immediate care: For adults: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, severe or persistent vomiting, or flulike symptoms that disappear and then return. For children: fast breathing or trouble breathing, bluish or gray skin, not drinking enough fluids, severe or persistent vomiting, not waking up or not interacting, irritability to the point of not wanting to be held, recurrent flulike symptoms. If I become sick, how can I know if I have swine flu? And what will happen when I’m ill? Swine flu symptoms are similar to those of seasonal flu and include a fever of 100 degrees or higher, a cough, a sore throat and a runny nose, plus aches, chills and fatigue. Diarrhea and vomiting are uncommon. “Expect the illness to start abruptly and escalate for a day or two. Then you’ll slowly get better,” Norman said. Fever-reducing drugs such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen will help cut the fever. If your illness doesn’t follow this course, call your doctor. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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