[amyfk]

Hi to the list,

I came home with dd today and she got a note in her bookbag that said that a child left because he/she came down with the swine flu and won't be back until 11/9. I was surprised because I read that swine flue wasn't prevalent yet in NJ so I wasn't all that concerned until today.
They didn't disclose the name of the child or the child's class and they said they will be scrubbing the school down.
My dd hasnt gotten a swine flu shot yet. They ran out at her doctors. Is it safer to keep her home or to let her go in? I know some sicknesses affect the elderly and the young the most but I dont know about the H1N1?
Thanks,
Amy K, NJ

[akasohappy]

My son was at a slumber party almost 2 weeks ago and 2 days later we learned one of the boys at the party had confirmed H1N1. He is in my son's class and that little boy came back to school 5 days later (which I thought was soon, but I am not a doctor). He has been sent home twice since then for fever and being lethargic. Somehow my son has not "caught" it and I am shocked. None of the boys at the party or any of the kids in the class have it either, BUT the co-teacher has it. Just thought it was odd considering DS has been exposed 1-3x by this same child - I thought for sure he was going to get sick too....or someone in contact with him would. This little boy also goes to church with us so some of these boys have been at church, at the slumber party and in school with him and haven't become ill nor has his sister. Unless all of them are incubating and it will be a full blown outbreak here in a week or so....definitely scary stuff. We have not had or plan on getting reg. flu or H1N1 shots. DD has an appt. with our ped. on Monday for UTI issues and I was going to ask him what he thought in regards to the shots, but unless he is REALLY pushes me I don't think I will change my mind.

[debhorner04]

HI! I'm a teacher in a NJ school. We have had many kids out for long periods of time! The county is giving the vaccine to those with parental approval on Friday. I will also be getting it. DD will hopefuly get it next week from the county health dept. We have been told that even if not officially identified as the H1N1 virus, to assume that's what it is, as the seasonal flu really hasn't hit this area yet. The kids affected look horrible! I think some come back too soon.

[amyfk]

HI Deb,

i hope you are well. I made some calls this past week all over. I cannot find a place to give the H1N1 shot or the flu shot for that matter. Would you mind sending me the information so I can get on line?
Thanks and best of luck, it's gotta be hard for you to decide whether to work or to stay home.
Thanks,
Amy K, NJ

[dac_cincy]

flu season has not started in mos of th US yet- everything being seen right now is actually H1N1- according to the last report that I saw on the CDC website.

In my area season flu is not expected to start until mid to late November.

I know the high school my exchange student is at has had 8 cases so far.

Love to you ,

[Gabri]

I've been very flu paranoid this year. It's the first year we've gotten the boys the seasonal mist. The H1N1 is just becoming available in our area, and there was a case of 'flu' (not specified) at my son's preschool yesterday. Anyway, after reading this I felt MUCH more calm. Thought I'd share in case it helps relieve the anxiety of others, too.

Swine Flu Cases Overestimated? - CBS News

I know there are a lot of differing options, but for what it's worth, our pediatrician does recommend both vaccines but also confirmed they are not testing for H1N1 anymore and nobody really knows how many cases there are/were.

[amyfk]

Thanks for the link. I glanced at it quickly. I am keeping my daughter home from school tomorrow as there was a confirmed case. Maybe I'm a worry wart, but I dont care There is a local swine flu clinic at a local high school on Sat. so I will take dd there to get the first shot.
Best of luck to everyone,
Amy K, NJ

[JackieN]

How do they know in advance that the child is going to have to be out all the way to 11/9? That seems like a really long time! My whole family had it a few weeks ago and the doctors told us we could return to work/school after being fever-free (without medication) for 24 hours. None of us missed more than 2 or 3 days. I got sick on Friday and was back to work Monday morning.

After having it, all I can say is that it really isn't the big scary-thing the media makes it out to be. I know it can be bad for people with health problems (as can any flu), but for me and my family, it really was no worse than any other flu. In fact, my doctor told me that for most people, the regular flu that is expected this year will have symptoms much worse than swine flu. He said they are expecting a particularly strong strain of regular flu this year.

[dac_cincy]

So far- there have 8 confirmed cases in the high school my exchange student attents. Parent have been told that kids should be kept home until they are fever free without medication for 24- so it works out on average to a week at home.

In my area the CDC is also indicating that any flu symptoms reported are in fact H1N1 as teh seasonal flu is not active in our area ans is nto expected to be active for another month or so.

The excchange student and her parents have refused all flu vaccines so it will be interesting to see how she does. Although she will be leaving my home in 2-3 weeks (ling story).

For me, I try not to panic- my 4 year old had something last week, presenting with one symptom a day until he got a fever. Turns out he had an ear infection that was a mild case. But he had a fever even with meds for 3 days.

[dspakowsky]

I believe I just got over N1H1. It was a mix of cold/flu symptoms that I never had before. And, I believe my children gave it to me. Now my other family (not living with us) have it with the exact same symptoms. Anyways... if it's what we had, it wasn't that bad and the kids were better in about 4-5 days, and my mom and I in about 7 days. I wonder if we're immune to it now???

[cborsa7]

How do they know in advance that the child is going to have to be out all the way to 11/9? That seems like a really long time!

Most people with H1N1 are not confirmed.
The infectious period is unknown for H1N1 and is based upon seasonal flu. For adults it is 1 day prior, 7 days following. Anything less is considered possibly spreading the love to all you have contact with. In children it is 10 days following. Thus, keeping this child out of school could possibly stop an outbreak, very responsible on the schools part, or the parents.

Scroll down to: Infectious Period

CDC H1N1 Flu | Interim Guidance for Clinicians on Identifying and Caring for Patients with Swine-origin Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection

[cborsa7]

Another link to look at, non government:

Swine flu: Prevention - MayoClinic.com

[JackieN]

Originally Posted by cborsa7

Most people with H1N1 are not confirmed.
The infectious period is unknown for H1N1 and is based upon seasonal flu. For adults it is 1 day prior, 7 days following. Anything less is considered possibly spreading the love to all you have contact with. In children it is 10 days following. Thus, keeping this child out of school could possibly stop an outbreak, very responsible on the schools part, or the parents.

Wow, I can't imagine staying home a whole 7 days if I'm not feeling sick. The time off would have been wonderful until I returned to work to face the backlog!

Around here they are telling people to stay home until 24 hours after the fever breaks. In my case (confirmed), I got sick on Friday and the fever broke on Saturday morning. By Sunday, I was feeling fine and back to work on Monday.

My niece needed a doctor's note to return to school. Her doctor wrote her 5 notes, one for every day of the week, and told her to she could go back 24 hours after losing the fever and just use whatever note she needed. She ended up missing 2 days.

[joanr]

I would not keep her home. You would have to keep her out almost all school year to avoid it.

Here in MN at my son's school there were 20-28% of the students out with Influenza Like Symptoms each day this week. My son was one of them. He had it and my youngest son and I also has it this week. The boys had mild cases. Although my youngest now has an ear infection from the sinus drainage.

Best wishes to all to stay healthy.

-Joan

[shelbydog]

We had 100 kids out, and 9 teachers in one DAY a few weeks ago. I don't think there's a way to shield children from it all the time. A person can get it at the gas station, mall, doctor's office, or from their parent carrying it home from work. You can keep your child home from school, but you'd have to also keep him or her away from the entire public right now to avoid germs. We are trying to be smart, using hand sanitizer, avoiding people who are really sick or coughing alot, washing hands and eating healthy. We'll get the vaccines when they are available. My son (in that elem. school I mentioned) had a fever for 7 days - flu tests were negative but one doc believes he most likely had it.