I’m just curious what you are supposed to do if you suspect the flu, do you just treat it like a regular flu and get fluids and rest and so forth or do you go to the doctor to confirm if it is H1N1?
I ask because my 12 yr old is sick and I am worried it could be H1N1. He had a headache last night and this morning started with a fever over 102 (not sure if it would go higher because he’s taking Motrin which only brings it down into the high 99’s), bad headache and a cough out of no where. He doesn’t have any runny or stuffy nose though, just the cough headache, fatigue and fever. He said his throat hurts but only when he coughs.
If he continues with fever should I take him in Monday and get him tested for H1N1 or just keep him home from school and treat his symptoms?
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20
Dec
2009
If Your Child Has Flu Symptoms Should You Get Them Tested For H1n1?
6 Responses to If Your Child Has Flu Symptoms Should You Get Them Tested For H1n1?
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Doctors don’t really test for H1N1 anymore. Those who run tests will just test for Influenzavirus A, which tons of people get every year. Then they classify all influenza A cases as probable or presumed H1N1. Many will just assess the sympotms, and unless it’s screaming of being another virus, will say it’s also H1N1. There’s no real way that by taking him to the doctor you will find out for certain that it is or is not H1N1.
But, yes, you do treat it the same as the regular flu. It’s a virus, and all you can do is treat the symptoms, watch for serious problems, and then get treatment for those if you can’t manage them. It sounds like you’re controlling the fever well, and as long as you can keep him hydrated and breathing well, that’s all the doctors will do too.
Even if he has a different type of flu or a whole other virus (several others look like the flu and act like the flu, like the virus that causes colds and croup), he can still pass it on to others just like H1N1, even if it’s not as contagious. I’d suggest just keeping him home so you avoid getting others ill with whatever virus he has, and then treat his symptoms.
To be on the safe side, take him to the doctor to get tested. Better to be safe than sorry.
The symptoms of H1N1 are similar to the symptoms of common seasonal flu. The common symptoms of H1N1 Flu include:
Fever – particularly a fever of over 100 degrees
Sore throat
Cough
Chills and fatigue
Body aches
Headache
Occasionally, vomiting and diarrhea
You don’t need to get him tested, swine flu is just as bad as the regular flu.
That’s what the doctor said to my mom, when she suspected I had swine flu. People just make it seem like swine flu is worse
( I’m a year older than your son )
I also remember seeing an article saying that it wasn’t worse.
Get him tested. Also if his fever rises any more get treatment immediately. It it reaches 105 or more it can get very dangerous.
Doctors are no longer doing the mouth swab test that they were earlier this year because 99% of those test came back positive with H1N1. Your son’s next symptoms will be running nose in the next day, fever could go up to 103, keep him on Motrin/Advil whatever works for him. Chills are also possible for about 2 nights at the most. Keep him hydrated with water. The doctor will prescribe Tamiflu but I urge you to read about Tamiflu on the internet before you give it to your son. My daughter had 1 dose and that was enough for us to discontinue the medicine that was suppose to be given for 5 days. She became disoriented, vomited started 1 hour after taking it whereas she was not vomiting before taking it, she was acting strange and it was a very scary experience of us. Tamiflu has serious side effects, you must read about it before you go see your doctor. Tamiflu has killed people in Japan already this year. I wish we had stayed home and just continued with rest and Advil and lots of water, our daughter would have recovered 1 day faster if she did not get Tamiflu dose.
These are all the symptoms of H1N1. What you should do is call your dr. in the morning and ask what he wants you to do. I say this because there are docs who want the kids to come in and they will test them and if the symptoms are under 24 hrs, they will give him a tami flu shot so it will not be as bad. Timing is the issue. Other docs are saying, there is nothing that can be done because it is a virus and they do not want other patients who are also very ill exposed to the flu. Whatever the case, keep him hydrated and keep the fever down and use a humidifier and comfort measures. If he has problems breathing, get him in as it could be turning into pneumonia and that is very serious. So, call and ask.