Vitals Spotlight - We Give the Doctor an Exam

Just yestersay came this tragic story out of Israel; A 35-year-old woman died in Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital due to complications of H1N1 swine flu. She gave birth to a still born earlier in the day, apparently a victim of the illness too. She is survived by her husband and 10 children, the eldest being 14 and the youngest 18 months.  (YWN News)

Dr. Gene Burke is the vice president and executive medical director for clinical effectiveness for Sentara Healthcare and he offers the following cautionary advice to pregnant women:

Dr. Gene Burke (hpiresults.com)

H1N1 is more contagious than seasonal flu. People haven’t built up resistance to it like the seasonal flu, which comes around every year.  What’s also unusual is that children, pregnant women and young adults are especially susceptible to H1N1. This is not your typical flu that normally impacts the very young and the very old. Because H1N1 didn’t die down this summer, and because a vaccine for it won’t be available until at least late October, health officials are expecting an early flu season, especially now that schools and colleges are back in session. If you think you have H1N1, seek medical attention if you’re considered at high risk for complications. That includes pregnant women, children under 5, people with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and asthma, and people with compromised immune systems.

Health officials don’t want to overuse anti-virals because viruses can become resistant to drugs, Burke said. If you get sick, stay home, drink clear liquids and get plenty of rest. Everything your mom would’ve told you. H1N1 has the power to spread like wildfire. If you do get sick with this, stay home. Don’t be the tough guy and say, I’m going to go in and do my work anyway.

Dr. David Trump, a preventive medicince specialist and director of Peninsula Health District in Virginia gives the following advice:

If it seems to be the flu and you’re tolerating it OK, you may not need to go to the physician. You may not need Tamiflu, one of the anti-virals used to lessen the symptoms of H1N1. Your prescription may be time and some TLC to get better. You can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to lessen pain and fever, but avoid aspirin for children under 18, he said.

Vitals.com has more information on Dr. David Trump and Dr. Jennifer Ashton