Tag Archives: influenza

Flu Sucks Life out of my Party

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I would like to be one of the first people in the media to bring to your attention there is a sickness, an illness, out there called influenza.

You haven’t heard this anywhere else, right? It has a zillion strains, or “versions,” so unfortunately a vaccine, which is produced WELL before flu season creeps across our country, can be hit or miss.

NEWS UPDATE:
“Winter of 2012-2013: USA = MISS”

MjAxMy1hZmI0Y2ZjOTE2ZWIzMzNjAccording to the CDC (January 11, 2013), only 62% of those protected by the immunization are “fully” protected by the shot. How do you like them odds? Well, in the past we have seen better, but every year it’s a craps shoot. We can’t now assume immunizing our children is worthless because ONE year some very brilliant scientists missed the ball. All the other years they are pretty accurate in guessing which strains might come our way. But peeps…it’s a GUESS!! Meteorologists…back me up on this one, right?!

I got the flu last week, (not looking for pity…just an example) and now I am able to breathe pretty well after 7 days of a Lance Armstrong regimen of steroids and antibiotics to fight back the case of pneumonia that wanted to spank my bootie and say my name. But I have to say, I didn’t get the flu as bad as I have in the past because I got my flu shot.

Several years ago, I wasn’t protected and got the H1N1 before it was bestowed that elegant name (oink, oink); and let’s just say…I think I spent some time horizontal time in the hospital. This is from a report via my family because I truly don’t remember but fleeting moments of it! Sick puppy. Don’t recommend the H1N1!

It still amazes me there are people who are not immunizing in 2013. This is dangerous thinking and can be deadly for young children and older adults. Don’t think it’s only happening on the east coast. Also, if you are around anyone with a compromised immune system (like cancer…) as a community you need to stay healthy for them as well.

Follow your doctor’s guidelines. Remember it takes 2 weeks for the shot to start working fully, but it will begin working immediately. The flu season lasts until March and this shot is a year’s worth of protection!!!

Also, adequate sleep, super nutrition and hydration are keys to keeping your immune system strong. Concentrate on these during the winter months so a “sick bug” doesn’t catch you with your immune system shorts down.

Be strong and prosper…
And party on, like its 1999, when we didn’t have to Purell our grocery cart handles!

©2013, Stacey Hatton. All rights reserved. This post is for entertainment purposes only and not to replace advice from your medical provider.

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Cold and Flu? Not You!

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previously published in KC Parent magazine January 2012 issue

Yes, once again we have hit the cold and flu season like a bag of bricks, and it’s a challenge to avoid catching these nasty germs. But if you follow a simple rule, you have a better chance of saving yourself some misery—not to mention some cash on the tissues and cough drops.

People often find it difficult to tell the difference between the two most common winter illnesses. Consider this information:
Common Cold Signs and Symptoms (American Academy of Pediatrics)

  • Sneezing
  • Stuffy/ runny nose
  • Coughing
  • Sore throat
  • Watery eyes
  • Mild headache

People generally contract a cold from a cough or sneeze or direct contact with infected persons. Colds normally resolve within 7 days, but some can last up to 2 weeks. Symptoms appear 2-3 days after exposure.

Flu Signs and Symptoms (AAP)

  • Sudden fever and chills (normally >101°F)
  • Head and body aches
  • Extreme fatigue (more than usual)
  • Sore throat
  • Dry cough
  • Stuffy or runny nose

Usually after a week or two, most symptoms have disappeared. “However, it’s important to treat the flu seriously,” reports the Nemours Foundation, “because it can lead to pneumonia and other life-threatening complications, particularly in infants, senior citizens and people with long-term health problems.”

Hand Washing vs. Hand Sanitizer: Proper hand washing often is the best method to prevent common winter maladies.
Using soap and warm water and rubbing thoroughly for at least 20 seconds is recommended—which just happens to be the duration of the “Happy Birthday Song” repeated twice. “An alcohol-based hand cleanser or sanitizer works well, too,” says the AAP. “Put enough on your hands to make them all wet, then rub them together until dry.”

Hand Washing Facts:

  • Use warm water.
  • Use whatever soap you like. Antibacterial soaps are popular, but regular soap works fine. If you suspect that your hands have come into contact with someone with an infection, think about using an alcohol hand sanitizer.
  • In public restrooms, consider using a paper towel to flush the toilet and open the door, because toilet and door handles harbor germs. Throw the towel away after you leave.

(Nemours Foundation)

Final Words to the Winter Wise: While washing your hands more frequently and exposing them to the colder elements, use mild soaps with warm water to avoid chapping. Blot hands dry and, finally, apply a moisturizing lotion with no added fragrances or dyes.

Stacey Hatton is a pediatric RN and freelance writer.

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Winter Weather Woes: Avoid the Hazards

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(previously published on 1.03.11 in Lawrence Journal-World news)

Winter has marched in, bringing with it frigid temperatures. Not only is the cold weather a drag on spirits, it can be damaging to you and your children’s health.

Catching a “bug”

If you have never had the flu (respiratory influenza), you are one of the lucky few. This virus is freely passed from October through May, and typically with one dose, your family members are protected that year from the seasonal flu.

According to the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP), “The rates of infection are highest among children, and symptoms can last a week or longer.”

Symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills, muscle aches and fatigue. Some children whose immune symptoms are weakened from other illnesses can become much sicker, and flu can turn into pneumonia.

“There are two types of seasonal influenza vaccine: inactivated (killed) vaccine, which is given by an injection (shot), and live attenuated (weakened) vaccine that is sprayed into the nostrils,” says the AAP. “The 2010-2011 flu vaccine includes H1N1 as one of the three strains it protects against.”

The only way to protect your family from the common cold is to live in a cave, and that still might not do it. Proper handwashing (AAP recommendation: warm, soapy water for 15 seconds) is the best prevention of winter illness. Make sure to wash those kids’ hands before they eat, after leaving school or indoor playgrounds.

Nose bleeds

Low humidity levels in the air are responsible for many winter woes, including frequent nose bleeds.

Dr. Steven Bruner, a family practice physician with Lawrence Family Medicine and Obstetrics, says, “A whole-house humidifier or a humidifier in the room where the child sleeps” is recommended and also placing “Vaseline on the septum (internal separator of nostrils) can help.”

Dry skin and chapped lips

These can also be relieved with a whole-house humidifier. The added moisture reverses the dry heat from the furnace. Without this your family members’ skin can become dry, cracked or irritated.

When bathing your child, don’t use too hot of water and use soap only on the necessary parts.

“Soap leaches out the moisture in our skin,” Bruner says. And be sure to moisturize right out of the bath. Adding the lotion to wet skin, can help seal in moisture.

For chapped lips, vigilance is key.

Bruner says, “A beeswax lip balm needs to be used often until regular humidity returns.”

Frostbite

This does not occur as often in the Midwest as our northern neighbors, but parents must ensure their kids aren’t out in the frigid elements for too long. If clothing becomes saturated with wetness, the risk of frostbite increases.

Dress your children in many layers which can be removed when they get wet.

“Frostnip is an early warning sign of the onset of frostbite,” reports Nemours Foundation. “It leaves the skin white and numb.”

“Jack Frost nipping at your nose isn’t just a song,” says Dr. Bruner. It really can be dangerous if your child doesn’t know to come in from the cold.

Frostbite mainly is found on nose, ears, cheeks, fingers and toes. “The area becomes very cold and turns white or yellowish gray,” according to Nemours. “If you notice frostbite, take your child immediately to the nearest hospital emergency room.”

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless gas produced by wood-burning or gas appliances, such as older heaters, stoves, water heaters or dryers.Symptoms of CO poisoning are feeling overly tired, dizziness, headaches, shortness of breath and confusion. If more than one person in your household has these symptoms, you should be suspicious of CO exposure, get out of the house and call 9-1-1.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical Department reported approximately 35 carbon monoxide related calls in 2010.

It is recommended to have carbon monoxide detectors outside of bedrooms. Yearly inspections and cleanings of woodstoves or fireplaces are advised to ward off potential carbon monoxide hazards.

Additional winter dangers:

• Risk of house fires increases in the winter. Extinguish all candles if you leave the room, keep space heaters away from furniture and curtains, and replace your smoke detector batteries twice a year (daylight saving time can be a good reminder to change clocks and batteries).

• Snow shoveling is fine for older, school-aged kids, but young children should not shovel due to risk of muscle strain from lifting too heavy amounts of snow.

• Make sure to have a first-aid kit, extra blankets, snacks and water, and gloves and hats in the car during the winter months just in case your family is stranded on the road. If you have a teen driver, make sure to supply their car as well and let them know of its placement and to actually use it if stranded.

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