I've heard similar things about seasonal flu not being active right now. i doubt that is 100% accurate as in even mid summer one can get flu, when it isn't a season like this with H1N1 strains. However I have no doubt that seasonal flu is definitly more rampant in Jan-Feb etc.
Nobody here is tested for H1N1 unless they are ill enough to need hospitalization. People are being asked to NOT go to doctors office or ER unless their flu symptoms are dangerous (dehydration, high/low blood pressure, super high fevers, respitory distress - meaning not just the cough, stuffiness, but apparent lack of oxygen etc). This helps to decrease the spread of the flu. Plus, those with say strep throat, sitting in a wait room with true flu cases, leave themselves MORE open to infection with flu while their immune system is battling another illness.
It suprises me how many people are dragging themselves and their children to clinics, doctor offices and ER's when it is unneeded. Even tamiflu is a DRUG. I wouldn't put it in my childrens or my own body unless it is within that initial 48 hours of illness time frame and unless our symptoms were hitting dangerous levels. our bodies are wonderful things. We fight things off. We feel wretched perhaps, but it goes away over time. Adding drugs that aren't going to eliminate me or the kids having flu just makes no sense. We are a society that benefits surely from modern medicine, but I believe we rely on it far too much.
I know my easy child's father was upset with me. She was off school for 2 weeks. She missed several hockey games and practices and that included an important hockey tournament. He wanted her in to the doctor. I said "Ok, we can discuss it. What for?" He said well she has a fever, a cough, she is drained and tired and missing alot of school". I responded "Can a doctor do anything for a fever other than tell us to use tylenol and common sense to reduce the fever?" . No. "Can doctor cure her cough other than recommending cough medicine, etc?" No. "Can doctor create energy to infuse her with?" No. "Is she in danger with her temp being controlled with medications, cool baths etc? Is she in danger from anything serious from coughing so much? She isn't dehydrated. She isn't having any serious breathing issues. What can the doctor do?" I don't know. "I feel the same way. Can't see a thing a doctor can do. If this situation escalates I would take her, but perhaps taking her around so many viruses in a wait room might make her catch something else?" He finally agreed it was a bit silly to drag a ill, fevered, lethargic, sore, coughing child outdoors, across town, long wait in a room full of others ill, to be told "Do what you are doing, come see us if things get much worse"
I think that people who've had serious effects have darn good reason to seek help. I just don't know why so many are panicking or near hysteria or fist fights over vaccines, wait times for doctors etc. The flu stinks. easy child, difficult child and I both had it. Was it bad? Yes. Was it life threatening? No. Could we catch it every single flu season? Definitly. I don't see the difference this year. I do get that H1N1 is affecting groups not normally considered high risk. However the number of serious injuries or deaths is a drop in the pan from regular flu. I guess elderly people dying from flu don't make good news like children or pregnant women do. But elderly people die in tens of thousands from flu each year. It is sad in EACH instance. Sadly, it is also the circle of life.
I don't think people should downplay the flu. I just wish people would use more common sense, a tad less hysteria (our media is flooded with the craze of upset people) and stop panicking one another, especially children who are terrified of this all without need.
Having said all that, common sense to me is doing what we can do, in our control, to avoid it. Hand washing, caution around ill people in public, not doing large group activities if not needed, etc.
I do hope that anyone who catches it does recoup quickly. It hoovers having flu, realllly does.
- Gotta admit though - the rat story has some merit.
