Update on H1N1

Tweet During the last week, there has been a decrease in influenza activity across the United States. There are some other recent developments as well.

Norwegian health authorities have discovered a mutation in the H1N1 virus that leads to more serious symptoms. It causes the virus to go deeper into the respiratory system. It's not widespread, but similar mutations have been found in other countries. http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssPharmaceuticals%20-%20Diversified/idUSLK71202920091120?sp=true

H1N1, a mixture of swine, bird and human viruses, has recently been found in three cats, one in Iowa, one in Utah, and one in Oregon who died of the virus. Five ferrets have also contracted the disease. Recommendations for limiting the virus in animals is similar to that in humans...wash hands (especially before feeding), use sanitizer, sneeze and cough into your arm or a tissue, avoid touching your face and the animal's face, and limit contact with the pet while you are sick. http://www.examiner.com/x-26424-Indianapolis-Healthy-Living-Examiner~y2009m11d20-Oregon-cat-is-the-first-feline-death-from-H1N1-in-the-US

British officials are investigating a strain of the H1N1 virus that is resistant to the antiviral Tamiflu. So far there has been no confirmed person-to-person transmission of this strain. http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUSLK44053620091120

There is some good news. The H1N1 vaccine appears to have the same safety record as that of the seasonal flu vaccine. Even better, 80 million doses have been distributed, and 65 million have been given worldwide. http://www.swineflufight.net/?p=161

Of course, there is a problem with the availability of the vaccine. In my area, H1N1 vaccines have only been available by appointment through the county health department, and then only for certain populations. In fact, I've been on a waiting list for several weeks for the regular seasonal flu shot and still have not been called to make an appointment to get the vaccine.

When Your Child is Sick

Tweet A few days ago I came down with something. I don't know what it was, but it got worse during the day. I did not have a fever. In fact, my temperature was 97.7 degrees F. By evening I had been in the bathroom several times. Then I slept for about 12 hours. At first I thought it was something I had eaten, but it reminded me of the stomach flu I used to get when I was a kid. Even though I had no temperature, there was no way I could have gone to work that day. Even now, my stomach has been a little queasy off and on.

I started thinking about how a parent knows whether to keep a child home from school. Over the years I taught a lot of children who should not have been at school. Of course, there are also those who stay home with a paper cut, but that's a whole other story.

I started looking online and found some good websites. One of them (number 1 on the list below) gives the following recommendations:

The main reasons for keeping your child home are:
– He’s too sick to be comfortable at school.
– He might spread a contagious disease to other children.

As a rule of thumb, a child should stay home if he has:
– A fever higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit
– Vomited more than once
– Diarrhea
– A very frequent cough
– Persistent pain (ear, stomach, etc.)
– A widespread rash

More good information can be found at the following websites:
1. http://www.choa.org/Menus/Documents/ForProfessionals/01sick_for_school.pdf
2. http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/features/your-child-too-sick-for-school
3. http://life.familyeducation.com/illness/school/36217.html
4. http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/pediatrics101/a/when_call_pedi.htm
5. http://www.bcm.edu/news/item.cfm?newsID=1297

Germ-Free Zone

Tweet Germ-free zone? That's one thing a school isn't. Students tend not to worry about germs. They share drinks and food. They hug. They're confined in rooms with 30 other students. It is "a perfect storm."

I just heard on The Today Show that the World Health Organization expects the number of H1N1 flu virus cases to double every 3 to 4 days for the next few months. The combination of school starting and the approach of autumn and winter adds to that "perfect storm."

There are precautions that can be taken. Everyone should was his or her hands frequently. If you are sick, stay home at least 24 hours after a fever has ended. It might be a good idea to buy a thermometer if you don't have one. Teachers may want to have hand sanitizer available in their rooms. Students who have flu symptoms at school should be isolated until they can be sent home. Of course, the best way to prevent the virus from spreading is vaccination.

If a child does have to miss school, parents should contact each of their child's teachers. In this way, the teacher knows what is going on and can better prepare. He or she may be able to provide packets of lessons or may be able to put those lessons online. Many schools have home teachers who can visit the student if he or she is out for an extended period of time. By doing these things, children can stay home, get well, and come back to school healthy without getting behind in their studies.

A good place to get more information is:
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/emergencyplan/pandemic/index.html

Get Your Sleep

Tweet Adequate sleep is one of the most important aspects of good mental and physical health. When I was teaching, I saw so many students who just couldn't concentrate because they were sleep deprived. Many were able to keep up, but that's about it. They could have been much better students had they been getting proper sleep. Many actually fell asleep during class and of course, I had to wake them, fully realizing they probably needed the sleep.

I know what it's like to be sleep deprived. I slept very little in high school and college because I thought it cut into my study time. As a teacher, I probably averaged 3-4 hours of sleep a night during the week. There were papers to check, tests to write, lesson plans to prepare, forms and reports to write. None of this could be done during the school day because that time was spent teaching. I tried to catch up on sleep over the weekends, but that didn't help completely. Eventually, this took its toll on me. I was always tired and because I wasn't accomplishing what I thought I should (because of tiredness), I was stressed. The stress led to an increase in cortisol which led to an increase in weight. Over the years I eventually became obese, increasing the amount of tiredness, stress, cortisol, and weight gain. The weight gain led to fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, and diabetes. The sleep apnea meant I was getting even less sleep than I thought I was. More tiredness...more stresses...more weight...more health risks...more tiredness... It was a vicious cycle that no one should have to suffer. I did exercise some, but it was sporadic. I just didn't feel I could take the time to exercise because I had so much to do and I was so tired and nothing was getting accomplished as I thought it should.

Since retiring, the change has been amazing. It's taken two years for me to feel like my old self, but I think I'm almost there. With the time and ability to sleep, the stress is gone, the blood pressure is down, the diabetes is under control without medication, the liver enzymes are back to normal, and the weight is down by 60 pounds. I'm not completely healthy yet, but I'm getting there.

I relate all this, because it shows the importance of sleep. Sleep deprivation will take its toll on your health. Websites I've looked at say that school age children (6-10 years old) need 10-11 hours of sleep per night, adolescents (11-18 years old) need about 9.5 hours, and adults need an average of 8 hours per night.

Parents (and schools and employers) should make sure children are getting the proper amount of sleep. I've seen parents with small school age children in the grocery store at 11 pm. I've seen schools schedule activities on school nights that last until 11 or 12. I've seen employers work high school students until 10 pm four or five nights a week, fully knowing these students still have to go home and do homework. It's not fair to the child to deprive them of sleep and it's setting them up for a variety of health problems, as well as an inability to do their best in school.

Check out these websites for more information:
http://sleepdisorders.about.com/od/howmuchsleepdoineed/a/how_much_sleep.htm
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/how-much-sleep-do-children-need
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/teens-health/CC00019/NSECTIONGROUP=2