How are you? I am swine, thank you!
18 Aug 2009 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: H1N1, paediatricians, Sudarshan Vidya Mandir, swine flu
Obviously, the pall of anxiety has engulfed the entire city. Nobody wants to take a chance. Not when the death toll is rising every single day. When it rains, people ‘feel’ the virus breeds faster, ‘expect’ conditions to worsen and rush to the doctors, ‘feeling’ that the feverishness that they ‘sensed’ that morning ‘could’ be a deadly indication of H1N1. Schools, offices, market places, bookstores, cinemas and everywhere else, people are cussing the swine. And for the media, its party time! They just wont stop feasting on the swine. This reporter was there, to etch new angles to the swine, with every new dawn. To sum it all -
The shocking demise of the kindergarten teacher from Sudarshan Vidya Mandir rocked the city as it was the first swine flu death. Now, the school effort’s to bounce back to normalcy, putting the death behind and smile on despite being in the media glare must be impossible, just as it is to us journos, who bear their mood swings and frustrations with a broad smile (while wondering what the hell is so suddenly awful, while all of us in our respective businesses are pressed to deliver, especially in a crises of this magnitude), only with an intention to update to the awfully panicky and incurably curious public(which is justifiable in such a crisis, anyway). The subsequent deaths of another 3 people who were in the prime of their youth, owing to swine flu aggravated the panic amongst the youth. They rushed to check on their flu status albeit the damp Monday morning(17 Aug 09). With our panic, rush and all as a ruse, we may pass off but the pressure mounting on doctors amidst all this flu mayhem is, to put it mildly, freaky! Although the health authorities are striving hard to ward off the fear, they arent doing it conspicuously enough. At the testing centres, what catches the eye is the absence of any signages, help desks or placards guiding the panicky lot. Or maybe its never too enough, considering the herd mentality. Wherever is the strife for herd immunity now!
Edited version of the following story appeared in DNA, on Page 3, on 15 August 2009
Don’t worry, be cautious
The flu is everywhere. But the scare of the flu appears to be mightier than the flu itself, compelling parents to be overly cautious to safeguard their children. But doctors recommend parents to take correct measures and not succumb to the scare and thereby panic and overdo it.
Dr Nijaguna, Paediatrician, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, said, “Children of different age groups need care and protection against the virus to varying degrees. It is not wise for parents and teachers panicking and going in for swine flu tests frantically.”
He explained that infants remain unaffected by the H1N1 virus, as long as the mother breast feeds the baby and toddlers on the other hand, are most susceptible to the H1N1 virus, like they are to any other virus. Their movement must be restricted to in and around their family. The mode of transportation of school going children who are less than 8 years of age, he said, must be either the school bus or the parents themselves should drop them, in order to track the infected more easily. And to protect children aged more than 8 years, teacher-parent relation must be well established. They must check the children’s conditions on a day-to-day basis. Parents must avoid sending their children to school if they are sick and teachers must ensure children maintain good distance from one another in crowded places of the school, he emphasised.
With the atmosphere steeped in the fear of flu, maintaining good hygiene should become a compulsive practice. People, besides family members must avoid hugging and cuddling up with children, said Dr Preeti Galagali, Member, Indian Paediatric Association. She added, “Children are most likely to be in physical contact. Overly hugging and kissing them should be avoided. Moreover, keeping them at home when ill is a must. General respiratory and personal hygiene is more significant now.”
Dr Nijaguna also said that symptoms of common cold, fever and cough don’t indicate swine flu. Based on the family physician’s recommendations, further tests can be administered. He added that during medication, children must be supplemented with lots of fluids and easily digestible foods besides ample rest. A strong immune system can produce antibodies to ward off the virus by itself, he stressed.
What parents should know
Weak immune system in children makes them susceptible to complications of the viral infection. Children’s hygiene is of primary importance since they are more in physical contact. Ensuring that they wash their hands frequently and thoroughly, making sure that they do not meddle with their noses, avoiding the exchange of saliva while eating, shaking hands or while kissing children, and helping the child maintain personal space of one metre from the ill is all important to keep a check on the child’s immunity to the virus. Parents should play a responsible role in keeping their ill children at home. At home, the mother sleeping beside the sick child can also contract the virus. Children can bring the virus home too because they are exposed to various environments.
Children can contract sore throat, severe cough and cold and still not be susceptible to the H1N1 virus. It could be a secondary bacterial infection that can be cured by steam inhalation, cough syrup and vitamins syrup. The ill child must be monitored on alternate days or everyday, and must be admitted only if the physician recommends. The flu is curable, if the immunity of the child is strong and does not suffer from asthma, pneumonia, liver or lung diseases, and is not malnourished. Immunity of the child can be strengthened by ensuring the child consuming liquids, vitamins, good food and good sleep. Mothers should breast feed children upto two years, for that best builds the immunity of the child, against any virus. Parents must necessarily change clothes and freshen up before they play with their children at home.
Symptoms
Symptoms that parents need to look out for, in order to prevent their children from contracting the virus:
- Common cold
- Fever exceeding 100 degree Fahrenheit
- Cough
- Severe diarrhoea
- Vomiting
Parents need not rush in for a swine flu test but can seek the advice of a family physician.
If the symptoms persist, parents still need not go in for a swine flu test immediately but can opt for a blood test, which will help determine if it’s a bacterial infection or a viral infection. And the symptoms are:
- Body temperature still exceeds 100 degree Fahrenheit
- Child appears more sick than others
- Refuses food
- Sleeps very less
- There is rapid breathing
- Child is extremely lethargic and inactive
- The child becomes impossible to handle
- The child is irritable
- Cold intensifies
- Cough worsens
- Severe diarrhoea persists
Protection children need
Less than one yr old: They are very less exposed and have greater protection against viral infections. Mothers to continue breast feeding for two years, to maintain high immunity. They should not be exposed to those sick. To avoid strangers.
Toddlers: Highly prone to any viral infection. Their movement to be restricted to their homes. They should preferably not be taken to crowded places and should not be enrolled to playhomes.
School going children, between 7-8 years: Difficult to ensure they maintain distance. Respiratory and personal hygiene should be very high. To avoid congested places. Nose-to-nose contact and contact with Ayahs must be prevented.
Children above 8 years: Teachers and parents must monitor children’s health conditions from time to time. Children to maintain personal space in crowded places at school – classrooms, dining hall, play ground and prayer halls. Ventilation in classrooms. Parents to drop off children or a school van to cater to commute so that the infected can be traced.
They say..