Archive for the ‘Influenza (Flu)’ CategoryNews Flash: Flu Vaccine Arriving NowWednesday, October 28th, 2009Today, PCRR has received a limited amount of Seasonal Flu Vaccine and H1N1 Vaccine. Due to the low number of doses, we are going to be out again in just a few days, but it is a start. We are going to give both vaccines on a first-come-first-serve basis and we regret that we are unable to provide it for parents at this time. The Seasonal Flu Vaccine will be arriving periodically throughout the next few weeks. Eventually we will have enough for everyone, but right now our priority is to immunize children. Since the flu season does not start until later in the year in this part of the country, there is still time to get everyone vaccinated. We receive the H1N1 Vaccine from the Health Department. We are told the small amount we received is just one of several shipments and we are going to have enough vaccines for our entire pediatric population over the next weeks and months. Stay tuned! Updates are coming. Posted in Health Alerts, Influenza (Flu) | 1 Comment » Seasonal Flu Vaccine UpdateThursday, October 22nd, 2009As of today, we have not received the rest of our order of Seasonal Flu vaccine. We are told we will get it in the next 5-10 days and I will be updating you as soon as we do. Remember that the Seasonal Flu won’t arrive our area until a couple of months from now. Although it is a good idea to receive the vaccine as soon as possible, we are still well within the time where we can effectively vaccinate and build up immunity before the virus starts to spread. We have a completely different situation with the H1N1 vaccine. The virus is here and we are seeing patients affected by the H1N1 flu on a daily basis. Our office has signed up to receive the vaccine from the Health Department, in order to administer it to our patients. We have not received it yet and we don’t know when we will. It should be here within the next two weeks as well. We have been told that we’re going to receive vaccine for the new H1N1 in small increments throughout the coming weeks. As soon as we begin receiving it, we will let you know how to make appointments with out office. We hope to learn of other distribution sites as well, such as schools or clinics, and give you options as of where to get the vaccine. Posted in Influenza (Flu) | No Comments » NEWS FLASH- INFLUENZA UPDATE!Tuesday, October 6th, 2009We are temporarily out of the Seasonal Influenza vaccine. We are about to receive a second shipment any day now. We want everyone to be aware of this year’s special circumstances when it comes to flu vaccines. We usually start giving the seasonal influenza vaccine in the month of October, but this year most health care providers received their first shipment in September and started giving flu shots during the month of September. With the numerous cases of Influenza A (H1N1) emerging, and a new vaccine for Influenza A (H1N1) on the horizon, the CDC advised to start giving the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine earlier this year, to make it easier to deal with the new Influenza A (H1N1) vaccine when it becomes available. The recommendation was also made due to concern for patients with chronic conditions, such as children with asthma and respiratory difficulties, whom would benefit from getting the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine as soon as possible. Our office received a shipment of the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine in September and we have finished administering that shipment. We are now waiting for the second shipment to arrive and, as soon as it arrives, we will notify you here on our web site. This situation doesn’t indicate that the seasonal flu vaccine is going to be scarce this season; production is going to be sufficient and the temporary delay in distribution we are seeing reflects pure logistical challenges and should not be of concern. When the seasonal flu vaccine becomes available, we should be able to give to patients, parents and siblings as we have done in the past. The second situation we want to inform you about is the Influenza A Vaccine (H1N1). The CDC made recommendations for the administration of the new Influenza A (H1N1) Vaccine which we have posted on our web site. The vaccine will be available at our office when we receive it. We will make every effort to post information about the new vaccine administration on our web site as well. Pediatric Center of Round Rock Posted in Influenza (Flu) | No Comments » Chicken Soup for the FluSunday, September 27th, 2009I don’t know when or who came up with the recommendation of chicken soup to treat or alleviate the symptoms of winter maladies, but it is a wise advice that can contribute to an easier course of the disease. Whenever we have fever, from a viral cold or the flu, we do become slightly dehydrated, and our body rejects nutrition in the form of a heavy meal. But a light, liquid, warm repast that provides just enough calories to get by and helps to curve the dehydration caused by the fever, may just be what we need to feel better. This chicken soup is made from scratch and it is very easy to prepare. Although it is easier to open a can, just think about the hidden ingredients added to the process, such as colorants and preservatives. You may then decide to start cooking! Chicken soup provides the right amount of calories to help you fight the cold, with a perfect balance of carbohydrates (provided by the pasta), protein (in chicken and egg), fat (from chicken meat), as well as fiber and vitamins (in vegetables). Chicken Soup Ingredients - 1.5 lb of chicken. - 2 stalks of celery. - 2 medium carrots - 1 medium onion - 2 garlic cloves. - 1 medium tomato. - 1/3 cup of “egg pastina” - 1 hard-boiled egg. In a medium size pot, place the first 6 ingredients and add water until they are all covered. Bring to a boil and cook in low until the chicken is tender and the vegetables are soft (about 30 minutes). Take out the pieces of chicken and set them apart to allow them to cool off. Leave the rest of the ingredients in the water and remove the pot from the stove. Using a hand blender, mix the vegetables in the water until the solid vegetables become liquefied. When the chicken is cool, separate the meat from the bones and cut the meat in small pieces. Add the chicken meat to the liquefied mixture of vegetables. Add the “egg pastina” in the form of stars or little bullets, and allow cooking for another 15 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Before serving, add the hard-boiled egg cut in small pieces. Posted in Healthy Recipes, Influenza (Flu) | No Comments » FLU ADVICETuesday, September 22nd, 2009The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends annual flu immunizations to all Children, both healthy and with high-risk conditions, ages 6 months through 18 years. This year the recommendation includes all school-age children, since this population has the greatest incidence of disease. The goal is to reduce influenza among school-aged children, in order to minimize transmission to household contact and to the community. We often think of Influenza as “just a mild viral illness”, but the truth is the flu virus causes a number of complications every year, including increased risk of hospitalizations for those younger than 2 years of age. How can we tell the difference between Influenza infection and the common cold? YouR doctor can decide by examining the child; there are also Rapid Flu tests that can be performed in the office to confirm suspected cases. Here are some of the main differences to help you decide if your child’s symptoms are consistent with the flu.
There are two vaccines currently available to prevent flu. One is given by injection, and it is made from killed viral particles. The other is a live-attenuated virus vaccine and it is given in a nasal spray form. Children younger that 9 years, who get the flu vaccine for the first time, should get 2 doses of the vaccine, at least 4-6 weeks apart. Those older than 9 years need only one dose, even if they previously have not received the vaccine. Posted in Influenza (Flu) | No Comments » Seasonal Flu Shots ClinicFriday, September 18th, 2009We are having a seasonal flu shot clinic on Sunday September 27, 2009 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. We will see patients by appointment only. As a courtesy we will administer the flu vaccine to parents as well as caregivers. The charge for this will be a flat $30.00 dollars. We will not file this charge to your insurance.The children’s visit will be filled to their insurance as usual. We hope that this provides you with an alternative option for your convenience. Posted in Influenza (Flu) | No Comments » Seasonal Flu Vaccine is HereSaturday, September 5th, 2009The seasonal Influenza vaccine has arrived and we are already administering it. The vaccine is indicated for all children after 6 months of age; at our office we also have vaccine available for parents and other family members. We encourage patients with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, to get immunized as soon as possible. Call for an appointment: 733-5437. The new Influenza A H1N1 vaccine is not ready for distribution yet. When it becomes available we’ll announce it in this Newsletter section. We anticipate distribution by the end of the year. According to CDC news, the vaccine is going to be offered at schools and other institutions, and we’ll have it available at our office as well. Posted in Influenza (Flu) | No Comments » Influenza A (H1N1) Pandemic in the United StatesTuesday, September 1st, 2009
One of the main concerns for the medical community is how the new virus is going to behave when co-mingling with the seasonal influenza virus in the fall. We are observing the Southern Hemispheres, where they are right now going through their winter months and learning from their experience. We are learning and getting prepared. Since this is a new pandemic, coordination of efforts and following recommendations is going to be of utmost importance during the upcoming flu season. Initially, the novel virus was referred to as the “swine flu” because some of the genes found in the new virus resembled those found in the flu virus affecting pigs (swine) in the United States. Further studies showed that the virus is very different from the pig virus; it actually contains genes present in bird flu (also known as avian flu) and also in human flu. The new virus causes symptoms similar to the seasonal flu and it is spread the same way, mainly from human to human through droplets released while coughing or sneezing. Touching a surface with the virus on it, and then touching our eyes or nose can also transmit the virus. The symptoms associated with the virus include fever, sore throat, headache, congestion, body aches and fatigue. Some patients have reported vomiting and diarrhea. The new virus is reported to produce mild symptoms in some patients, but is also responsible for hospitalizations and deaths. We know that a sector of the population is at High Risk for complications of the regular seasonal flu: those age 65 years or older, those younger than 5 years, pregnant woman, and patients with chronic conditions. The novel flu virus seems to produce complications in high-risk patients as well, mainly patients who are pregnant or suffer from diabetes, asthma, heart disease and kidney disease. Those over 60 years of age seem to be protected against the virus. It is believed that this age group has some natural antibodies from previous contacts with similar viruses. We must remember that the novel virus is a relative of the one causing the flu pandemic in 1918, of which we had outbreaks up until 1957. For this reason, the CDC thinks the new virus may cause a most serious disease burden to those younger than 25 years of age. At this time, there are fewer cases and fewer deaths reported in patients older than 65 years of age, which is contrary to the behavior of the seasonal flu. People who suffer from Influenza A (N1H1) infection are contagious from 1 day before the appearance of symptoms to 7 days after. It is recommended to stay home for 7 days or 24 hours after the disappearance of fever, whichever is longer. As for measures to minimize the spread of the virus, they are not different from the universal advice given for seasonal influenza:
The virus may live on a surface for up to 8 hours. It is killed by heat, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, soap and alcohol. There is no risk associated with eating or preparing pork, since the virus is not spread by food. So far there has been no description of virus spread from drinking water. A new vaccine for the Influenza A (H1N1) virus is going to be available this fall. It is recommended to get the seasonal influenza vaccine as soon as it becomes available, and follow the CDC recommendations for the new vaccine. The population groups included in the recommendations for the new vaccine are:
For more information, check these two websites: Posted in Influenza (Flu) | 1 Comment » Is the Flu Vaccine in Your Fall Plans?Thursday, August 13th, 2009Since April 2009 the world has been suffering from a pandemia that is, in a way, not a totally new one. “Although this influenza strain surprised us in a couple of ways…… the fact that a novel strain has arisen and is being transmitted from human to human is not a surprise,” says Dr. Michael Pichichero, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases from Rochester, NY, in the latest publication of Pediatric News. Dr. Pichichero goes on to describe three other novel viral species causing disease in humans. Why the uproar with the new Influenza A (H1N1)? We don’t know a lot about the new virus, but we do have some historic information about its close relative, the influenza virus that caused the 1918 pandemia that killed near 50 million people. The virus we see today has genetic information from the virus that affects pigs, which is why this pandemia was referred to as “swine flu” initially, and also from bird and human strains. Starting this fall, we are going to witness the circulation of two viruses in the community: the Influenza A (H1N1) and the seasonal influenza. Authorities recommend getting the seasonal influenza vaccine as soon as it becomes available, and the Influenza A (H1N1) vaccine when it gets ready to be distributed. Why are we going to need two vaccines? The influenza virus undergoes changes in its genome every year, and therefore we need to develop a matching vaccine for every season. This vaccine may – in theory – have some protection against the novel H1N1 virus, but the truth is that we don’t know to what extent. We do know that the protection wouldn’t be relevant or sufficient anyway. That is the reason for the development of a second vaccine this season. I don’t want to sound alarmist, but I am aware of what viruses can do, and I am concerned about the co-mingling of two influenza strains in the same person. Especially if the host has a chronic debilitating condition, which in my world of pediatric patients means mainly Asthma or Congenital Heart Disease. My advice to the population in general is to make sure to get the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible, and follow the CDC recommendations when the new vaccine becomes available. The cases of Influenza A (H1N1) I have seen so far have been mild, with symptoms resembling the regular seasonal flu. We are hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. In the meantime, remember to follow the universal precautions to reduce the spread of any virus: wash your hands and cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. Posted in Influenza (Flu) | 1 Comment » |
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In June 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic of novel Influenza A (H1N1) virus. Since the first cases were reported in April 2009, lots of cases have been described in many countries, causing hospitalizations and some deaths. In the United States we have been seeing cases throughout the summer, most of them reporting mild symptoms and recovering without complications. Over the last few months we had the opportunity of learning about the behavior of the new virus. We know how to use our diagnostic tools and the validity of those tools; we also know more about the impact of the antiviral medications available against the flu virus.