Pandemic (Swine) Flu - Page 52

Pia · 02-08-2009, 17:18

So i have a question (or two)...

As a pregnant woman, why exactly am i "at risk"? Is it because my immune system is lowered, or because the 'virus' would spread to baby? Or both?

I mean, is it that i'm more likely to catch it than non pregnant people, or that it's more dangerous if i do?

Baby is due in December, and apparently we should be getting ready for it being much worse in winter - should i be considering a home birth, or is that ridiculous?

My thinking would be that it's surely better for me to have it whilst pregnant, than just after giving birth (which a link on here said 2 women have died from it just after giving birth) and baby getting it whilst newborn?

Anyway i'm not donning the face masks or anything, but i've not showed too much interest in this so far as i have tried not to get lured into the media scaremongering. However i do think it's likely i'm going to get it, with a 6 yr old back at school next month, and i have visions of the hospitals being full of contagious people when i go into labour

superbiatch · 02-08-2009, 17:24

Here you go Pia http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pandemi...nantwomen.aspx

joglynne · 02-08-2009, 17:36

..and another site, which has been updated recently to take in all the current thinking.

http://www.nct.org.uk/info-centre/information/view-117

Pia · 02-08-2009, 17:46

Thanks for the links

jonbxx · 03-08-2009, 09:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by joglynne

..and another site, which has been updated recently to take in all the current thinking.

http://www.nct.org.uk/info-centre/information/view-117

Just read that link - genius idea to put a child with a temperature in a sling. That will keep them cool.....

Pia · 03-08-2009, 23:02

Lol i thought the same when i read that.

joglynne · 03-08-2009, 23:12

Very dodgy advise, and surprising considering the organisation behind the site is the National Childbirth Trust.

**Matt D** · 05-08-2009, 19:41

"GPs fear swine flu misdiagnosis"

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Guardian

Denis Campbell
The Guardian, Wednesday 5 August 2009

Almost nine out of 10 GPs fear people with serious conditions such as tonsillitis, bronchitis and meningitis could be wrongly diagnosed as having swine flu by the new telephone helpline.

In a survey of 251 family doctors, 87% said that diagnosing swine flu over the phone did mean that other diseases may be missed. The findings raise questions about the National Pandemic Flu Service, which handles half of all calls with an operator, and the other half via its website.

In comments to GP newspaper, which ran today's poll, one GP said: "Saw a case today of measles which was diagnosed over the phone as swine flu." Another said: "Patients are making up symptoms in order to get Tamiflu and for example meningitis or tonsillitis or bronchitis/pneumonia may be missed."

Another GP said he had seen two cases of tonsillitis and a knee infection who were prescribed Tamiflu over the phone.

(snip)

**Russ** · 05-08-2009, 19:57

I'm starting to get tired of this media horse**** about the helpline.

We do NOT diagnose people as having swine flu or any kind of condition.

We ask a series of questions and judging from the answers that callers give, our systems decide if they would benefit from antiviral treatment. Nothing more.

Pia · 05-08-2009, 21:03

Lol did they seriously just put tonsillitis in with meningitis when talking about serious illnesses?

05-08-2009, 21:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pia

Lol did they seriously just put tonsillitis in with meningitis when talking about serious illnesses?

it depends how you react to it some people it can be a nasty infection but you are right not quite same league lol

Pia · 05-08-2009, 21:08

I get it really bad, now and again, and i know it's no walk in the park, but honestly

nffc · 05-08-2009, 22:38

Apparently a 13 year old boy from Bristol was sent home from school with a temperature/aches and they rang for help and was told it was suspected SF and got Tamiflu for him but he still had temperature and stuff, and his mum insisted it wasn't SF and took him to hospital... turns out he had a kidney infection and spent 6 days in hospital and could have died.

This paranoia about SF is meaning stuff is getting misdiagnosed - it's not the fault of the web or the people in the call centres but so many things but sf can have those symptoms and they're presuming it is and giving antivirals... Maybe they should actually be following up these suspected cases with GPs or something to make sure it isn't like meningitis, or something. Someone will die soon - thankfully it wasn't that kid because his mum had enough sense to make sure he got looked at properly.

RizzyKing · 05-08-2009, 22:45

I think the swine flu call centre should be advisory only and not in anyway sending out medication it should be a case of call give what symptoms you have if any and then be advised whether you should contact your local surgery. Sorry Russ i am not questioning you or others at the centre but i don't believe this is the best way to effectively treat swine flu or the handing out of tamiflu as people will lie and for these poor sods in that call centre they have no way to tell yet will get slammed in the media it isn't fair to them or to people that may have it.

nffc · 05-08-2009, 23:38

I don't think most people need tamiflu anyway. It's only a mild illness, in most cases, and you don't normally have antivirals with normal flu.

Plus the side-effects and potential resistance of flu to tamiflu mean really we shouldn't be using it normally.