Be smart about flu
The recent deaths of a 16-year-old boy from Sandwich in DeKalb County and a 47-year-old man from suburban Naperville could be related to H1N1.
St. Charles East High in Kane County canceled school this week because hundreds of its students are out sick with flu-like symptoms.
McHenry County schools also are reporting students with flu-like illnesses, though not to the extent seen at St. Charles East.
It may be early, but flu season is here. And with added concerns about H1N1, otherwise known as swine flu, local families should be especially wary.
That does not mean families should panic if a loved one is experiencing flu-like symptoms, or if friends or classmates or co-workers get sick.
The young man from Sandwich was ill before he was exposed to H1N1. Officials are investigating whether other health conditions contributed to his death. The Naperville man also had a separate, unidentified medical condition.
The McHenry County Health Department is recommending that people follow the same old-fashioned common-sense steps to prevent flu:
• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze (It’s a good idea to cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow, rather than into your hand)
• Speaking of hands, wash them. Frequently. Thirty seconds under warm water with soap will do the job.
• If you feel sick, stay home from work or school.
H1N1 vaccine eventually will be given to students at schools throughout McHenry County, with parental permission. Details about when and where will be released as soon as the vaccine is available locally.
Parents should give thought now to whether they want their child to get an H1N1 vaccination once they do become available.
Keep in mind that H1N1 disproportionately affects younger people, and those with other medical conditions. But it’s important to remember that symptoms are, in the majority of cases, no worse than those experienced with seasonal flu.
That said, people who have more severe symptoms – difficulty breathing, dehydration, confusion, pain or pressure in chest or abdomen – should seek medical attention immediately.
Vaccine for the “regular” influenza still is available, though health officials are seeing some shortages. If you haven’t already had a flu vaccine, doctors and public health experts suggest you do so. But this is a decision you must make for yourself and your children.
It’s important to remember that reason and common sense should guide our decisions and reactions when it comes to flu – no matter what name it goes by.
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