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El Camino Pediatrics eNews
Greetings!
Well, the kids are back or soon-to-be-back to school and although many
parents are happy to get back to a real schedule, the freedoms of summer will
certainly be missed!
Media headlines have created questions and concerns about the upcoming flu
season, so we have some information in this newsletter.
We are ready to start giving flu vaccine this week, but only
for children who meet the criterion below for Flumist or for children between 6
months and 3 years who need the injectable flu vaccine. We will notify
you through this newsletter when the shipment of injectable vaccine for
children 3 and older is available.
Also, have you weighed
your child's backpack? It may be too heavy for their frame, so there is
infomation on how to avoid potential back strain for your kids.
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Flu Season Information 2009
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Just about every day we see and hear a reference in the media to the flu. What is out in the press is changing and may not always be in line with our sources of information. We will try to keep you in the loop with information as it become available.
TYPES OF FLU
First, let's share some general information about the flu and terminology. The "seasonal" flu refers to the usual influenza that we deal with every season. There are 2 types, influenza A and influenza B. We have a rapid flu test in our office that can test for type A and type B and is about 90% accurate. This is done with a nasal swab and takes about 10 minutes to run. Every year, vaccine manufacturers try to predict the strains of these flu viruses (especially the B strain) to come up with their best guess for a vaccine. Last year was the first year that a recommendation was made for all children 6 months to 19 years to receive the flu vaccine. It is particularly important that we target those children with underlying chronic diseases like asthma and diabetes.
The other flu that has received a lot of media attention is the "swine flu" or "novel H1N1" flu. This is a type A flu, but our office nasal swab testing is only 50% accurate and can not differentiate the seasonal flu type A vs. the swine flu type A. Testing to detect the actual swine flu is done by the County Health Department and reserved for hospitalized patients, so we do not have access to this testing.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of both types of flu (seasonal and swine) include the rapid onset of fever, shaking chills, muscle aches and fatigue. Some patients also have cough, sore throat and a runny or stuffy nose. A significant number of people who have
been infected with the swine flu type of virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
Illness with both types of flu can be mild or severe and can sometimes be fatal.
COMPLICATIONS
Each year, in the United States, on average 36,000 people die from
seasonal flu-related complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized
from flu-related causes. Of those hospitalized, 20,000 are children
younger than 5 years old. Over 90% of deaths and about 60 percent of
hospitalization occur in people older than 65.
Most cases of serious complications of the flu occur in patients with other underlying medical conditions (like diabetes, heart disease, asthma, kidney disease). In addition, pregnant women and children under age 5 also seem to have an increased risk of complications from the flu. One thing that is different about the swine flu is that adults older than 64 years do not yet appear to be at increased risk of novel H1N1-related complications thus far.
CONTAGIOUSNESS AND PREVENTION
People infected with seasonal and swine flu shed virus and may be
able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days
after. This can be longer in some people, especially children and
people with weakened immune systems and in people infected with the swine flu type of virus.
To protect yourself and your children from getting sick, certain precautions are recommended:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue with coughing and sneezing.
- Wash hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand cleaners, especially after coughing and sneezing.
- Avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth.
- If you or your child are sick with a flu-like illness, the recommendations are to stay home and away from people for at least 24 hours after the fever has resolved.
FLU VACCINES FOR SEASONAL FLU ONLY
It is recommended that all children from 6 months to 19 years of age receive influenza vaccine. Particularly children with
underlying chronic illnesses, should receive
the vaccine. These include children with
asthma or reactive airway disease, underlying heart conditions,
metabolic diseases like diabetes, and other long-term
health problems.
Children younger than 9 years of age getting
influenza vaccine for the first time - or who
got influenza vaccine for the first time last
season but got only one dose - should get 2
doses, at least 4 weeks apart, to be
protected. It takes up to 2
weeks for protection to develop after the
vaccine and lasts up to a year.
Please note, that right now the only vaccine that is available is the Seasonal Flu Vaccine. There is not a swine flu vaccine available yet, although studies and development are underway. However, our current understanding, is that it is unlikely that private physicians and offices will have access to the swine flu vaccine if it is released later this fall. We will keep you posted as things develop.
We have just received the Flumist and the injectable flu vaccine for children 3 years and younger. We should be receiving the injectable flu vaccine for the older children very soon. WE ARE READY TO START GIVING FLU VACCINE THIS WEEK, BUT ONLY FOR CHILDREN WHO MEET THE CRITERION BELOW FOR FLUMIST OR FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN 6 MONTHS AND 3 YEARS WHO NEED THE INJECTABLE FLU VACCINE. WE WILL NOTIFY YOU THROUGH THIS NEWSLETTER WHEN THE SHIPMENT OF INJECTABLE VACCINE FOR CHILDREN 3 AND OLDER IS AVAILABLE.
Flumist®
This is made with live,
weakened flu viruses that do not cause the
flu. FluMist® is the trade name and this is
approved for use in healthy people between 2 years old and 49 years old. This vaccine is
preservative-free. Side effects for children
from this vaccine can include: runny nose,
cough, fever, headache, muscle aches and wheezing
There are some groups that
can not receive the FluMist
nasal vaccine. These groups will need to
receive the
injectable flu vaccine instead.
These include those:
- under 5 years who have asthma or one
or more episodes of wheezing within the past
year or in any person with a diagnosis of
asthma or reactive airway disease
- with heart, kidney, liver or lung disease
- with metabolic disease, such as diabetes
- with anemia and other blood disorders
- with a muscle or nerve disorder that can
lead to breathing or swallowing problems
- with a weakened immune system
- who are on long-term aspirin treatment
- who are pregnant
- who have a nasal condition that makes
breathing difficult such as a very stuffy
nose
Injectable Flu Vaccine
The other seasonal flu vaccine is the injectable flu
vaccine - this is an inactivated vaccine
with killed virus that is given as shot.
This is approved for people over 6 months of
age, including healthy people and those with
chronic medical conditions. Side effects
from this vaccine can include: soreness,
redness or swelling where the shot was given as well as fever or aches.
People with severe egg allergy should
discuss the flu vaccine with their doctor as
the influenza vaccine virus is grown in eggs.
Also, if someone has ever had a paralytic
disease called Guillain-Barre Syndrome, they
should not get the vaccine.
WALK-IN FLU VACCINES
In our office, we are giving both types of
flu vaccines on a walk-in basis in our B105
office only between the hours of 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday. At this time we are stocked ONLY WITH FLUMIST AND INJECTABLE FOR THE UNDER 3 YEAR AGE GROUP. We will post on the
front page of our website the status of our
vaccines if we run out or have a delayed
shipment.
We will also post there when we will have Saturday flu vaccine clinic hours in the fall.
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Weighing in on Backpacks
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Consumers Reports has conducted a survey to determine how much weight kids
are carrying on their backs. In 2nd and 4th grades, it is about 5 pounds
worth. But once they are 6th graders they may be carrying up to 18.4 pounds,
with some backpacks weighing in at 30 pounds!
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child's backpack weigh
no more than 10 to 20 percent of a child's body weight. Consumers Reports
recommends keeping the weight down closer to 10 percent of the child's body
weight. Kids can suffer from back pain from heavy backpacks.
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ECP Recognized as Best of Encinitas
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El Camino Pediatrics has been selected for the 2009 Best of Encinitas
Award in the Pediatrician category by the US Commerce Association
(USCA). Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have
achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and
business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive
image of small business through service to their customers and
community.
Click here to read the press release.
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