Is Tamiflu for H1N1 AND regular flu?

TheNextWest

DD got a positive "flu" result at the pedi yesterday. Her only symptoms are high fever, coughing, and loss of appetite. She told me to keep her home for the rest of the week and out of school until she was fever free for 24-hrs. She ordered a script for Tamiflu for all three of my kids (we were at the dr. within 24 hrs of the fever onset) in an effort to prevent it from hitting the twins as well.

The pedi never mentioned H1N1, never said that's what she was testing for or treating, only said "flu". I assumed she meant regular, seasonal flu. The thing is, DD is already feeling a little bit better, even though the fever is still coming and going. If this were really influenza B, wouldn't she feel like she'd been hit by a truck for a week or so? She had a fever all night, but she's up playing this morning and says she feels fine. And I can't find anything that says Tamiflu is prescribed for seasonal flu. I know they say H1N1 is actually easier on the body than the traditional flu, but she would have had to tell me if that's what it was, right?

EliseB0323

Tamiflu was prescribed for the flu before the H1N1 virus made an appearance.

BubblyToes

It's for influenza in general.  It's been out for a few years, so it was here before the swine flu epidemic.

I know the suspension/liquid form of the Tamiflu can be hard to get.  Our wholesaler has been out of it for two weeks.  

Brewster

Tamiflu is for type A or H1N1 flu.  Seasonal (regular) flu is something different.  Tamiflu does not cure or prevent anything.  All it does is decrease the severity of symptoms of the flu.  You can hardly find it here anywhere it has been so over prescribed.  The CDC is now recommending it for only the most severe cases for those with compromised immune systems. 

And H1N1 can not be diagnosed in a DR office.  It must be sent off for more testing.  The can tell you if it is Type A flu, which is likely to be H1N1, but not confirmed. 

At the Dr office I work, we are starting to see seasonal flu already, which is pretty crazy.  You could call and ask and I am sure they can tell you which type of flu it is.  

The best thing to do for flu is to rest and let it run it's course.  

Brewster

Ok, I guess I didn't know it was for the regular flu too. 

TheNextWest

Oh ok. Well, it made sense... I think all this flu craziness (which I swore I wouldn't get into) but lack of sleep for the last two nights and now a 2nd one with a high fever is starting to affect my ability to think clearly lol.

TheNextWest

We were able to get the liquid for all three of them, but the two little ones are complaining that it's "hot"?

DD's kindergarten class had 5 out on Monday, all with cough/fever and she came home that afternoon with a temp of 103. It's spreading like wildfire here.

BubblyToes

It's everywhere, and spreading so fast.  I knew it was going to be bad, but this is out of control.

Bellisimo

The good news is that they've noticed that most of the kids diagnosed with it are bouncing back rather quickly after the onset of symptoms.  So quickly that tamiflu isn't being prescribed as much now that they know the severity of it is not remarkable.