$20 Advice

Ttimes3

J looked and sounded TERRIBLE, yesterday, and he started with a fever, so we decided to take him in.  They checked for both strains of the flu, strep, bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, etc.  Nothing.  At least we know what he DOESN'T have.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share a few things with the rest of you, which our ped shared with us - (1) both strains of the flu are flying around like crazy, right now (some kids are even testing + for both at the same time (2) most/all pharmacies are out of the Tamiflu Rx (3) the flu is NOT (in and of itself) a stomach virus, meaning it does NOT cause vomiting (I just thought this was interesting and flew in the face of everything I've ever *known*) (4) they are also seeing a LOT of strep, right now (one of the reasons they wound up testing J, even though his throat didn't look that bad, visually) (5) at this point, this year's flu vaccine has only proven to be around 50% effective. 

JLPT830

Makes me want to lock myself and DCs in my house!  He told me that about the flu vaccine when we were there for DS's well visit....ugh! 

Hope J is better today!

Superchicy

JLPT830:

Makes me want to lock myself and DCs in my house!  He told me that about the flu vaccine when we were there for DS's well visit....ugh! 

Hope J is better today!

This exactly!  My students are dropping like flies.

buckeyethor

Very interesting. Hopefully next year will be more effective. Seems silly to get the shots sometimes if they aren't going to work on the strains that are around. Sometimes I want to hole up in the house with her and keep her "safe" from all the germs out there... but sometimes I feel like I should just "let her get sick" to help her immunity. I know there are so many varying theories on these things with superbugs and too much sanitization.. It is so confusing!

riabiron

sophia had this nastiness a few weeks ago. they tested for EVERYTHING and it all came back negative but she was rockin a 101 to 104.8 fever for more then 5 days so they ended up giving her antibiotics. it was horrid!

sistrkate

Wow, interesting and frustrating all in one.

One thing I learned over the summer with Justin, who had strep 3 times:  strep throat CAN cause vomiting as a symptom.  Justin's throat had nary a white spot on it (as is classic with strep) and very little redness -- but the puking was what threw me.

I really hope little J is finally on the mend.

skram2b

buckeyethor:

Very interesting. Hopefully next year will be more effective. Seems silly to get the shots sometimes if they aren't going to work on the strains that are around. Sometimes I want to hole up in the house with her and keep her "safe" from all the germs out there... but sometimes I feel like I should just "let her get sick" to help her immunity. I know there are so many varying theories on these things with superbugs and too much sanitization.. It is so confusing!

 

I agree, what's a mom to do!

Meg41208

sistrkate:

Wow, interesting and frustrating all in one.

One thing I learned over the summer with Justin, who had strep 3 times:  strep throat CAN cause vomiting as a symptom.  Justin's throat had nary a white spot on it (as is classic with strep) and very little redness -- but the puking was what threw me.

I really hope little J is finally on the mend.

Ditto this.  Did they take a throat culture in addition to the insta-strep.  I used to get strep frequently as a kid and they doctor's office always had to do a throat culture because the instant test would almost always be negative but the culture would come back positive.

I hope he's feeling better today.   

warriormomerin

I figured something must be going around. DD's class had 10 people absent yesterday and 6 the day before that.

Oh, and thanks for forcing me to get that flu shot that's only 50% effective.  

Ttimes3

Meg41208:

Did they take a throat culture in addition to the insta-strep.  I used to get strep frequently as a kid and they doctor's office always had to do a throat culture because the instant test would almost always be negative but the culture would come back positive.

I hope he's feeling better today.   

Yes, they did take the culture, as well.  I guess they culture for up to 48 hours.  No news is good news.  So far, no news...

Thanks!  He's at least 68% better, today.   

Ttimes3

warrior*mom:

Oh, and thanks for forcing me to get that flu shot that's only 50% effective.   

LMAO! 

hav2run

Thank you.  I swear I have had the flu twice already,   That would explain it.  Shame on me for not getting my flu vacccine.  I was ill with bronchitis and then a stomach bug when the vaccine was available free to me.  Bummer.  So, I have been ill almost continuously since Thanksgiving.  This winter really really sucks, and I am soooo flipping ready for spring.