"Shortness of breath is H1N1danger signal..... for everybody,"

[snagglepuss]

World Health Organization say shortness of breath is emerging as a hallmark sign of potentially critical H1N1 infection.




snip

"That's a danger signal for everybody," Kumar told Canwest News Service. "If you are short of breath, that means you need urgent assessment by a physician or by the emergency room. That would allow therapy early enough to hopefully prevent it from becoming a severe case."

snip

"Because the general recommendations are that people with mild disease don't have to be treated, the question then becomes, if you're relatively healthy, when do you seek medical care?" Kumar said. "If you shouldn't treat everybody, when do you start taking anti-virals?"

"I think the(WHO)statement will basically say--and I think we all feel --that if you're not improving by the third day, if you haven't plateaued or you're getting worse by day three or four, it's time to go in and see a doctor, and they should consider the possibility of anti-viral therapy."

snip

Kumar was among a contingent of Canadian doctors that participated in an expert advisory meeting convened by WHO this month to develop updated guidance documents on the clinical picture and management of H1N1 disease. Those guidelines are expected to be released this week.





http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Shortness+breath+H1N1+danger+signal/2144861/story.html

[laughingliberal]

1. True. And also true for those who seem to have recovered and then develop...

shortness of breath and/or worsening cough.

[snagglepuss]

2. That's what happened to my sister's 19 yr old god-daughter who died of H1N1.

She wasn't feeling good one night, went to ER. There she started gasping for air. Put on ventilator. Coma induced. Passed 7 weeks later. She lived with her parents and twin brother, no one else fell ill:(


But what was tragic is that she had gone to another ER several night before she collapsed. She went to the other ER becasue she didnt feel good and they just gave her antibiotics and sent her home. But I don't know if there was any way they could have caught it at that point.

[laughingliberal]

4. That's very sad. I'm sorry to hear about it

Perhaps Tamiflu at that point might have helped but no way of knowing.

[hedgehog]

13. That's bothersome that they gave her antibiotics. Antibiotics

are totally useless against viral illness. They may be used to treat secondary bacterial infections.

[snagglepuss]

15. It is bothersome because she had mild symptoms. She should of got tamlfu.

Today a 12 yd old completely healthy Canadian boy died within 48 hours! Mom who is a nurse took him to a walk-in clinic as he had only low fever and reddish throat. Dr said to watch him, sugggested Tyenols for the fever. Next day Dad was running a bath for him and turned around and his son collasped. Abulance comes . Dies as he arrives at the hospital :(

[snagglepuss]

3. "one thing influenza should never do to anybody, is make you short of breath,"

"Influenza does a lot of things to a lot of people, but the one thing it should never do to anybody, pretty much, is make you short of breath,"

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Guess Limpballs better be careful...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6862683

[snagglepuss]

6. I'm willing to bet that he has had or will shortly get a flu shot but won't tell

anyone because that wouldn't play well to his fan base. That creep is scum.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. That is an insult to scum...

:rofl:

[uppityperson]

7. seems good advice for any influenza. Thank you for posting.

[snagglepuss]

8. Actually this doesnt apply to all flu. Shortness of breath is not with any other flu.

"Influenza does a lot of things to a lot of people, but the one thing it should never do to anybody, pretty much, is make you short of breath," said Dr. Anand Kumar, with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, who specializes in the care of critically ill patients.

[mzmolly]

11. I'm guessing it's related to viral pneumonia, which can be related to flu?

This is interesting:

"I think the(WHO)statement will basically say--and I think we all feel --that if you're not improving by the third day, if you haven't plateaued or you're getting worse by day three or four, it's time to go in and see a doctor, and they should consider the possibility of anti-viral therapy."

[uppityperson]

12. I've gotten extremely sob after influenza, when it kicks off asthma, turns into pneumonia

Whether viral pneumonia or bacterial, either way you can get sob after the flu. I guess viral pneumonia would probably be directly from influenza virus, with bacterial being an opportunistic secondary infection.

IF someone gets sob with any type influenza, you should seek help.

[hedgehog]

14. Viral respiratory illness is the prime trigger for my asthma. If I

get a cold or sore throat, it's time to go on the steroid inhaler.

[European Socialist]

10. I must of had it over the weekend--Some coughing too.

[Horse with no Name]

16. I just got out of the hospital with H1N1

(confirmed by swab).
The sob is extreme.
Lots of inflammation in my lungs--the pulmonologist said that the inflammation would be there for awhile because this is what THIS flu does.

[beam me up scottie]

17. Glad you're going to be okay.

Thanks for the warning - we have no insurance, if the flu doesn't kill us the hospital bills will...

[Horse with no Name]

19. I'd like to say that I will be

but right now, I am not sure that is the case.:(
It will certainly knock you down, that is for sure.
And yes, the hospital bills will prove to be horrendous, I am afraid.:(

[snagglepuss]

18. Sorry to hear that. I wish you a speedy recovery.

:hi:

[Horse with no Name]

20. Thanks!

I need lots of those kinds of wishes!