Health
(2009-09-13)
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SEATTLE, WA
(KPLU) -
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With swine flu numbers starting to rise again, health officials are asking the public not to over-react. Doctors and hospitals are concerned they could be overwhelmed by people seeking advice on swine flu when they don't really need it. One joke among health care workers goes, the definition of "pandemic" is not "panic it's an epidemic."
Still, it's confusing when we're told to be alert, but not too worried. This uncertainty has driven a lot of extra people to emergency rooms and doctors' offices. Last spring, the medical providers were inundated.
"Many of the people who were showing up to see a medical provider in fact didn't need medical care, because in fact they had very mild illness," says Matias Valenzuela of Public Health Seattle & King County.
All the mild cases were creating long wait-times, for everyone. That makes it harder for nurses to spot the people who really need care.
Now, we know the virus is very similar to normal flu. So, the message from health officials this fall is, there are two classes of people. Those with underlying risk factors and everyone else. If someone has another illness, especially involving the lungs or immune system, or is pregnant, then the flu can be dangerous. The rest of us, if we get sick, should stay home and get some rest. Drink fluids. Don't call your doctor for advice, don't ask for anti-virals--unless your condition gets worse. The swine flu does tend to hit younger people harder than middle-aged adults, but most cases still require no medical help.
Children's Hospital of Atlanta has created an online assessment parents can use if they're not sure how sick their child is.
Washington state Department of Health Swine Flu webpage.
Public Health King County's Swine Flu page
For other swine flu stories, check out Keith Seinfeld's KPLU blog.
H1N1 (Swine Flu)
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