Yes, you can continue to breastfeed your baby, even if you are taking antiviral medicines for flu-like symptoms. A mother’s breast milk is custom-made for her baby, providing specific antibodies that babies need to fight infection. So, continuing to breastfeed your baby can actually protect him or her from the infection that your body is fighting.
» Read more: H1N1 influenza: Is it Safe to Breastfeed if I Have the Flu?
H1N1 influenza: Is it Safe to Breastfeed if I Have the Flu?
July 28th, 2010 by admin No comments »Do Pregnant Women Need the H1N1 Influenza Vaccine?
July 28th, 2010 by admin No comments »Not only is the H1N1 flu vaccine considered safe for pregnant women, it’s recommended for them. That’s because the changes that occur in a woman’s body during pregnancy weaken the immune system a bit, making it easier for a woman to catch whatever bug is going around.
» Read more: Do Pregnant Women Need the H1N1 Influenza Vaccine?
H1N1 Influenza: Can North American Pigs Get the Virus?
July 28th, 2010 by admin No comments »Outbreaks of the H1N1 flu have been reported in pigs in the U.S. and Canada. Health officials are working on a vaccine for pigs that would protect against
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H1N1 Influenza: Can We Still Eat Pork?
July 28th, 2010 by admin No comments »Because the flu virus isn’t transmitted through food, the CDC and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) say it’s safe to eat pork. Of course, pork should be well cooked to avoid any illness. Cook pork to an internal temperature of 160° F or higher (use a meat thermometer to check the temperature). Don’t eat pork that looks pinkish or bloody inside.
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H1N1 Influenza: How Can I Protect My Family?
July 28th, 2010 by admin No comments »Vaccinating your family against the H1N1 flu isn’t the only preventive step you can take. The CDC recommends these precautions:
* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough and put used tissues in the trash.
* If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
* Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing — wash with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand cleaner.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
* Keep sick kids home from childcare or school and limit their contact with others; kids should stay home for at least 24 hours after a fever (of 100º F or 37.8º C or higher) goes away on its own without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
* If you live in a home with someone who has the flu, be extra cautious about avoiding germs. Don’t get in close, face-to-face contact, and clean your hands often.
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Is There a Vaccine to Protect Against H1N1?
July 28th, 2010 by admin No comments »Yes. The 2010-2011 seasonal flu vaccine protects against H1N1 flu. During the 2009-2010 flu season, the seasonal flu shot did not protect against H1N1 flu, so a separate H1N1 flu shot was needed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the flu vaccine for all people age 6 months and older.
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Treatment for H1N1 Flu
July 28th, 2010 by admin No comments »Is There a Treatment for H1N1 Flu?
Yes. Antiviral medicines used to treat common seasonal flu can ease symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness. These medicines should be reserved for people with severe illness requiring hospitalization or who are at higher risk for developing complications (like pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions, and kids under 5 years old).
In some cases, at-risk people who have been in close contact with someone with H1N1 infection may be given antiviral medication as a precaution against getting the flu (or against getting a severe case of it).
» Read more: Treatment for H1N1 Flu
What Are the Symptoms of H1N1 Flu?
July 27th, 2010 by admin No comments »H1N1 flu can last anywhere from 7 to 14 days. Symptoms are similar to those of the common flu and include fever plus one or more of the following: cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, diarrhea, or vomiting. The virus also can cause pneumonia, which can make it hard to breathe.
Kids who develop any of these symptoms need immediate medical attention:
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H1N1 Influenza: Who Is Especially at Risk?
July 27th, 2010 by admin No comments »As with other types of flu, children younger than age 5 are at risk for more serious complications from the virus. Also, kids with chronic medical conditions (like diabetes, heart disease, asthma or other lung problems, or neurodevelopmental conditions) can have more problems coping with the illness. They might get sicker and need more medical support; in some cases, hospitalization can be necessary.
» Read more: H1N1 Influenza: Who Is Especially at Risk?
How Does the H1N1 Flu Spread?
July 27th, 2010 by admin No comments »H1N1 spreads in the same way that other viruses do — through the air when a person who has the virus sneezes, coughs, or speaks. People also can become infected after touching a contaminated surface or object that someone with the virus touched, sneezed, or coughed on.
» Read more: How Does the H1N1 Flu Spread?
