News flash from the medical front - H1N1

[Steve Dunlap]

I heard on the news this morning that 50% of deaths in America from the H1N1 flu virus are in people with pre existing conditions such as obesity, asthma and other lung disease and weakened immune systems. Why didn't they just say that 50% of the deaths occurred in healthy people?

[d to the g]

As I understand it, the odds of survival are actually worse if you have a healthy immune system. I've taken up cigars just in case.

[jacco vermeulen]

Aah, but then you're more liable to get Alzheimer's, which means you have to administer a whole lot of red wine to balance the odds again.

[DSP_Geek]

Originally Posted by d to the g

As I understand it, the odds of survival are actually worse if you have a healthy immune system. I've taken up cigars just in case.

A real problem is something known as a cytokine storm, which is a positive feedback mechanism in young people's vigorous immune systems. Middle-aged folks are safer - not safe, but safer - from H1N1 than either the young or the old.

One thing to watch with any flu is temperature, with icepacks recommended above 102 F / 39 C, and imperative at 104 F / 40 C. The usual fluids and bedrest also apply, and please stay at home if you feel ill. Nobody at the office will think you're a hero for showing up at work flinging virus in all directions.

[janneman]

Originally Posted by Steve Dunlap

I heard on the news this morning that 50% of deaths in America from the H1N1 flu virus are in people with pre existing conditions such as obesity, asthma and other lung disease and weakened immune systems. Why didn't they just say that 50% of the deaths occurred in healthy people?

Deaths? What deaths? There's 30.000 people in the US alone that die every year from common-cold flue. Now we're talking about, what is it, 2000 worldwide to this H1N1?
This is the mother of all hypes.

jd

[d to the g]

Originally Posted by janneman

deaths? What deaths? There's 30.000 people in the us alone that die every year from common-cold flue. Now we're talking about, what is it, 2000 worldwide to this h1n1?
This is the mother of all hypes.

Jd

you will buy our vaccines!

[janneman]

Originally Posted by d to the g

you will buy our vaccines!

You can have mine

Edit: We did. 500 million euro worth. Just to cover the sec of health's ***, even when he knew it was a bogus alert.

jd

[motherone]

We're all going to die!

Seriously. Anyone think this is one of the more over-hyped medical alerts? Yes, it's a flu, and it will be nasty and unpleasant to get it (if you do). How it will be worse than the standard flu is yet to be seen. The media panic/pot stirring on this is just ridiculous.

[Steve Dunlap]

Hi Jan,

I think the number of flu deaths in the US is more like 35,000 annual. That is just the average, some years are better, some worse.

DSP_Geek;

About half of the H1N1 patients do not run a fever.

[EBM_dude]

Common flu kills a helluva lot of people all over the world every year, still no one is scared of that. I'm neither scared of pig flu, nor elephant flu, nor walrus flu. Swine flu can become a potential nightmare if it mixes with the common flu, some people claim.
I had some sort of "cold" last year that was so bad, high fever and stuff, I honestly thought I had to die. After 4 days bed rest I was roaming the streets again. Still somewhat shaky but otherwise fine. I think swine flu won't be much different.