Swine flu - what advice are you getting?
We've been waiting for some practical advice on how to avoid swine flu here at Rock Towers, and we're still waiting. While Mexico puts up the closed sign, and London commuters start wearing face masks - we're still going about our daily business. But should we be taking precautions? News has reached MumsRock of conflicting health advice - one mum has been advised by her local health professionals to stop taking her baby to swimming classes or anywhere where they will have contact with other children - is this going too far, or just a sensible precaution? If you've had any advice to change yours or your children's routines we'd like to know.
Update: 1th July 2009 - the latest news is that pregnant women and parents of young children (ie: the under five's) should avoid crowds - is this to mean deserted beaches, empty theme parks and a year-round winter mentality, staying indoors with Cbeebies and a bottle of mother's ruin?
I was just talking my friend who takes her son to the same swimming class that we go to (we both have babies under 9 months). She told me that our local NHS health advisors a) have started doing baby weigh by appointment only in order to avoid having more than one child waiting at a time as a swine flu precation and b) told her to skip swimming for the next few weeks until they know more about the virus and how it operates.
However, when I called the (state run) pool they said classes were running as normal but the instructor told my friend that he had stopped taking public transportation to get to work because of the swine flu risk! Mixed messages galore!
The news has cooled off on their overly panicked tone, so I thought it would be safe to go to swimming today but am definitely heeding the NHS advice.
Posted by: YankeeDoodleMama | 7 May 2009
This is seems to be the current Government advice(dated yesterday May 6th). It includes a downloadable leaflet giving advice on what precautions you can take but none specifically aimed at kids.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Swineflu/DG_177831
Posted by: gigi | 7 May 2009
The latest health advice according to the BBC website is this:
"Expectant mothers and parents with children under five are being advised to avoid crowds and unnecessary travel to reduce the risk of swine flu".
It does seem to ignore the fact that many pregnant women and parents of young children have to work to pay the mortgage, and support their families. If this is rolled out to beyond the knocked-up and stroller brigade will we be entitled to mortgage holidays and food vouchers? Hmm don't think so.
To read the full report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8157755.stm
Posted by: gigi | 19 July 2009
For the latest advice on swine flu (especially if you have young children or are pregnant) this is the (official) advice
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pandemic-flu/Pages/QA.aspx#Baby
Headlines include:
Pregnant women have an option of tamiflu or Relenza (an inhlaed drug that is thought to not affect the fetus) but if your fever is high you may be prescribed tamiflu anyway.
Breast-feeding women (on anti-viral drugs) can continue to breastfeed as anti-viral drugs... "secrete in breast milk very small (insignificant) amounts".
How do I tell if my child has swine flu:
"Call your GP immediately if your child has any of the following symptoms and a temperature of 38°C or above or feels hot:
• tiredness
• headache,
• runny nose and sneezing,
• sore throat,
• shortness of breath,
• loss of appetite,
• vomiting and diarrhoea, or
• aching muscles, limb and joint pain
Tamiflu is safe for infants of one and over however they say..."If your child’s swine flu symptoms are mild, you may not wish to give them antivirals. Your GP can advise you on this.
All information from NHS website and was correct as of July 25th.
Posted by: gigi | 25 July 2009
Hot off the press: Swine Flu and pregnancy - Pregnancy expert and midwife Zita West’s advice on how to protect yourself.
What are our natural defences and how can we improve them?
Due to a high number of calls from concerned pregnant women, the Zita West Clinic have put together an advice plan for clients wanting to find out about how to reduce their fears concerning Swine Flu. In a simple 15 minute telephone consultation or a short appointment at the clinic we are now able to offer simple, easy to follow advice.
‘It’s important to understand that each individual will have different resistance and immune responses. The body’s natural barrier and the first line of immune defence is mucosal immunity. Mucus secreting cells which line the digestive tract secrete a substance called secretary IGA. The use of Pro-biotics, Vitamin D and lifestyle measures can all build immunity’ says Zita West.
1. Diet
Building up defence starts with the food you eat. Cut down on sugar, processed food, additives and preservatives as all of these will all affect the immune system.
2. Pro-biotics
The gastro-intestinal tract has the largest collection of immune tissue in the body and increasingly a number of research Centres are identifying that the immune system of the gut can be manipulated to affect the immune system elsewhere. Pro-biotics are live bacteria deemed to have a beneficial effect on human health and function. There are trillions of bacteria in our body which are impaired by anti-biotic use, stress, alcohol, processed foods so increasing your pro-biotic intake can really improve your immunity. (ref 1)
3. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is the workhorse of the immune system. This has profound effects on human immunity including the prevention of Influenza (ref 2). This acts as an immune system modulator. From an audit conducted at the Zita West Clinic we found that as many as 50% of the women tested were found to be clinically deficient in Vitamin D. To boost levels try to get 20 minutes of sunshine per day and take a supplement containing 1000 iu of vitamin D and include oily fish and eggs in your diet. At our clinic Vitamin D blood tests are available.
4. Stress Reduction
Stress weakens the immune system. Relaxation techniques that involve breathing, yoga, meditation all help with the stress response.
5. Sleep
Don’t under estimate the power of sleep. This eludes many pregnant women towards the end of their pregnancy and lack of sleep does have an effect on suppressing the immune system.
Posted by: gigi | 27 July 2009
Latest (official) news on Swine flu is:
If you are pregnant or have a child under one do NOT use the National Pandemic flu Service - call your GP.
The review that said children should not be treated with Tamiflu was based on seasonal flu and not swine flu.
Should young children be offered Tamiflu?
The authors admitted that it is uncertain how much the findings of that review apply to swine flu. After all, swine flu behaves differently to seasonal flu, and past pandemics have hit younger people hardest.
All people suffering from swine flu, including young children, will continue to be offered antivirals.
Information from http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Swineflu/DG_178075
Posted by: gigi | 13 August 2009
I am deliberating starting my son at the nursery school up the road until after winter, rather than in September as I had been planning. I know they expect the flu to peak in winter and then peter out. It seems thoughtless and risky to suddenly put him in a school for the first time just before a predicted surge in cases (they keep saying autumn/winter will be much worse than this summer.) I'm assuming there are any other parents with babies/toddlers who are taking the same sort of long term precautions...?
Posted by: YankeeDoodleMama | 24 August 2009
Latest advice from the NHS:
Several newspapers reported that the World Health Org. had changed it's advice concerning use of antivirals. It's afcice suggests that while antivirals should always be given in severe cases, they not always be necessary for otherwise healthy people.
However, the Dept. of Health said:
"We believe a safety-first approach of offering antivirals, when required, to everyone remains a sensible and responsible way forward. However, we will keep this policy under review as we learn more about the virus and its effects.
"The WHO recommendations are in fact in line with UK policy on antivirals. We have consistently said that many people with swine flu only get mild symptoms, and they may find bed rest and over-the-counter flu remedies work for them.”
Vaccinations for the vulnerable
The secretary of state for health, Andy Burnham, has confirmed which priority groups will be given the first doses of swine flu vaccine, which is expected to arrive in October.
Burnham said that the earliest doses of the vaccine would be given to at-risk groups including:
People aged between six months and 65 years in the clinically at-risk groups for seasonal flu.
Pregnant women, subject to licensing by the European Medicines Agency, which will indicate whether it can be given throughout pregnancy or only at certain stages of pregnancy.
For more info go to: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/04April/Pages/Swineflulatest.aspx
Posted by: gigi | 3 September 2009
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