Originally posted by: Mo0o
Originally posted by: destrekor
Originally posted by: ChanHo78
Originally posted by: Leros
This swine flu stuff is crazy. My university just sent out an email about a professor who died from it over the weekend.
Thousands of people every year die from influenza, the media is hyping the hell out of it to sell the news. Scary shit sells better.
This is probably the wrong thread to do this in, but that hype is based on scientific evidence of how this bug behaves, which for the otherwise healthy individual, is far different than the typical case of influenza. It initiates a different immune system reaction in some individuals, a reaction not seen in cases of seasonal influenza. That, and the risk groups, based on a shit ton of evidence, are the opposite of the normal influenza risk groups. Add to that the fact that nobody has immunity since the principal strains that combined into this one did not originate in humans.
There is some over-sensationalizing in the media, but it's not baseless. Nor is it "wrong" for that hype to be occurring, because it naturally encourages quite a few to follow the hype to the letter and take every possible precaution, which can be effective in combating the spread. That same hype that occurred with SARS may have helped prevent it from taking a strong hold and spreading beyond China.
OP, how old is your son?
You're really fixated on this cytokine storm issue. For the most part, h1n1 is NOT more dangerous than regular flu. You're more likely to contract it simply because most of the population does not have even partial immunity to the strain. Interestingly, old people have more of a defense because a similar strain has struck in teh past so those old people who got it before are partially protected. That being said, should an old person get it, they're more likely to have serious complications, same with younger kids, which is the same as regular flu.
But OP, just relax and realize that h1n1, once you get it, is basically just like any other flu. Hydration, hydration, hydration. I saw at least 10 kids with h1n1 in the clinic this week and the pediatricians have sent all put one home with instructions for fluids and rest. The one that got admitted also had bacterial pneumonia and need antibiotics.
Yes I am fixated on it, because I find it fascinating. I can't say for sure whether it is actually occurring in some or not, but if the CDC and WHO allude to it as a possibility (and no agency had ever previously directly referred to a cytokine storm as a possible reaction from an infection, not that I have ever seen), then there is some potential evidence and means it deserves at least some attention.
Remember, it is believed that some of the worst influenza pandemics in history had maybe a 1 or 2% mortality rate. Doesn't sound like a lot, but when you introduce a virus that no one has immunity to, and is as hardy as influenza is by nature, that means an insane number of people will get infected through the course of the strain's peak, and 1% of that number ends up being a HUGE number.
The number that perish from seasonal influenza is a tiny tiny fraction of a percentage, especially when focusing on the fact that there is great herd immunity to seasonal influenza and the mortality cases end up being the ones that cannot handle basic infections due to weak or compromised immune systems.
I'm not trying to cause worthless panic, believe me, I'm the last one to do that. I honestly could not possibly care less if this bug wreaks havoc on mankind. I'm a cold bastard like that. However, I do try and correct some that get insensitive from the massive hype, mainly because I am greatly intrigued in this kind of thing. I find it very interesting.
A lot of attention is being given to this H1N1 strain, as it is suspected to be quite virulent and cause more cases of viral pneumonia than would normally be the case for influenza.
There are quite a few confirmed cases of viral pneumonia in otherwise healthy adults (those without underlying factors).
The U.S. hasn't seen a large number of cases just yet, so a lot of medical attention can be given to those who get severe infections. Other countries with less capable medical care are seeing those cases. But care for viral pneumonia, especially of a more virulent bug, is quite extensive.
U.S. health care may be able to handle most of the severe cases, so who knows if it'll get bad here.
