Dr. Deb

Today at football practice we learned that one of the teenage boys that coach my boys’ 5th grade team tested positive for novel H1N1 swine flu. We heard so much about swine flu, but it puts things in a different perspective when the boy passing the football with my son less than 48 hours ago is now in isolation at the  hospital.

What does this mean for him, my sons and their teammates?

The first is don’t panic! We’ve heard so much from the media but the reality is this strain of virus is typically mild and will resolve on its own. The seasonal flu still kills 30,000 people a year but most of those are elderly. Novel H1N1 swine flu has killed younger people but only 477 total deaths as of the latest account. Click for latest statistics.

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My youngest daughter lost her first baby tooth this week. I started to tear realizing my baby was growing up. She looked at me and said ”Don’t cry Mom, I’ll grow a new one.”

In a blink of an eye, she really will be grown up and I’ll be packing her up for college like so many parents are this week. In addition to the books, lamps and rugs, it is important to keep your children healthy in and out of the classroom so here are Dr. Deb’s 5 College Health Tips.

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Some PIG and Some Virus. We have a level 4 epidemic but DO NOT PANIC! Here is some information from the CDC website. Click here for the latest information on travel. This is a developing story but there is no need to panic. Just do what I teach the kindergartners. Wash your hands and cover your mouth! To follow CDC on twitter click here.

What is swine flu?
It is a respiratory illness, not a food borne illness. So it is OK to eat cooked pork.
Swine flu is a strain of Influenza that is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

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