Influenza -- 2 Questions

Hi K.,
If he is still running a fever his body is still fighting off the virus. Therefore still contagious.

Also you should really research "flu shots". They contain all sorts of bad stuff including chicken embryos, which if I remember correctly carry Leukemia.

As long as your child has a fever, they are contagious and will be contagious for up to 24 hours after the fever has dissipated. If your high-risk child was given the flu-shot then he/she will be fine it is not necessary to immunize the entire family. There are no "boosters" for the flu shot. A couple years ago it was necessary for high risk persons to receive a second flu shot because the original immunization that was manufactured and distributed was not the one that infected the majority of Americans that year. There are different strains that circulate the globe every year and drug manufactures produce the vaccine related to that strain. There will always be priority groups that get their immunizations sometimes months before they can be administered to the general public. It is important that high-risk persons receive the immunization well before the virus is reported locally. After receiving the immunization it can take 2 weeks for one's immune system to produce enough antibodies to prevent themselves from getting sick. So a person who exposed within two weeks of having received the vaccine can still become ill. Hope this helps!

K.,
Get the shots nest year, as you know the shot is does not cover all the flu bugs that are out there but is a peventive step. Since you have a high-risk little one I think it would be a good idea.

Colorado daycare law states that kiddos have to be fever-free (without the help of meds) for 24 hours before they are supposed to go back to daycare. They are technically still contagious with a fever.

We avoid the flu shot. It really isn't necessary if you practice good hand washing and stay away from those that are sick. The first reason we avoid it is, it is the only vaccine that still contains thermasol. It's like injecting your body with poison. The second reason is that the flu shot doesn't protect against all strains of the flu. The one time I was required to have it for my job, I was sick the whole year and I'm not one to be sick. I feel that it just depresses the immune system and doesn't offer anything worth the risks. I'm not anti-immunizations either. We are just careful and informed about which ones we choose.
http://www.newswithviews.com/Ciola/greg.htm I'm not overly religious either but this guy really states the truth.

K., I have always gotten the flu shot myself because of my asthma, but was really weary of immunizations and flu shots with my baby. After talking to my ped about it, I felt MUCH better, and while I now spread out the vaccinations, so that he isn't getting so many at once, he is getting everything. This includes that flu shot. If your child is under 6 months, everyone else should get the shot to help keep it away from the baby. Even when the baby is old enough, if all of you get, you will be much safer. Especially with daycare and school, there are so many people that don't get the shots that the rest of us are more susceptible. Yes, they may have guessed wrong on the strain for a specific year, but I can't remember the last flu I got - and I have gotten every cold known to man this year due to daycare. Talk to your pediatrician, tell him/her your concerns too.

As far as the fever, most schools/daycares have a policy of no fever/symptoms for 24 hours before they are allowed to come back, or a doctor's note saying that they are not contagious. Even if your child isn't going back to daycare/school, but just for social activities, I would follow the same guidelines.

I agree with previous posters that if your son has a fever, he should not be back in school.

I don't know how much sun you guys get, but if you are not outdoors without sunscreen for 20-30 minutes a day, I would recommend vitamin D supplementation. You can also add vitamin C to your and your children's diet, along with echinacea, golden seal, and astralagus. There is couple lines of tinctures, herbs for kids and WishGarden Herbs that carry immune boosting tinctures designed for kids. When my dd is getting sick, I give her a couple droppers several times a day, and it seems to help her resolve the issue quickly. You can get the tinctures at most health food stores, and my medical pediatrician carries the herbs for kids line in his office. As far as vitamin D goes, 1000 IU's a day for the kids and 2000 IUs for the adults is a safe dose. You want to find a supplement that is D3, not D2. Alternatively, you can spend time outside with a good portion of your skin uncovered and no sunscreen until the skin is just barely starting to turn a tiny bit pink each day--that will get you your vitamin D as well. Here in Denver, at our latitude, that is not possible in the winter. In Florida, you should be fine. These are all just general tools that we use at our house all the time, but that really work well.

I hope that you are all feeling better soon!

get the flu shot! every year! My kids were on an alternate vaccine schedule - so I understand having hesitation.
I wasn't a believer in flu shots. Now, we get them every year.

The story: a few years back, all four of us got the flu w/in 72 hours. (what a joy when both parents and both kids are sick!) The youngest (18 mos at the time) ended up in the ER w/ suspected pneumonia and had 10 straight days of office visits until she was cleared. The oldest (3 1/2 at the time) was fine through the flu but then got a secondary ear infection. w/ the ear infection he had a febrile seizure that lasted over 3 minutes - he was gray from his forehead to his belly button - by far the scariest moment of both mine and my husband's lives. back to the ER via ambulance. (btw - he was perfectly fine afterwards and was using the ER gurney as monkey bars w/in an hour!)

We had VERY MILD cases of the flu and racked up $2k + in medical bills in 2 weeks. There is no reason to go through this. It is entirely preventable. As others have said, even if the flu shot doesn't have the strain you end up being exposed to, it does result in a milder case.

Oh, and for those who say just pracice good hygiene... we are almost never sick. We practice good hand washing, tons of fruits and veggies, plenty of sleep, etc. But it only takes a couple of crazy days w/late bedtimes and a couple of meals outsitde the home, one missed hand washing, and BOOM - the whole family is sick. (or a first grader who's not eating lunch - but that's another story).

Reading the book "The Vaccine Book" by Dr. Bob Sears helped me feel a lot more informed about decisions regarding vaccines. Since my kids have egg sensitivities, we have skipped the flu vaccine, but they are not high-risk in other ways as in your situation. That book is in paperback and you could find it cheap on Amazon.com. I felt like it was good, accurate info written in a non-hysterical tone I could discuss with my pediatrician.
Hope everyone is feeling better!

Hi K.,
We have the whole family vaccinated. Not sure why you are hesitating. The only bad thing about a flu shot is that your arm is slightly sore the next day. Especially with a high risk child, I would never take the risk of not having the family vaccinated.

Hi K. - sorry to hear how sick your son has been. If your son still has a fever then he shouldnt be at school on Monday. Most schools want them to be fever free for 24 hours before going back. He probably wouldnt feel well enough to be there anyway.

Your whole family should have a flu shot next year. There are no vaccine shortages like there was a number of years ago - that was due to bad batches that were recalled.

It sounds like your little one who did receive a flu shot is the only one who didnt get sick. That should be evidence enough. Your youngest can get a shot next year. The first year a baby receives 2 shots - 1 month after the first shot, they are supposed to go in for a booster.

Both of my older children recieved the flu shot back in November. Apparently they didn't catch the right strand of the virus this year. Fortunatly they only had the high fever for at the most 3 days then they were perfectly fine. If I wouldnt have gotten them tested at the first day of fever I would have never known it was the flue, it was that mild. I do daycare and my rule is no fever for 12 hours without medications. Good luck!

If you have a high risk little one the entire family should be protected with a flu shot...
I don't understands people's aversion to getting this treatment!?
Something like 6 kids (babies) have died this season (here in Colorado) due to the flu! People this could have been prevented. None of the kids had been vaccinated and their deaths did not have to happen.
YES it is last years strain, but it helps to lessen the effects of the flu and help those with immune systems that are weak, to better fight it off.
As mothers we should do all we can to give our little ones all the protection we can.

Hi K.,

The flu shot didn't cover this year's flu, there are thousands of strains and they make an educated guess when they make the vaccine. However it's effect is cumulative meaning if you don't get a flu shot one year you will get sicker the year you do get the flu.

With a high risk child, heck--excuse my language-- even without a high risk child, exposing your family to influenza as much as possible to strengthen their immune system is a good thing. just read the statistics on the number of children and adults who die every single year from the flu. Then check the numbers from before the vaccine and compare percentages of the population (if you can figure that out easily--they should give you that number though).

If your five year old still has a fever he should stay home. General rule is 24 hours w/out the fever. It isn't unusual to get really sick in Fl due to the combination of flu/colds/ and pollen (a constant). Hang in there. Make sure he isn't developing a sinus infection, those are common in FL due to him perhaps having allergies while sick.

R.

We don't ever get the flu shot. First, it only protects you from LAST YEARS strain, not the current years, and thankfully, my family is generally healthy. We practice good eating habits, stay active and wash hands regularly. My kids are 7 1/2yrs and 5yrs and none of us have ever gotten the shot - or the flu.

Good luck and God bless-
C.

Flu shots are reformulated every year to address the new strains expected each year - so it is necessary to be revaccinated every year. I also had a high risk child (preemature with history of RSV and asthma)and every member of the family, adults and children, must be vaccinated to protect the high risk child. Young children under 2 have to receive 2 shots for full protection. My daughter is nearly 14 now and is no longer considered high risk but we're all in the habit of getting flu shots so we still do it.

Hugs, I hope your little guy is better soon. My Dr always said that they shouldn't be around anyone within 24 hours of a fever. If symptoms are present more then likely he is still contagious. Same with our schools, not to send children that have had a fever within 24 hours. So if he still has one I wouldn't get him around anyone else.

I personally think the best prevention is the vaccine. Even the healthiest person when exposed will get it. It can get serious fast, even for adults. With someone high risk in the family I definitely would get the family shots.
I have always had my kids vaccinated for the flu yearly starting when they were old enough to recieve it. You cannot get the flu from the vaccine, it is clinically proven. They do the mist now too. Very easy and they don't have to have a shot. Their insurance I have on the kids covers the vaccine, I pay the $20 for mine as it is worth that! I work in child care so it is very important I am protected. If there are no egg allergies it is safe. My kids prefer no more shots so we started the mist which is a live virus but they have never been sick because of it.

I have always had the vaccine myself for over 12 years now. Kids that come down with some strains it can be life threatening or turn respitory very fast which is why they promote kids getting it and changing the age limit to all children now.

I personally just don't mess around with that stuff. The vaccines don't cover every strain and some years it is hit or miss, but both of mine are in school and exposed to a lot of other kids so I just think it is another safety measure. I have never had it nor have my kids. Thank God.

I would say if the rest of the family can, to get vaccinated next year as you can be a carrier and maybe not get as sick but can bring it home if not vaccinated. It is such a simple vaccine to give you that added security Again, it isn't fool proof, however it is more of a protection I would think then taking some other preventative care ongoing. Hugs, I hope your son is better soon.

Looks like you've got the vaccination question answered - good choice by the way. As for your 5 yr old, if he has a fever he is contagious. Once the fever goes away, he should be fine to be around other kids.

just a comment on a response here- you can request flu shots without thimerosol. at boulder med center (in CO) i'm pretty sure all pediatric offices automatically order the vaccine w/o thimerosol.

K.

We gave one of our son's the shot and luckily he didn't get sick this year. However we did start taking VEMMA which is a vitamin, mineral and antioxidant liquid supplement that our whole family takes. While we did get a few little runny noses we seems to skip what everyone else around us had. We are really into preventative care so I thought I would share this with you. I have a background in kids nutrition and as a Chef. I recently decided to stay home with my kids and have been working recommending VEMMA and helping moms stay healthy and energized. I encourage you to check it out, it should like you might really benefit. www.VMAlifestyle.com or feel free to call me ###-###-####. Another amazing way to get the information is to listen to a quick live call that talks about the benefits ###-###-#### ext 482480. That is at 12 or 8pm Eastern today.