Swine flu linked to viral pneumonia ~ US NEWS

[mzmolly]

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Doctors say the H1N1 strain of influenza, commonly known as swine flu, is more likely to get deep into the lungs than seasonal influenza.

When that happens, patients tend to get viral pneumonia, The Washington Post reported.

The World Health Organization advised doctors to treat serious cases of H1N1 quickly with antiviral drugs and warned hospitals they may get a lot of extremely sick patients this winter.

...

The experts said that, as with seasonal flu, most people infected with the H1N1 strain experience only mild illness. But they also stressed differences. While seasonal flu kills the elderly and people with compromised immune systems, H1N1 targets the young."

More at UPI.COM

[eleny]

1. Not good at all

Pneumonia is an awful deal.

[niceypoo]

2. This is exactly what happened to a friend of mine

Caught swine flu, it turned into pneumonia and strep throat. He was in the hospital for about 4 days. He let it go too long before going to a doctor so it is partially his own fault but that is what happens when people don't have insurance.

[stray cat]

5. You can go from feeling better to dead in 24hours with or without insurance

it can take a victim by surprise quickly even an insured victim being treated in intensive care.

[virgogal]

3. Scary stuff!

[mzmolly]

4. Yes

it is.

[Liberal Veteran]

6. How awful! If only we had something that could help prevent a person from becoming infected.

[mzmolly]

7. If only we didn't have a shortage of one particular preventive measure...

http://yesbuthowever.com/swine-flu-vaccine-shortage-expected-through-december-8136160/

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

8. With the media's vaccine hysteria going full bore, I doubt there will be a long term shortage.

[mzmolly]

9. I've not seen the vaccine hysteria, but if that were the case, it would create an over

abundance, not a shortage.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

10. That's my point. The fear mongering the media is doing will increase the supply.

So any current shortage will be short lived.

[mzmolly]

11. Gotcha. Though I disagree

that the main stream media is suggesting people not vaccinate.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

12. Watch this video compilation by Jon Stewart.

http://scienceblogs.com/effectmeasure/2009/10/jon_stewart_considers_swine_fl.php

[mzmolly]

19. Stewart demonstrated media sensationalism/fear mongering

on both sides. He also had to resort to Fox "News" for any questioning of the vaccine. And Stewart ultimately made a mockery of questioning the vaccine, which I feel demonstrates my initial point quite well. Overall the media is highly supportive of the effort to vaccinate.

[girl gone mad]

13. The only hysteria I've seen lately is the hysteria over swine flu.

It seems like every day there's a new post encouraging people to panic.

Viral pneumonias are usually not very serious, but they can be life-threatening in very old and very young patients, and in people whose immune systems are weak.

Even severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which is believed to have a viral cause, has caused very few deaths (approximately 3-4% of all cases) as of March 19, 2003. For the latest information on this illness, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

14. Watch this video compilation.

http://scienceblogs.com/effectmeasure/2009/10/jon_stewart_considers_swine_fl.php

[uppityperson]

15. This is how some say "flu deaths are low" since it is the pneumonia aftermath that kills so many

Read a number saying only 300 people die in USA/yr from influenza. Turns out they discount those who die from pneumonia as the aftermath.

So, k&r for more info.

[iverglas]

16. interesting history

It seems the CDC itself doesn't do that any more. This is an article from the Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2003:

http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/168/6/761-a

A US study has determined that more people are dying of influenza than previously thought, and the finding holds true for Canada too.

The study (JAMA 2002;289<2>:179-86), funded by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), used a new statistical model to estimate that 36,000 Americans are dying from influenza-related complications each year. The previous estimate was 20,000 deaths. An additional 11 000 mostly elderly people die annually from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The estimates are "similar in Canada," says Dr. Theresa Tam, chief of respiratory disease with the Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control. Canada's flu toll had been estimated at 500 to 1500 deaths annually, but after using new modelling Health Canada estimated that 700 to 2500 deaths may be attributable to influenza.

Health Canada takes the total number of deaths related to pneumonia and influenza and uses various techniques to determine how many deaths can be attributed to flu. The newer statistical models, which are similar to those used by the CDC, incorporate laboratory identifications for influenza and RSV, says Tam.

I went from flu to pneumonia in about two days, 10 years ago. I was visiting family for Christmas and they may not have realized quite how sick I was; I couldn't face the idea of a hospital or clinic waiting room and just toughed it out.

I'm pretty sure that here, at least, all secondary-cause deaths are being counted.

My partner who nearly died twice in rapid succession last spring was in diabetic ketoacidosis brought on by flu, a gastrointestinal kind. Had he not miraculously recovered, I think he would have been a flu death.


To go off topic a little, but not with the intent of being morbid: a movie recommendation.

1918, written by Horton Foote, about the 1918 influenza epidemic, in a small Texas town. Many people aren't as entranced by it as I was. ;)


http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C0DE4DC1F38F935A15757C0A963948260

The movie, which opens today <in 1985> at the Coronet, seems standoffish until one finds its rhythm. At that point, what seems to be a conventional if diffident film reveals itself to be a moving, idealized reverie about a time and place and people who, being so resolutely ordinary, become particular.

[HuckleB]

17. Good info. K & R.

:toast:

[mzmolly]

18. Deaths from pneumonia are attributed to the flu, which is why we have 36K

as an approximate, annual influenza death tally. This is partly why I pondered a few months ago if the pneumonia vax might be effective in preventing flu/pneumonia related death...

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/04/science/sci-pneumonia4

That said, yes when pneumonia follows the flu it is a flu related death. I'd personally like to know more about why some healthy people develop flu related pneumonia and others don't. But that's an unrelated topic I suppose? ;)

[uppityperson]

20. Medical person I know swears "only 300 deaths/yr from influenza", since

pneumonia isn't the flu (with a "duh" tone to his voice). I just don't understand sometimes how people can be that way. Oh yes, if you get the hini vx, you WILL die. (From the same person)

That is a good question, if it is due to what bacteria are in lungs, general health, etc etc etc. Sometimes just bad luck but that goes against those who don't believe in chance happenstance. Oh! Oh! Oh! I know! crap, lost it again, had something to do with conspiracy though.

[mzmolly]

21. Seems silly.

It's a complication of flu, again it's a flu related death. I think what some take issue with is that all or most pneumonia deaths are attributed to the flu even if there isn't an apparent connection? I think I've read that somewhere? Too lazy to look right now though. ;)