serious h1n1 question for any medical people on this board

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

Both myself and my daughter have come down with the bug, I am on the mend, been sick since last week, and started to feel human again this afternoon (after 5 straight days of 100+ temps).

My question is, my husband is not showing symptoms. He just started a job, (after a long period of unemployment), so needless to say this is not the time for him to be sick. Is there any strategy for this, is it too late for him to get a flu shot? Or could we just assume he has been exposed, and go for a dose of tamiflu?



Thanks for any response.

[TZ]

1. Try to find a vaccine

Tamiflu will only help lesson the symptoms once he gets sick. Vaccine should prevent if not already sick. Unfortunately vaccine is in short supply. If he's not considered at high risk he might not be able to get one.

[stray cat]

2. Agreed a vaccine would be a good idea - no treatment without the disease

but if he does start feeling sick it would be great if he could get on tamiflu quickly as it might buffer the severity. However, in most cases they are not treating and telling people to stay home and recuperate unless there are respiratory complications.

[stray cat]

3. Agreed a vaccine would be a good idea - no treatment without the disease

but if he does start feeling sick it would be great if he could get on tamiflu quickly as it might buffer the severity. However, in most cases they are not treating and telling people to stay home and recuperate unless there are respiratory complications.

[TK421]

4. He should get to a doctor...get a professional opinion

[triguy46]

5. He is not likely to either find or meet the criteria for H1N1 vaccine.

And in most parts of country seasonal vaccine is essentially gone. Best advice is to practice the precautions of good handwashing, not sharing eating utensils, drinks, etc. If symptoms develop and medical care is reached within 24 hours he might get Tamiflu based on availability and the practice patterns in your area. It is getting difficult to get Tamiflu from manufacturer as it is on restricted shipping quantities.

As a bit of perspective, not everyone in a household will get ill. We are not seeing floods of roomates of ill students come in to our university clinic. It happens some, but is not an automatic.

Lastly re vaccine, it is not effective immediately and of little help post exposure. Be sure to cover your coughs, dispose of tissues.

Hope this makes sense, good luck.