H1N1

Every year we field hundreds of questions about seasonal illnesses - inquiries ranging from immune boosting to flu prevention, from high doses vitamin C to seasonal flu shots.

This year, with H1N1 on everyone’s mind, the questions are pouring in. To help, we’ve compiled answers to some of the most common questions we’re receiving about H1N1. If you have further questions, you can call the office at 705-444-5331, or email feelbetter@stonetreeclinic.com. We’ll update this page with your questions and our answers.

- Tara

If you or your child has any of the following symptoms, go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call 911 right away :

Difficulty breathing / shortness of breath when doing very little or resting
Continuous vomiting or severe diarrhea with signs of dehydration such as dry tongue, dry mouth, decreased peeing (no urine for the past 6-8 hours), or very yellow/ orange urine
Stiff neck, sensitive to light
Seizures or convulsions
Confusion or disorientation

Additional H1N1 Resources

The federal, provincial and local governments are providing extensive FAQ’s and H1N1 vaccination information on their websites:

If you have additional concerns, see your doctor, or call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000.

Questions About Prevention

How Do I Stay Healthy?

The best way to deal with H1N1 is to not get it in the first place. H1N1 is an opportunistic pathogen - it only causes serious harm when our immune system fails us in some way.

If you’re interested in natural approaches to boosting your immune system, our Immune Boosting Program is in full swing - call the office at 705-444-5331 for details, and to book your appointment.

It’s not easy to separate fact from fiction, but what we do know for sure is this: prevention is the best medicine. You really can improve your body’s ability to keep you healthy this season.

Rest and De-stress - When you feel those subtle warning signs that you’re running on empty, try to make fewer appointments and get some rest. It may not be easy to slow down, but it’ll pay dividends in how much healthier you stay through the winter.
Avoid Sugar - Sugar isn’t a health food. Studies have shown that sugar can suppress the function of your immune cells for up to 24 hours. Focus on whole, real food, including whole grains, fruits and vegetables and lean protein sources.
Shift to Healthy Fluids - Red Bull and pop are not health tonics. Water is critical for healthy function, but if your only source of water is in your coffee, it’s time to change things up. Switch to straight water, hot herbal teas, or all natural juices.
Get Outside and Move Your Body - Staying indoors in winter deals us the double-whammy of decreased activity level and reduced air quality. You need to get your body outside more than ever. If you need help becoming more active, join us for our free daily StoneTree Walking Club - it’s free, and open to the public.

The Ministry of Health also recommends the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly and often.
Keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (gel or wipes) handy at work, home and in your car. It needs to be at least 60% alcohol to be effective.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue out. Cough into your upper sleeve if you don’t have a tissue.
Avoid large crowds of people where viruses can spread easily. Stay home when you are sick.
Keep common surfaces and items clean and disinfected.

Questions About Diagnosis and Treatment

How Can I Tell If I Have Swine Flu?

The short answer is that you can’t, really. There isn’t much testing going on - the rationale being that H1N1 is pushing most strains out of the way. The current opinion from the medical community is that if you do get the flu, the odds are good that it’s the H1N1 strain.

What Are the Symptoms?

Almost always:

Cough and fever

Common:

Fatigue
Muscle aches
Sore throat
Headache
Decreased appetite
Runny nose

Sometimes:

Nausea
Vomitting
Diarrhea

The Ministry of Health also has an online H1N1 self-assessment tool that can help you decide if you have contracted H1N1.

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/ccom/flu/h1n1/public/tools/assessment/default.aspx

What About Symptoms in Kids?

The symptoms of swine flu in kids older than five are similar to those of regular flu:

fever of 38 C (100.4 F) or higher when measured orally
coughing and sore throat
fatigue
lack of appetite
sometimes vomiting and diarrhea, especially in younger children

Babies and toddlers under the age of five can have different symptoms:

Fever may be the only symptom. Toddlers and babies usually have higher temperatures, often over 39.5C (103.1F) when measured orally
About half of children under three years old have symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain
Ear infections and red, sore eyes are more frequent in young children
Some babies may not be able to drink fluids or breastfeed
Stiff neck may appear in some babies
Toddlers and babies may have a hoarse cry and a barking cough.

If I’m Experiencing Symptoms, What Should I Do? When Should I Be Concerned?

The Public Health Agency of Canada has identified the following groups it considers most at risk: Children under age 5; pregnant women; those with chronic conditions, such as asthma, heart or kidney disease, chronic lung disease, liver disease, suppressed immune systems, neurological disorders, blood disorders and severe obesity. If you get flu-like symptoms and are pregnant or have any of these underlying health problems you should seek medical attention.

If you get flu-like symptoms and are otherwise healthy, you should stay home to recover. If your symptoms worsen or you experience difficulty breathing or serious shortness of breath, it is important to seek medical attention.

How is H1N1 Treated?

Antivirals are drugs are used for the early treatment of influenza. If taken shortly after getting sick (within 48 hours), they can reduce influenza symptoms, shorten the length of illness and potentially reduce the serious complications of influenza. Antivirals do not prevent you from getting sick.

Questions About the H1N1 Vaccine

What Are the Side Effects?

The most common side effects of the flu vaccine are soreness in the arm where the vaccine was given, sore or red eyes, itchiness and for some, a mild fever.

Most people experience no serious side effects from the flu vaccine. About one person for every 100,000 doses of vaccine distributed will have a severe reaction to a flu vaccine, including anaphylaxis or Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).

Health Canada offers the following stats on the H1N1 vaccine:

As with all medicines, AREPANRIX^TM H1N1can cause side effects. The very common and common side effects are usually mild and should only last a day or two.

Very common (may occur with more than 1 in 10 doses):

Pain at the injection site

Headache

Fatigue

Redness or swelling at the injection site

Shivering

Sweating

Aching muscles, joint pain

Common (may occur with up to 1 in 10 doses):

Reactions at the injection site such as bruising, itching and warmth

Fever

Swollen lympth nodes

Feeling sick, diarrhea

Uncommon (may occur with up to 1 in 100 doses):

Dizziness

Generally feeling unwell

Unusual weakness

Vomiting, stomach pain, uncomfortable feeling in the stomach or belching after eating

Inability to sleep

Tingling or numbness of the hands or feet

Shortness of breath

Pain in the chest

Itching, rash

Pain in the back or neck, stiffness in the muscles, muscle spasms, pain in extremity such as leg or hand

Rare (may occur with up to 1 in 1000 doses):

Allergic reactions leading to a dangerous decrease of blood pressure, which, if untreated, may lead to shock. Doctors are aware of this possibility and have emergency treatment available for use in such cases

Fits

Severe stabbing or throbbing pain along one or more nerves

Low blood platelet count which can result in bleeding or bruising

Very Rare (may occur with up to 1 in 10,000 doses):

Vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels which can cause skin rashes, joint pain and kidney problems)

Neurological disorders such as encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the central nervous system), neuritis (inflammation of nerves) and a type of paralysis known a Guillain-Barré Syndrome

If any of these side effects occur, please tell your doctor or nurse immediately. If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor.

Who should not receive the vaccine?

The following groups of people should NOT receive the H1N1 flu vaccine

People who have had a previous anaphylactic (severe allergic reaction) to any element of the vaccine, OR
People with a hypersensitivity to eggs ( e.g. hives, swelling of mouth and/or throat, breathing difficulty); OR
People experiencing a high fever, OR
People who have previously experienced Guillan-Barré Syndrome within 8 weeks of receiving a seasonal flu vaccine.
The H1N1 flu vaccine is not approved for children under six months.

How long will it take after I receive the vaccine to have immunity against the virus?
After receiving the H1N1 flu vaccine, most people will start to develop immunity within 10 days with just one dose.

Should I Get the H1N1 Vaccine?

That’s a personal decision. Vaccination in Canada is a personal choice.

Can My Kids Go to Public School if They Aren’t Vaccinated?

Yes.

There are no mandatory vaccination laws in Canada, and an unvaccinated child can NOT be denied entry to a public school. That same absence of laws, however, also means that private schools and day care facilities may refuse unvaccinated children.

Ontario, Manitoba, and New Brunswick have enacted specific legislation governing vaccination of school children. Included in each of these legislated acts are legal exemptions which enable families to opt out of the vaccine schedule for reasons of conscience and/or religion. Exemption forms can be obtained from any health unit and are kept in the child’s file at school as proof that the child is not required to be vaccinated. Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act stipulates that the form must also be notarized. (source)

What are the Adjuvanted / Unadjuvanted Variations of the Vaccine?

An adjuvant is a substance added to a vaccine to increase the immune response in the body. Adjuvants are common in many vaccines in Canada. This is the first time that an influenza vaccine in Canada will contain an adjuvant. The adjuvant is not approved for use in the U.S., so their vaccine is the unadjuvanted variety.

You can learn more about adjuvanted and unadjuvanted vaccines at:

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/h1n1/faq_rg_h1n1-eng.php#auvr

Is There Mercury in the H1N1 Vaccine?

Yes - the unadjuvanted vaccine contains 50 ug of thimerosal while the adjuvanted vaccine has 5 ug of thimerosal. Thimerosal is helps stabilize and preserve the vaccine.