4 predicators of H1N1 Fever, Diarrhea

[sbrooks]

I talked with a RN currently in Cincinnati at one of our biggest hospitals, she
deals with 7 doctors. She said high fever, vomiting, Diarrhea, and cough
are the predicators to be considered probable H1N1 cases. She insisted Diarrhea and projectile vomiting were the second and third symptom. I had never heard that they were that common. I thought it was primarily fever and cough. Has anyone heard an increase number of symptoms like this?

 

[Thornton]

Re: 4 predicators of H1N1 Fever, Diarrhea

High fever and cough are the basic definition for influenza like illness. The other consideration is contact with others who are sick with similar illness.
Several studies have reported that nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are more common with H1N1 than with seasonal influenza. Detailed reports are found in the journal Eurosurveillance. http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19323

See the table listing the symptoms of almost 900 laboratory confirmed cases compared with over 6,000 cases that were H1N1 PCR negative.
http://www.eurosurveillance.org/images/dynamic/EE/V14N35/Bolivia_Tab2.jpg

The bottom line is the constellation of symptoms plus contact with people who are ill is more informative than the specific set of symptoms.
JT