Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Swine+takes+heavy+toll+among+healthy/1919490/story.html
Swine flu takes heavy toll among the healthy
Existing conditions aren't a sound gauge: WHO
By Sharon Kirkey, Canwest News ServiceAugust 22, 2009 7:49
The World Health Organization is warning that underlying health problems "will not reliably predict all or even most cases" of severe H1N1 influenza.
Worldwide, about 40 per cent of severe cases are occurring in previously healthy children and adults, usually under the age of 50, the WHO said Friday in issuing new guidelines on the use of antivirals developed by an international expert panel.
In Canada, among cases where information is available, about 46 per cent of those hospitalized so far with swine flu had no underlying medical condition. Among those who have died, 75 per cent had a pre-existing health problem, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Most patients infected with the pandemic virus have mild symptoms and recover fully within a week, even without any medical treatment, the WHO says.
But patients with severe H1N1 infection can experience "a sudden and very rapid deterioration in their clinical condition," the WHO said, usually five or six days after the onset of symptoms. H1N1 can cause viral pneumonia, which destroys lung tissue and is a leading cause of death for H1N1 and seasonal flu, and failure of the heart, kidneys and liver.
Serious cases should be treated immediately, ideally within 48 hours of the beginning of symptoms, but treatment should be provided, even if started later.
The recommendation applies to all patients, including pregnant women, and all age groups, including young children and infants.
In children under a year old, Canadian data show higher rates of hospitalizations, admissions to intensive-care units and death, compared with all H1N1 cases in Canada.
The WHO says anyone with an underlying condition should also get Tamiflu quickly, without waiting for lab results, and doctors should consider using higher-than-normal doses in severe cases.
But healthy adults and children with mild or uncomplicated illness don't need the drug, the agency says.
As of Aug. 15, a total of 1,422 cases of people hospitalized with swine flu in Canada had been reported to the agency. This week, four deaths were reported, for a total of 71 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
Swine flu takes heavy toll among the healthy
Existing conditions aren't a sound gauge: WHO
By Sharon Kirkey, Canwest News ServiceAugust 22, 2009 7:49
The World Health Organization is warning that underlying health problems "will not reliably predict all or even most cases" of severe H1N1 influenza.
Worldwide, about 40 per cent of severe cases are occurring in previously healthy children and adults, usually under the age of 50, the WHO said Friday in issuing new guidelines on the use of antivirals developed by an international expert panel.
In Canada, among cases where information is available, about 46 per cent of those hospitalized so far with swine flu had no underlying medical condition. Among those who have died, 75 per cent had a pre-existing health problem, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Most patients infected with the pandemic virus have mild symptoms and recover fully within a week, even without any medical treatment, the WHO says.
But patients with severe H1N1 infection can experience "a sudden and very rapid deterioration in their clinical condition," the WHO said, usually five or six days after the onset of symptoms. H1N1 can cause viral pneumonia, which destroys lung tissue and is a leading cause of death for H1N1 and seasonal flu, and failure of the heart, kidneys and liver.
Serious cases should be treated immediately, ideally within 48 hours of the beginning of symptoms, but treatment should be provided, even if started later.
The recommendation applies to all patients, including pregnant women, and all age groups, including young children and infants.
In children under a year old, Canadian data show higher rates of hospitalizations, admissions to intensive-care units and death, compared with all H1N1 cases in Canada.
The WHO says anyone with an underlying condition should also get Tamiflu quickly, without waiting for lab results, and doctors should consider using higher-than-normal doses in severe cases.
But healthy adults and children with mild or uncomplicated illness don't need the drug, the agency says.
As of Aug. 15, a total of 1,422 cases of people hospitalized with swine flu in Canada had been reported to the agency. This week, four deaths were reported, for a total of 71 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.