Posted by
meiji
18 yrs ago
Anyone as paranoid as me... thinking whether I should grab my children and leave.... this "Flu" virus.... or not... killing these 3 year olds ... (tuen mun hospital) is hitting closely to the memories of the SARS year........don't want to have to go through that again.
Anyone know more info?
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It's all been in the papers. The girl died of the H3N2 strain of the flu which has been around for a few years. Her sister also had it and got over it, as most people do. What was unusual is the autopsy found a build up of abnormal fat deposit in her internal organs which could not have been caused by the flu. So at the moment no-one really knows what's happened as such, a panic at this time would be crazy.
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Flu can be deadly. Flu shots give complete or partial protection in most cases. As I understand it that includes H3N2. You can thus decrease risk considerably by getting flu shots for my family at the recommended times.
I know some people don't like immunizations for various reasons. That's fine. The above is just my opinion.
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Any parents thinking of getting a flu jab for their kids? I'm seriously thinking of doing it. No reports of adverse side effects of flu jabs, are there?
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smsm
18 yrs ago
Hi...I am too thinking of giving flu shots to my 3.5 yr old..my doc said that it takes 3 weeks for the antibodies to get generated but still thinking of going ahead..
as far as side effects, a frd of mine asked the same to her doc and was told that theres a small component in the vaccination which can cause brain damage...so she didnt o for it...when my doc was asked he said its safe and he has given to his daughters too.....rather confusing for parents if u ask me..
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mrsl
18 yrs ago
Flu can be very serious or fatal, especially for the very young and very old. Ever since one of our children had a severe dose of flu as an infant, we have always vaccinated everyone in our house (including our helper) as soon as the vaccines are available each year. People tend to confuse heavy colds and flu - there is a HUGE difference. This is absolutely not an issue unique to Hong Kong, although the high population density in which we live in any large city never helps when there is an outbreak of any strain.
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Well, thatz why a lot of people moved out from high rise building to village houses. That doesnt guarantee you anything but at least you are only dealing with 2 other families in your block and the air is fresher than in the city. But I dont think now is the right time for flu vaccin, is it? I was told it shld be round about Sep-Oct each year for shots.
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MayC
18 yrs ago
So what do we all do in the meantime?
I have a 3.5 year old too and while there are hygienic measures that you can introduce to older children as a precaution (no guarantee, I understand that), I doubt a 3.5 year old is going to listen to it.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried.
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I might be wrong, but I think that Oct is peak time because it gives maximum cover for the flu season. As far as I understand, you can have the vaccine at any time of year from when the child turns 6 months.
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I seem to recall a doctor saying there are two flu seasons in HK. But the fall shot should be around October yes.
"Any parents thinking of getting a flu jab for their kids? I'm seriously thinking of doing it. No reports of adverse side effects of flu jabs, are there?"
We get it for adults and kids every year after they turned 6 months. Apart from the occasional mild flu-like symptoms the first few days, no adverse effects. Of course, we're hardly a good sample size.
"People tend to confuse heavy colds and flu - there is a HUGE difference. "
Very true. Flu shots don't protect against heavy colds. But then heavy colds tend to be a nuisance at worst. Flu can be deadly.
"as far as side effects, a frd of mine asked the same to her doc and was told that theres a small component in the vaccination which can cause brain damage...so she didnt o for it...when my doc was asked he said its safe and he has given to his daughters too.....rather confusing for parents if u ask me.."
That's because you're talking probabilities. Pretty much any drug has side effects. If the chance of something happening are very small, some doctors won't mention it and some will.
Getting an epidural carries a very small risk of paralysis. Doesn't stop women getting them. Risk/rewards thing.
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Kim11
18 yrs ago
I gave my 3 year old and almost one year old the first installment of the flu shot yesterday and they are both fine today. Well the one year old also had all her other shots and is a bit cranky but no major flu. So far so good. they are also recommending flu shots in Australia where we were last winter so it is something that is becomming universal it seems.
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I am really worried today too. A friend of mine called and asked me, "Are you going to send your kids to school still?" Until she asked me, I never gave it a thought. There are a few more days until Easter break for my 4 and 2 year old...
The 4 year old's school does a good job in prevetions. Temperature sheet check before entering the classroom, and if the child is coughing, they either send the child home, or provide a mask for them. 1:49 bleach is used to clean the classrooms. Touchwood, my 4 year old hasn't caught a cold or flu since going to this school (in comparison to the previous one for playgroup)
My 2 year old.... seriously, I might just stop going until the term ends.
My pediatrician suggested I bring the kids in for a flu shot tomorrow.... I NEVER give them flu shots.... believed they do more harm than good.... but now... I don't know.
my friend said she went to school today with her 3 year old.... half of the class had masks on... not because they are sick in any way, they DON'T want to get sick, so the parents put a mask on their own child for own protection.
Then, she said she went to local pharmacies, and they said the child's size masks are all SOLD OUT, and the alcohol wipes are flying off the shelves, and the antibacterial hand sanitizing gels are selling out too.
I don't know what to think. I teach piano... all ages.... just wondering what precaution I should be taking. I always disinfect the piano after each child/student... but is that enough?
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I was just asking myself when exyogi would show up. I won't try to dispute him point for point (he has more energy than I for that sort of thing). Suffice it to say that exyogi and I disagree strongly on vaccinations.
Diseases like the flu are common and happen all the time. We can take precautions but in the end some people become sick anyway, and some may even die. That doesn't mean vaccines are useless. Before we had vaccines and public health programs, flu epidemics would kill tens of thousands of people. Now, we find a single death tragic and scary. That is a good indication of how much progress has been made.
There is no 100% safe course of action. It's all about improving the odds. Vaccines are a bit like a seatbelt. It may not keep you alive in all crashes, but it increases your odds of staying alive if a crash does happen. Also, despite the fact that you may die in a car crash, you still undertake journeys in cars.
"I don't know what to think. I teach piano... all ages.... just wondering what precaution I should be taking. I always disinfect the piano after each child/student... but is that enough?"
That and a flu shot for yourself should do it. There is no 100% guarantee but you can lower the odds considerably.
"My pediatrician suggested I bring the kids in for a flu shot tomorrow.... I NEVER give them flu shots.... believed they do more harm than good.... but now... I don't know."
The disease the flu shot protects from is flying around in the local area. Getting the flu shot gives a very good chance or prevention. In my mind the decision is easy. I would get the shots done for the whole family.
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I'm with cara.
exyogi, just because you can show us a couple of websites doesn't mean there is a big conspiracy. What would be the purpose of such a conspiracy? To make people ill? To kill them? Isn't it in the best interests of doctors and pharmaceutical companies to keep us alive so they can keep treating us and selling us more drugs? Contrary to what you seem to think, most doctors are deluded and they certainly aren't out to kill us through ignorance or otherwise.
Answer me this: How is it that 100 years ago, a flu outbreak could easily kill tens of thousands, while today deaths are in the dozens at worst?
"Would YOU, cara, now vaccinate your children again knowing that there is a vaccination-autism link? "
I would. Our kids also received the MMR vaccine. There is a risk of autism, but that's a smaller risk than those incurred by not getting the vaccine. Life is inherently unsafe. The best you can do is mitigate risk.
"If the government lied about the vaccination-autism link, what other vaccination lies have they not revealed?"
How did they lie about it? The information is hardly hidden. Just because "the government" doesn't come out with a press release about every little risk doesn't mean there's some sort of cover-up.
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Ed
18 yrs ago
WARNING: the issue of risk involved with vaccinations has been done to death. We all are aware ad nauseum that sometimes people do get ill and even die from vaccines. Most if not all doctors still prescribe vaccines so therefore this is a moot point.
We will not accept any further 'baiting' on the subject - and if this continues, we will hit the ban button.
The End
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God it's quite scary to think little childrem can die because of the flu.
But from what i have read, they haven't yet confirmed if it was actually the flu or some other complications that were overlooked that was the cause of death.
poor parents. and poor children. one can't help but feel their pain.
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I agree with you 100%. From what I read from local Chinese newspaper, the cause of death is not confirmed yet but some of threads above seemed to jump to their own judgement too quickly. But having said that, most of the children ward in private hospitals are full and have refused accepting new cases, especially children of high fever.
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oh that's really terrible. Can you imagine rushing your sick child to hospital only to find that they are denied medical attention.
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Yup the parents were told to go to public hospitals which were thought to have more beds to accommodate. The child has been ill for about 2 weeks, with high fever on and off.
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"The child has been ill for about 2 weeks, with high fever on and off."
I'm not a doctor but that doesn't sound like a "simple" case of the flu.
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Thats what I read from the chinese paper. Nothing more was disclosed. Lets all have an early Easter Holidays to stop the virus spreading among children, if that is at all possible.
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meiji
18 yrs ago
No school starting tomorrow for kindergartens, playgroups, and primary schools across all of HK.
Tells you SOMETHING doesn't it? It's a lot more than they are willing to say.
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"Tells you SOMETHING doesn't it? It's a lot more than they are willing to say."
I'm not so sure. There's not necessarily a cover-up. As mentioned in the other threat, the authorities are under great pressure to "do something". If they don't do anything, and god forbid another kid dies, they would be crucified. The safer course of action is to implement the closures. Perhaps it's overkill, but it does make sense from several perspectives.
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crj
18 yrs ago
When I was a child in the USA, sometimes we would have an 'extra' winter break if there was a flu outbreak... just to stop it from spreading through the schools.
I think HK is taking a sensible step.
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MayC
18 yrs ago
I agree that the government made a right decision is closing the schools early.
After all, prevention is better than cure.
However, my husband just said to me this morning that Ocean Park is offering 50% off the entrance fee for students from now until the 20th in the hope of capitalising on this extended holiday break. Talk about double standards... but then again, in a business perspective, why not if it means more business.....
Hmm...........
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mrsl
18 yrs ago
Agree with cara, having children outdoors must be a better option than being cooped up in sealed rooms with recirculated air.
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Dear All,
This week started from last Sunday 9th of March, my 10 years old started with very strange symptoms with fever/ nauseas / picking feeling
That night he didn’t sleep at all the fever when very high etc throw up 3 times during night. I didn’t took him to the doctor till morning the fever never come down
When the doctor saw him ( at the Ratonjee Government Hospital) he said is nothing just a simple Flue, I’ll give panadol and go home, for another 3 night same case ( what I done was just keep him at home
Since no flu shoots should be given to people that is already sick) so he stay the whole week home well look after instead of living him is the hospital exposed to other kind of viruses.
Now he is fine and all recovered (thank goodness)
Yesterday the school call saying that form this coming Monday 17th holidays started one week early so now the kids will have 3 weeks holidays due the flu
I just my story
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One thing I've noticed in HK is how many locals say they have the flu when they just have a garden variety cold. This probably adds to the confusion and concern.
As a rule of thumb, if you don't have a high fever and muscle/joint ache, you don't have the flu. Having said that, I'm not a doctor. If you are concerned, go see a doctor.
BTW as most of you know antibiotics do not help with the flu since it is caused by a virus.
If you think you have the flu:
- See a doctor.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Take some sort of fever suppressant if your fever is high.
- Stuffy rooms bad. Plenty of ventilation good.
- No need to have 10 blankets and "sweat it out". That doesn't work.
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