71 Words: 15 What should you do if you or your Child has the Symptoms for H1n1 Virus

2201 Words: 421
Your child starts displaying the symptoms of the H1N1 virus. What should you do? Just by seeing the symptoms, you won’t be able to tell for sure if he or she has the actual virus or one of the many other conditions with the same symptoms. The following are some actions you may want to consider.
Take him or her to the doctor
If you are worried that he or she might have the H1N1 virus, then you might want to take him or her to the doctor. The doctor will be able to do an exam and then do a test, which he can send out to determine whether your child has the H1N1 virus. In the meantime, the doctor might be able to determine if there is anything else going on such as an ear infection. He or she will be able to listen to your child’s chest, and know if the child is sick enough that further steps need to be taken. He or she can recommend medicine to help the symptoms if applicable, and might prescribe antibiotics if he or she thinks that a bacterial infection is the culprit. Once the lab results come back, he or she can give further instructions. Although most cases of H1N1 virus are not too serious, occasionally they can get very bad, especially in young people, so having your child evaluated is not a bad idea.
Consider keeping him or her home from school
Most schools will want you to keep your child home if he or she has a suspected case of the H1N1 virus. It is very contagious, and some schools have even needed to be closed down because so many people contracted the virus. It will be best for him or her to rest anyways. They will usually tell you the guidelines for when it is okay to return, or you can ask your pediatrician.
Take the normal steps to make your child comfortable
Just like with any sickness, you will want to take the steps to keep your child comfortable and help him or her recuperate. He or she should get lots of rest, drink a lot of fluids and just take it easy. Hopefully the symptoms will soon be gone and he or she will be up and running in no time. Of course, if at any point the symptoms seem to get very serious or he or she has an extremely high fever, trouble breathing, or another such serious symptom, you should consider a hospital.
Updated On: 03/15/2010 Published On: 03/15/2010 Why birthdays are special even for adults