I Got The Flu...Am I Dying? #fluseason #coldandflu

Ummmmm No, you are not dying !
Do you need to go to the Emergency room now! No!
Only unless you are so sick that you can not keep down liquids, you are not going to the bathroom anymore ( peeing at least once in 8+ hours, your pee is dark, you are dehydrated now possibly) By liquids I don't mean alcoholic kind...yes some have to ask.
Your fever will not go away even after taking Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and/or Ibuprofen (Motrin) and waiting at least an hour for it to work. It's ok to run a fever... It's your body's way of trying to fix itself.
Please at least try to help yourself, you don't have to prove a fever to the ER nurse, she will just roll her eyes at you if you did not take anything at all. That goes for those little kiddos too. Nothing makes me want to roll my eyes at you if you did not try and medicate your child.... They feel like poop, give them something to make them feel better.... Be a parent please ( off my soapbox..sorry about that)

The flu is a virus... True influenza is a respiratory kind of viral bug... Nothing we can give you will make it go away ...once you have influenza of any type.. You are gonna feel like crap for about 1-2 weeks......yes I said weeks.... See why prevention of the flu is everything ! It is spread by droplets..floating around in the air once someone infected with flu coughs,sneezes and spreads those droplets to you, a doorknob,shopping cart or anywhere those nasty drops land.
Antiviral meds are not that effective...have yucky side effects (like vomiting...fun) and cost more $$. Would I take them...NO ... Would my medical coworkers take them...usually they say no way too....that's gotta tell you something...and never would I give to my kids or grand-kids.

What are the symptoms of the Flu (influenza) ?

• Fever-- we have been seeing very high fevers lately...like 103-106 high
• Comes on suddenly
• Chills - shaking feelings like you are "freezing to death"
• Headaches
• Muscle and body aches
• Dizziness
• Runny nose,coughing,respiratory symptoms ..worse than a common cold
• Extreme fatigue ,tiredness
• Lack of appetite
• Most people have all or a few of these symptom, but they all will have a fever.

What do I do to prevent or keep from getting the flu?

• WASH YOUR HANDS!!! Wash your hands, wash your hands! #1 thing proven to help prevent!
• Stay home during higher flu season times... The ER and Dr offices are full of flu patients right now.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing! Don't spray your droplet mess to everyone.
• Don't share eating utensils or cups with others, even your family.
• Get a flu vaccine early in the fall,when the are first available.
• Eat a healthy diet ... This goes a long way to preventing illness's
• Take a good probiotic daily! Keep you gut healthy...80% of you immune system lives in your tummy!
• Preventative essential oils have been proven to help with seasonal threats and support of your immune health, educate yourself on these.

What can I do at home to feel better? Or help my family to feel better?

• Rest-- sleep it off, your body needs to repair itself while you sleep.
• Drink lots and lots of fluids...juices,waters,pedialyte type liquids,Popsicle's ,frozen fruits or ices soothe.
• Wash those hands...don't spread it
• Medicate to help the symptoms- Acetaminophen or Tylenol, Ibuprofen or Motrin for fevers and discomfort. Over the counter flu type meds (Theraflu) can help, you can ask the pharmacist for suggestions.
• Hot tea with lemon and honey does help.
• Chicken soup ( yes it does help to soothe the savage beast)

When do you call the doctor or go to the ER?

• High fever with a rash all over
• Trouble breathing
• Skin or lips have bluish appearance
• Not drinking enough or peeing any for >8 + hours
• Lethargic or very sleepy, can't wake person
• Confused

Do you have a cold or the flu?? Her is how to tell.....

Stay well! and Wash those Hands Please!

Croupy cough- Barking noises, nighttime surprises

Croup seems to be on the rise early this season. I have seen many children brought into the Emergency Department with this scary ailment. Most commonly seems to awaken kids at night with this horrible sounding seal like barking noise. If you have ever heard a croupy cough or stridor coming out of a small child's mouth you will remember it well.
If your child wakes up barking loudly do you need to bring them to the Emergency Room? Well, that's a very good question. Not all children need to be rushed to the ER for a croupy cough. You can try a couple of things at home first.
Ask yourself these things first 

• Does my child have a high fever? ( check it rectally if they can not hold the thermometer in their mouth well, of course you are the parent and you know when your child has a temp. Go ahead and medicate them for fever, it will help with discomfort also. 
• Does my child have any breathing trouble, like retractions (look at them with no shirt on, does it seem like they are sucking in hard to breath?
• Does my child have stridor-- a high pitched noise when they breath, not just the barky cough?
• Are you freaking out and just don't know what to do (its ok if you are, better to bring them in to be checked out than not)

OK-- If your child is limp, lethargic and turning blue around the lips, call 911!! 

IF your child is happy, playful, and looks normal, but still has that terrible sounding cough- take a deep breath and calm down, its gonna be just fine.

Try these methods at home if your child seems ok at home first:

• Turn on the shower water to hot--get the bathroom nice and steamy (of course don't put your child in the hot water) take your child in the bathroom and stay with them, help them to breath in the nice steamy air in the bathroom for around 5-10 min or so.
• Take them immediately outside into the cool nighttime air (its ok, you are not gonna make them sicker doing this--no matter what your grandma told you) 
• The alternating of the steam and the cool air will most of the time help stop the bronchospasm-like coughing  and help them calm down and settle back to sleep.
• Don't medicate your child with any sedating cough syrups, alcohols or home remedies. Cool mist vaporizers or humidifiers in their room is fine. I use the old Vicks vapor rub on their chest and feet remedy myself (unless they are infants)
• Call your peds doctor or advice line if you want more advice before traveling to the ER, they are a wealth of good information.

So What is Croup?? 

Croup is a condition that causes an inflammation of the upper airways — the voice box (larynx) and windpipe (trachea). It often leads to a barking cough or hoarseness, especially when a child cries.

Most cases of croup are caused by viruses, usually parainfluenza virus and sometimes adenovirus or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).Viral croup is most common — and symptoms are most severe — in children 6 months to 3 years old, but can affect older kids too. Some children are more prone to developing croup when they get a viral upper respiratory infection.

Most cases of viral croup are mild and can be treated at home. Rarely, croup can be severe and even life threatening.

The term spasmodic croup refers to a type of croup that develops quickly and may happen in a child with a mild cold. The barking cough usually begins at night and is not accompanied by fever. Spasmodic croup has a tendency to come back again (recur).

Treatment of symptoms is the same for either form of croup.

Signs and Symptoms

At first, a child may have cold symptoms, like a stuffy or runny nose and a fever. As the upper airway (the lining of the windpipe and the voice box) becomes more inflamed and swollen, the child may become hoarse, with a harsh, barking cough. This loud cough, which is characteristic of croup, often sounds like the barking of a seal.

If the upper airway continues to swell, it becomes even more difficult for a child to breathe, and you may hear a high-pitched or squeaking noise during inhalation (called stridor). A child also might breathe very fast or have retractions (when the skin between the ribs pulls in during breathing). In the most serious cases, a child may appear pale or have a bluish color around the mouth due to a lack of oxygen.

Symptoms of croup are often worse at night and when children are upset or crying. Besides the effects on the upper airway, the viruses that cause croup can cause inflammation farther down the airway and affect the bronchi (large breathing tubes that connect to the windpipe).

Hope this helps you understand Croup a little better, have questions? Feel free to post in the comments.