H1N1 and Seasonal Flu: what you need to know

H1N1 has sure made our lives more complicated, hasn’t it?

It used to be complicated enough staying up to date with one influenza virus, the “seasonal” or winter flu, now we have H1N1, swine flu, to worry about, too. In other words, we now have two flu seasons instead of one.

H1N1 and “seasonal” flu have a few important differences:

1. H1N1 is a distinct virus from “seasonal” flu.
2. H1N1 doesn’t have a distinct season the way “seasonal” flu actually has. H1N1 seems to be perennial, meaning it seems to be able to run through all the seasons.
3. H1N1 seems to be more mild than “seasonal” flu, so far, but can still make people very ill and has cost people their lives.
4. H1N1 is very widespread and that hasn’t changed so far.

What is similar with H1N1 and “seasonal” influenza?

1. They are both members of the influenza family.
2. They both give people, kids and adults, the flu.
3. They can both be controlled via simple measures such as hand washing and isolating sick people until they are fever free for 24 hours from healthy people.
4. Both can make people either very sick or not very sick. They both can be controlled by widespread immunization of high risk people such as health care workers and children 6months to 18 years.
5. Keep in mind that because H1N1 is a different virus from seasonal flu, each needs it’s own immunization, it’s own vaccine. So, that means your child will need two shots this year to be covered for the flu season: one for the flu you know and love, the seasonal flu, and another for H1N1.

For the most uptodate information about the H1N1 flu shots and where to find the clinic nearest to you, and how is considered high risk, click here. The high risk people and kids are going to get vaccinated first and then everyone else will be offered the vaccine.

In addition to vaccination and isolation, Luckily, both flu illnesses are so similar that you can manage them at home with similar products. To help you be prepared, here’s a shopping list of a few simple items to pick up as you do your back to school shopping:

1. Tissue
2. Hand sanitizer
3. Fever buster medication: acetaminophen (ex. Tylenol), ibuprofen (ex. Motrin, Advil)
4. Rehydration drinks: Pedialyte or the equivalent for infants; Gatorade low sugar for toddlers and older kids.

Please note that over the counter cold and cough medications are not on this list as they are not routinely recommended in children or even teens.

We all have a bit of H1N1 fatigue but it’s important to be prepared with the right information and know how to stay healthy even if we don’t have the shot on board.

(Originally posted September 2009; updated December 2009)