H1N1 Flu Information

Below are some highlights of the H1N1 Influenza and the Seasonal Influenza:

• Jonesboro Children's Clinic can no longer make appointments for the Seasonal Flu vaccine.
• We received our shipment of regular Seasonal Flu vaccine and have already made appointments for all of our received shipments.  
• There are some places that are giving both the seasonal flu vaccine and H1N1.  Many local schools have clinics lined up and we suggest that you call your school to find out if they are giving the vaccine.
• On Thursday, October 29, the Department of Health will provide flu vaccine (seasonal and H1N1) at a "drive-thru" clinc at the Arkansas State University Convocation Center parking lot.  This will be from 7 am - 4 pm or until they run out of vaccine.   
• We do not know how much H1N1 Flu vaccine will be given to US or if/when we will receive it.  The H1N1 Flu vaccine will be distributed to pediatric practices through the local health departments. The H1N1 Flu vaccine will be administered according to guidelines.
• There is NO evidence that the Seasonal Flu vaccine protects against H1N1 Flu.
• Jonesboro Children's Clinic does not have the capability to test specifically for H1N1 Flu.

Treatment Guidelines

• Flu-like symptoms include sudden onset of fever, headache, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches.
• The symptoms are very similar for both Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Flu.
• H1N1 Flu is in the Flu A category. It is not necessarily worse than Seasonal Flu, it’s just a new form of the flu virus that we are still learning about.
• If your child is normally healthy with no chronic health conditions, generally it is best to treat flu-like symptoms at home with fever-reducing medicine, plenty of fluids and rest.This is true if it’s Seasonal Flu OR H1N1 Flu. Healthy patients with uncomplicated illness need not be treated with anti-viral medications (e.g. Tamiflu™) and such treatment is not recommended by the CDC or the World Health Organization (WHO).
• The CDC and the Health Departments do NOT recommend giving anti-viral medications to treat either type of flu in otherwise healthy children and adults.  This helps prevent the virus from becoming resistant to anti-viral medications.
• It is the Children's Clinic's office policy to follow CDC guidelines for administering anti-viral medications. For otherwise healthy children (i.e., children without chronic medical conditions), the CDC does not recommend trying to prevent the flu by taking anti-viral medications after exposure.
• It is also the Children's Clinic's office policy to see patients at an appointment before prescribing anti-viral medications for flu-like symptoms.
• If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, the CDC recommends that you stay home from school or work until you have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever- reducing medications.