Influenza A ???

[Mehita]

I'm just curious...

My grandmother was admitted today with influenza A. She also has cancer so she's immune suppressed. Now my dad's family is all rushing to visit her in the hospital, many of whom did not get the flu shot.

For those who didn't get their flu shot and are going to visit her, aren't they just opening the door of exposure to themselves?? Can this exposure then be passed to other immune suppressed people... like DS??

We're supposed to see my dad again in a couple of weeks. I'm guessing he's either going to have, or at least be carrying, the flu in him. Or am I misunderstanding all of this?

I know seeing him is probably no riskier than sending DS to school. I think I'm trying to find a way to educate my stubborn dad on what it means to be immune suppressed since he doesn't take it seriously with DS.

 

[my little penguin]

http://www.tchd.org/pdfs/immunosuppressed_precautions_to_prevent_disease.pdf

http://www.in.gov/isdh/images/Immunosuppressed.pdf

http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/He...g-child-infection-immune-system-lowered-.aspx

articles for your dad

but remember these are for folks talking large scale immunosuppression ( think organ transplant) not IBD drugs ( even remicade)

HAs your son gotten the flu shot ?
this should reduce his risk. Although I would probably still steer clear for a few days after they "visit" the hospital due to cliff, mrsa , and the flu in general.

I need to find the correct term.
be back soon.

 

[my little penguin]

Immunizing family members
If your child is taking immune-suppressing treatment, you and any family members who live in the same household should be vaccinated. This will help keep your child healthy.
However, some live vaccines work by causing a very mild form of the disease. For most people, this is completely safe, but people who have received these vaccines can pass germs to other people. This could make your child sick.
The following live vaccines are safe to give to family members:
measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
yellow fever
oral typhoid
The following live vaccines are safe with some restrictions:
Chickenpox (varicella): About 5% of people who receive this vaccine develop a rash. If this happens, the child whose immune system is suppressed should avoid contact with this person. Contact your child’s doctor if this happens, as your child may need to take treatment to prevent infection.
Rotavirus: It is possible that people who receive this vaccine may have live virus in their feces (stool). If your family members receive the rotavirus vaccine, wash hands thoroughly and often.
People who receive oral polio vaccine have live virus in their feces. Family members should not receive this vaccine. This vaccine is not used in Canada.
It is safe for family members to take all inactivated vaccines. These cannot be passed on to your child.
If your child has been exposed to an infectious disease
If your child has been exposed to an infectious disease, call your child’s doctor right away. Your child may need to have treatment to prevent infection.
Your child will need treatment after being exposed to any of the following diseases:
chickenpox (varicella)
measles
hepatitis A

from:
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/He...Children-Teens-Suppressed-Immune-Systems.aspx

 

[Myhappyplace]

Sadly, hospitals are in some ways the worst places for sick people. Anyone who visits them carries a risk of being exposed to (and passing on) numerous pathogens. I was a floor nurse for years, and my husband works in a cancer center now. The risk is not to be taken lightly. And by the way, I would recommend NOT eating at a hospital cafeteria salad bar, and NOT drinking from public water fountains in hospitals. Having a flu shot will help your family and your child, but unless your family members wore gloves and masks while at the hospital, there's no way to know what they may have been exposed to. Wish I could lighten the tone, but really, it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[DustyKat]

This seasons Fluvax does contain A strains…

A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus.
A(H3N2) virus antigenically like the cell-propagated prototype virus A/Victoria/361/2011.
B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like virus.

…Certainly visiting someone with flu will open them up to exposure and the possibility of contracting it unless strict infection control measures are followed. Even those immunised can potentially pick up the virus however symptoms for vaccinated should be greatly reduced, so there is no guarantee there either that they are safe contacts.

As mlp has said avoidance would be your best option and I personally wouldn’t visit with those family members while ever your grandmother remains ill and they continue to visit with her. Your grandmother being immune suppressed means that the normal contagion times may well be extended beyond the usual day before symptoms appear through to 5-7 days after.

Dusty. xxx