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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Flu Epidemic Statistics

14 replies

GreenGables · 09/12/2008 15:28

This is not really a rant, I am just perplexed!

I was just checking the NHS Direct website to clarify the difference between flu/cold symptoms (I have flu apparently ), when I noticed their blurb on flu epidemics:

''An epidemic can be declared if more than 400 people per 100,000 of the population consult their GP with flu or a flu-like illness every week.''

Great, but this is preceded by advice for the healthy not to consult their GP.

AIBU to think that flu is probably something that needs monitoring? How can the government get an accurate picture on the spread of flu, or indeed know when there is an epidemic if they have no information to collate?

OP posts:

Original poster

GreenGables · 09/12/2008 15:31

DOH! You may want to read the page I was looking at!
... It is here

OP posts:

Original poster

GreenGables · 09/12/2008 15:40

Perhaps I have posted in the wrong place?

OP posts:

friendless · 09/12/2008 15:47

I guess the 400 per 100,000 for an epidemic factors in a likely number of other people with flu who have not been to the doctor. Ie a further 1000 per 100,000 may be ill but stay at home. Not sure how they work this out though...

friendless · 09/12/2008 15:48

Hope you feel better soon

Original poster

GreenGables · 09/12/2008 15:52

I was beginning to think I am too boring to talk to!

OP posts:

lowenergylightbulb · 09/12/2008 16:16

Interesting, we've all had a 'virus' that's begun with sudden onset of a high temp (i.e fine in the morning, really poorly by the afternoon), cough, feeling like you've been run over and then feeling wiped out for ages..

So we (that's 5 of us) have all had flu, and most people on the school run have been pretty ill with the same thing - 10% of the school were off last week according to the head.

And yet I bet most of us haven't consulted a Dr, so won't be on the stats.....

DaisyMooSteiner · 09/12/2008 16:26

Flu is something that is monitored by lots of different agencies in this country and worldwide. People dedicate their whole careers to the epidemiology of flu; trust me, they will have considered that not everyone goes to the doctor!

I remember being told that the difference between flu and a cold is this: If you saw a £50 note on the floor, a person with a cold would pick it up, and person with flu wouldn't have the energy! (Perhaps with a recession on they should downgrade this definition to a £20 note )

thebrain · 09/12/2008 16:27

I had flu once. It was without doubt the most ill I've ever felt in my entire life. I couldn't do anything. I couldn't eat for the best part of a week. I was shivering violently, sick, nosebleeds, as well as runny nose, cough etc. It was a week before I was well enough to drag myself to the Drs who then signed me off for another 10 days (I was at university at the time with exams looming). It took me weeks to recover. I'm always sceptical when people say they have flu, I kind of think if you had it you wouldn't be well enough to tell me! I wouldn't think there are many people who genuinely have flu that don't get seen by the Dr.

Mercy · 09/12/2008 16:30

I know the Health Protection Agency is involved is this sort of thing.

I thought schools, workplaces, care homes etc etc had to report infectious diseases as well as GPs so maybe that's how they get their statistics too

babyloveschristmas · 09/12/2008 16:35

I have just had the flu, in fact i still feel really ropey. I have not been to the doctors as I was unable to get out of bed for the first couple of days and was just too ill, plus I thought the doctor would'nt do anything!

I have just read the info on the link and am a bit at the bit about who should have the flu jab including people who care for elderly and disbaled as main carer (totally valid) as their care may be affected if carer gets ill - what about mothers who are the sole carers of small children????

My DD (7) made her and my younger DD food and drinks through out the 1st day of my illness!

Mercy · 09/12/2008 16:43

My GP told me that the flu jab doesn't actually stop you from getting flu but it lessens the amount of time you are actually ill for (ie, less risk of complications developing))

As a mother of young children it is assumed that you are reasonably young and fit and will recover in the normal way.

Older people and those with chronic health problems can be more ill and for longer.

(I know what you mean though!)

babyloveschristmas · 09/12/2008 16:48

Mercy,

It said the carers of the elderly and disabled - i assume a lot of them are young and fit too? It is recommended because the care they give may suffer, IYSWIM.

lowenergylightbulb · 09/12/2008 17:02

thebrain - all of my kids were in bed for 3 days which is unheard of. And I had 2 days where I thought I was going to have to go to A+E, never mind the Drs! And then we all have had a week of being totally wiped out.

Whatever we had it was nasty.

thebrain · 09/12/2008 17:38

lowenergylightbulb - it does sound nasty and could well have been the flu. I had more in mind the people stood in front of me coughing saying they have flu. If it were flu they'd still be at home!

I suppose I was thinking more of people working would need sick notes or whatever, but yes a sahm now I don't suppose I would see a Dr. Not much they can do really.

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