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Children's health

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Original poster

Dd has, I'm sure, flu - do I automatically get her checked?

20 replies

imaginaryfriend · 04/05/2009 23:38

Dd started sneezing very violently on Saturday. I thought it was hay fever as she does get that and it was that kind of non-stop sneezing. She woke with a stiff neck / fever on Saturday night, was ill with teeth-chattering chills and fever up to 39.5 on Sunday and through last night. Today she's been weak but better, just a headache and neck ache.

I'm in SE London and after seeing the news two S London schools have been closed due to outbreaks of swine flu I'm wondering if I should get dd checked out? As much as anything I should let the school know even if dd herself is over the worst.

I can't get perspective on it - is it just as likely to be a different kind of flu? She had a flu jab in November as she's asthmatic.

OP posts:
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 04/05/2009 23:39

Call NHS direct, they have set up a line for flu cases.

I hope she's OK.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 04/05/2009 23:46

Yes I might do that, depending on how she is tonight though. She's definitely been better today and seemed almost normal at bedtime tonight.

If her temp comes up again tonight I'll take her to the GP tomorrow in any case as I imagine they might want to swab her given the number of kids coming down with swine flu in S London.

If she's totally fine tonight and bouncing in the morning would you send your child into school or should I keep her home for community reasons?

OP posts:
Plonker · 04/05/2009 23:47

I would get her checked.

Probably nothing but better safe than sorry.

TheFallenMadonna · 04/05/2009 23:49

Phone first is the message that's been given. Don't just take her to the GP if you suspect flu.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 04/05/2009 23:49

That's what I'm thinking at the moment.

OP posts:
blinks · 04/05/2009 23:50

YOU SHOULD CALL ABOU THE STIFF NECK/HEAD ACHE ANYWAY...

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 04/05/2009 23:52

Give NHS direct a call about the stiff neck/headache as blinks said. It does need checking. Any rash?

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 04/05/2009 23:54

No, no rash and she really is much better today or I'd be panicking!

OP posts:
Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 04/05/2009 23:55

Her worst point was yesterday afternoon / evening / night. She woke this morning kind of weak and shaky but much more herself and we've been to the cinema this afternoon / she ate dinner and was clowning around at bedtime.

OP posts:
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 04/05/2009 23:55

Give the GP surgery a call in the morning or call NHS direct tonight if anything changes or you are concerned.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 04/05/2009 23:56
  • I didn't even think of swine flu until I saw the news just now and I was wondering if it was important for the GP to know if she's had it even if she's over it.
OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 04/05/2009 23:57

You took her to the cinema but think you should let the school know in case she has flu?

TheFallenMadonna · 04/05/2009 23:57

Ah - x post.

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 04/05/2009 23:58

It helps them track it's spread. They can test for it, it can get worse in some petients though and cause bacterial infections so they would want to know, either way.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 05/05/2009 00:00

I wouldn't have taken her to the cinema if I'd had even a vague concern about swine flu. It seemed like a nasty cold / flu / throat infection (she gets those quite often) to me and she was so much better this morning.

I keep thinking now about how much she was sneezing on Saturday when it started - we were on the tube . I honestly thought it was hay fever as her eyes were sore and itchy too.

OP posts:
Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 05/05/2009 00:01

How long does it take for them to test for it?

OP posts:
Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 05/05/2009 00:02

I mean how long does it take to be confirmed by test?

OP posts:
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 05/05/2009 00:04

Not long I don't think. They all get sent to a lab in Leicster IRRC, a couple of days. You need to quarantine her. It could be hay fever with a cold but it needs checking.

We are ,I'm sad to say, not in flu season any more so normal flu isn't likely. I wouldn't send her to school tomorrow and you do need to phone the GP or contact NHS direct. Has she been in contact with anyone who's just been on holiday?

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 05/05/2009 00:09

One of her close friends was in US for the Easter holiday but she hasn't been ill at all. She hasn't been in contact with anyone else who's been on holiday to my knowledge.

OP posts:
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 05/05/2009 00:10

how odd. It still needs checking though.

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