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Original poster

Sensible, non-panicking Swine flu measures?

271 replies

bella29 · 30/04/2009 12:13

Just wondered.....

they (a doctor) said on my local BBC radio station this morning that it would be wise to set by a stock of paracetamol, calpol etc. just in case.

Anything else you are doing?

OP posts:
Musukebba · 03/05/2009 21:15

No problem, but you are right about the epidemiology and the ratios of people exposed/infected/ill/died.

whomovedmychocolate · 03/05/2009 21:51

So the general consensus is 'you are very likely to die....yet'

I'm not advocating complacency, I think this is a bloody marvellous thing though if it gets people to practice good hygiene a bit more. Was reading a thing in the Guardian today (online obviously, don't buy it ) which said only 12% of hospital staff cleaned their hands correctly and regularly and one in four visitors to motorway service stations had fecal matter (yes folks that's shit to you and I) on their hands

The one thing that concerns me actually is pin machines - you know at the shops. Everybody touches them and they are bloody filthy if you look at them. I'm always tempted to spray them with disinfectant before putting in my pin.

SlightlyMadSwineFlu · 03/05/2009 22:01

I think you missed the word not in that first sentence

Talk about my shoddy typing skill

whomovedmychocolate · 03/05/2009 22:02

ROFL yes I did - can't help it, am drugged silly on cold meds

serin · 03/05/2009 23:44

Whomoved, would love to know more about the report that only 12% of NHS staff wash their hands correctly!!! On the ward where I work we wash hands before and after each patient contact, after removing our gloves first.
After touching equipment used by patients such as wheelchairs and mobility aids and before and after touching case notes. Each ward has its own handwashing tsar and the staff have no skin left on our hands.
Even my kids use the proper handwashing technique.

Share the concerns re chip and pin machines

whomovedmychocolate · 04/05/2009 07:52

Serin - twas on the guardian site, hang on I'll find.....

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3345597/Thousands-of-hospital-staff-fail-to-wash-hands-correctly.htm l Mind you, is newspaper story so may be complete bollox

I found when in hospital (children's ward) with DS that while there were lots of handwashing stations and gel stations, there were no tissues (we were both suffering a virus which featured sneezing, coughing etc.) Now I know resources are scarce but a suspect not a lot of people do what I do and carry tissues everywhere.

sarah293 · 04/05/2009 08:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

stitchtime · 04/05/2009 09:02

in carparks, i always use a lipgloss to press the button for the ticket. andin lifts, the sleeve of whatever i amwearing to press the right button. some people think i am ocd

wotulookinat · 04/05/2009 09:06

won't the germs be on the lipgloss? then when you go to put it on you are touching them anyway.

stitchtime · 04/05/2009 09:09

no, i dotn use the lipgloss anymore. it is just a pointy thing that is finger shaped. i hold it only from the non lid end... just an eccentric habit i suppose. i just always imagine men digging aorund in their nostrils , then using the same finger to press that butoon.. ewww...

wotulookinat · 04/05/2009 09:13

hee hee. And it also means you don't have to park really close to the machine, I guess.

wotulookinat · 04/05/2009 09:13

hee hee. And it also means you don't have to park really close to the machine, I guess.

OhYouBadBadPig · 04/05/2009 17:39

Musukebba can I ask if the d&v associated with this flu is unusual as the media are reporting. If so, do you know what is causing that component of the illness?

InternationalFlight · 04/05/2009 17:46

what OYBBP said but with at the end instead

SkaterGrrrrl · 04/05/2009 18:35

I agree with everyone here who say we all just need to be sensible, wash our hands often and avoid touching faces after being on the tube ...

However I was on the the tube on Fri, Sat and Sunday and saw loads of people coughing and sneezing into their hands, touching the handrail on the escalators and then touching their faces etc. Cant they just use common sense and be a bit more hygenic given there's a new virus in town and we dont know the deal yet?

OhYouBadBadPig · 04/05/2009 19:29

Skatergrrrl - was in London today and for the first time ever I really noticed how unhygenic people were. We went to the Tate Modern and Imperial War museum. People weren't even bothering to use their hands - just generally sneezing and coughing into the air. bleugh!

I think I have the strongest over-active imagination ever. This evening the glands in my neck have come up and are nice and sore, I have a sore throat and am coughing and shivery/achy. Oh the power of suggestion

InternationalFlight · 04/05/2009 19:46

I have a cough coming too

Mind you ds has had it for weeks, i am just succumbing! I am going to start taking acidophilus again. I didn't get anything while I was taking that.

Musukebba · 04/05/2009 21:26

OYBBP and IF: Diarrhoea (and vomiting) are indeed proving to be unusual symptoms associated with swine flu, as more and more cases are tested/confirmed. It was originally on the assessment algorithm but now it isn't (you can download the HPA one here). In the early stages of swine flu observations, D&V was probably rightly included to start with, but as time goes on it is less useful as a distinguishing feature.

I can't give a rational explanation for the swine flu D&V, except to say it is sometimes seen in seasonal flu cases as well. Influenza will typically cause systemic effects such as high temperature, headache, lethargy, muscle aches, and joint pains without the virus actually spreading outside the respiratory tract. I guess a simple way to explain it is the side-effects of the immune response, which spread further than the infection itself.

SlightlyMadSwineFlu · 04/05/2009 21:29

27 confirmed cases now...with 5 at one school.

I don't think we have peaked in the UK yet....most of the new cases are person to person spread (7 of 9)....

OhYouBadBadPig · 04/05/2009 21:46

Cool - thanks Musukebba

whomovedmychocolate · 04/05/2009 22:36

Musukebba - that's interesting, I've had D&V for 48 hours with a temp pitching at 39.2, together with muscle aches and cold symptoms. But I've been no further than Centerparcs and haven't come into contact with any carriers (I don't think). At which point does one contact the GP? I mean, I'm actually quite well apart from the puking/pooping/coughing. It's certainly only a tenth as bad as the proper flu I got two years ago which laid me out for seven days - I actually couldn't stand up with that one for 36 hours and was completely delirious.

whomovedmychocolate · 04/05/2009 23:09
Sickofhouseworkwoman · 05/05/2009 00:36

I'm with seeker I'm improving the wine supply let's stop worrying until there is real cause for concern.

Now if knitting sanitary pads is required because they won't deliver to the house anyone know of a tight stitch?

EldonAve · 05/05/2009 08:23

Sorry I've only skimmed the thread

If you don't have any symptoms can you still pass on the swine flu?

lowrib · 05/05/2009 09:47

whomovedmychocolate "At which point does one contact the GP?"
if I was you I'd call your GP or NHS Direct (08545647) now. If there's any chance you might have it the responsible thing to do is let them know in case they need to monitor the spread, and so they can give you advice.
Even if you think it's unlikely, making a phone call won't hurt!
Get well soon