Swine Flu: What every parent needs to know
Will getting swine flu now protect against any more virulent form?
That depends on how similar any new strain of flu is to this one.
Immunity to infection depends on how easily the body’s immune system detects and reacts to ‘markers’ on the surface of the virus.
Flu vaccines work by making the body sensitive to these proteins in the same way that fighting and recovering from an infection of that strain does, but without the risks of infection.
So that when the real flu strain infects someone, they are already capable of fighting it off quickly. But flu virus changes its surface markers as it naturally evolves and that is more likely when it crosses between species – as it has with swine flu.
If the change is a large one, the body will not recognise the new strain quickly and existing vaccines will not ‘prime’ the body to react strongly.
That could make the strain more virulent (more severe in its effects once you catch it) or more infectious (more easily passed from person to person). Catching this strain now will certainly protect you from catching it again, and help with fighting infections from similar strains.
What are hospitals doing to prevent and treat infection?
The Children’s Hospital had its first confirmed cases in patients and staff a few days ago.
So, what we – and other hospitals – are doing is monitoring our patients closely for signs of infection; isolating and treating any children who do develop it; relying on staff to stay at home (as any employee should) and seek treatment themselves if they think they may have flu; and asking visiting members of the public, including parents and families, to stay away if they feel unwell especially if they develop flu-like symptoms.
If you do visit and can’t help sneezing, please sneeze into a tissue.
Observing the usual hand hygiene on wards is as important as ever. It might be prudent for families not to bring in siblings when visiting, but that is as much to protect our patients as it is the public.
Visitors to children with swine flu are being asked to limit their numbers just to the parents, and to stay in the isolation room when visiting.
There are measures in place if this flu strain, or any other, becomes more serious, but at the moment the signs are it is not particularly dangerous.
* Alan Taman is the Communications Editor of Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
