Many hospitals have reported that the test used to determine if a child has the flu isn’t always accurate. Just when it seemed that the H1N1 flu was backing off, swine flu related deaths are on the rise again, three more people in Utah died last week from H1N1 which makes the death total 23.
Children are usually the hardest hit because their bodies have no immunity built up to fight the flu. CNN reported the following with information from the CDC for flu symptoms signs to look for if your child is sick:
Fast or troubled breathing
"Your child's chest should be moving very smoothly," said Dr. Arthur Lavin, associate clinical professor of pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. "He shouldn't have to tug to get air in and out," CNN reported.
Numb or blue fingers or toes
If your child’s fingers or toes are blue, numb or both take them to the emergency room as soon as possible.
Unable to touch chin to chest
If your child can't touch her chin to her chest, it may be a sign that he or she has a flu complication called meningitis, Lavin said, and CNN reported.
Symptoms improve and then return, but is worse
Another sign is if your child is sick and then gets better, but then the fever comes back and the cough is worse than before; take them to the emergency room. This may be sign of a secondary infection according to the CDC.
A fever and a rash
Another sign is if your child has a fever and a rash at the same time.
If your child has a combination of any of these symptoms, take them to the emergency room as soon as possible, and even if the test states they do not have the flu, talk to the doctor about how accurate the test is.
CNN reported a story on Thursday about 9-year-old Hayli Murphy who was taken to the emergency room twice, had the flu test twice and both times it was negative for the flu. The next day, her mother knew something was terribly wrong because Hayli was very week and her fingers were numb. Her daughter did have the flu and ended up in the hospital for 43 days and nearly died. For more on that story, click here.
Source: CNN
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