Why is swine flu so severe in children?
So far, swine flu has been linked to at least 114 child deaths nationwide, according to the CDC. It's a figure that has frustrated and puzzled researchers and infectious disease experts.
While most people -- children and adults alike -- recover from the virus after a week at home, often with no medication, researchers are struggling to make sense out of why this new flu can turn a healthy child severely ill.
My colleague Meredith Cohn offers this great explainer of how the virus behaves in children, particularly how it can attack their lungs, leaving them vulnerable to pneumonia and other infections.
The story examines the case of 2-year-old Jasmine Cadavid, who is being treated for pneumonia at the University of Maryland Hospital for Children for two weeks. Her frightened parents are still bewildered at their daughter's struggle. So are doctors.Experts think elderly people may have been exposed to some form of the virus in the past, providing them at least some immunity. Children, on the other hand, appear to have none and this might hinder their ability to fight off secondary infections.
But that only explains part of the mystery, the story says.
"It's a harder question about why some kids do fine and some get sicker," said Dr. John, head of the Hospital for Children's pediatric intensive-care unit, who said he's at least 50 percent busier in the pediatric unit because of swine flu. "But most kids are fine in a few days."
AP photo
Comments
It's scary to see kids get so sick. That explains why so many parents who were not sure about the vaccine are now jumping through hoops to get their child vaccinated. It's a tough position for a parent to be in when medical professionals actually admit they really don't have an answer.
Posted by: Carolyn | November 2, 2009 1:23 PM
I'm disgusted that doctors and medical staff are 'puzzled, frustrated, bewildered, struggling to make sense out of why this new flu can turn a healthy child severely ill' etc. The only mystery is why doctors did not investigate the 1918 flu in preparation for this!!
In 1918 healthy young people died in alarming numbers and the cause of death was an over-reactive immune system which flooded the body with cytokines (cytokine storm). Combined with the use of aspirin this led to 30-60% death rates. Homeopaths had virtually no deaths.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK DR. JOHN.
Doctors need to inform their communities to start everyone on natural antivirals and reduce their viral loads prior to becoming sick. Natural antivirals will reduce the amount of virus in the body which will reduce cytokine production, taking a tremendous burden off emergency rooms while SAVING LIFES without the dangerous side-effects of Tamiflu in children.
Stock up on liquid Resveratrol (oral dosages held in the mouth for one minute before swallowing), N-Acetyl-Cysteine inhalers called MucoMust or the capsule form of NAC, and a new cytokine-reducer called sphingosine analog AAL-R which is injected directly into the lungs. Google these.
Waiting on a vaccine while your patients die unnecessarily without being given treatments to lessen viral loads /cytokines-- this is a sad commentary on the medical establishment.
Posted by: Mrs. B | November 2, 2009 1:42 PM
Hello
Now a days people are living under threat of swine flu.According to me children have not that much strong immune system that is why the are more affect from Swine flu.Thank you very much for sharing this with us.
Posted by: vitamin c | November 3, 2009 12:27 AM