Especially for Pregnant Women and Young Kids

Paranoia over the H1N1 flu strain may have died down a bit, especially since the latest flu vaccine can now protect against it. What doctors are urging the public to do now is to get the vaccine, especially for young kids and pregnant women.

H1N1 is a virulent strain of the flu virus. Those who are sick and old have always been especially vulnerable. Now doctors are saying young children and pregnant women are most susceptible to it’s effects as well. Pregnant? Get vaccinated as soon as possible. Have young kids? Get them to the pediatrician for a flu shot pronto.

H1N1 starts like the typical flu, but it is particularly dangerous as it spreads easily to the lungs. When that happens, the flu can turn deadly if it develops into full-blown pneumonia. So while the paranoia has died down, the dangers of the virus are still real.

Pregnant women are especially vulnerable because typically their lungs don’t expand as well. During pregnancy, our immune systems are also not one hundred percent. Besides, if you’re pregnant the vaccine won’t just protect you, it will also protect your baby.

In fact, some doctors don’t test for H1N1 anymore and just give pregnant patients Tamiflu medication as soon as they have flu symptoms. This is because many pregnant women who have died from H1N1, tested negative from the virus at the early stage of their sickness.

As for the little ones, most of us know how easy they can catch colds and coughs – especially if they’re already in daycare or preschool. They’re immune systems are immature to begin with. Add to that, being with a whole bunch of kids throughout the day leaves them openly exposed to all sorts of viruses – H1N1 among them.

Speaking of kids and shots…

A little tip from pain experts: When you take them in for that flu shot, bring along a bottle of bubbles. As they’re getting the injection tell them you are “blowing away the hurt” as your are making bubbles.

Dr. Lonnie Zeltzer, director of the Pediatric Pain Program at Mattel Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles says: “I have seen babies stop crying mid-cry because they were distracted by the bubbles.”

Dr. Zeltzer has more advice: As a rule of thumb, never lie to them about the injection. Or any injection for that matter. He says, “No one likes to get poked with a needle, but if you reassure your child that there are ways to make the hurt go away, then you can help them achieve a successful, less painful experience.”

I’d second Dr. Zeltzer. It is best to be honest to your kids, even about an upcoming ordeal with the injection. In the end, that crying fit at the doctors office will be worth the price of gaining their trust.

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