Dispatch from the Pandemic
September 12, 2009
The one thing that surprised me the most about this Novel H1N1 Flu is how long it’s had me down. Six days have passed and I’m still feeling the effects. The fever and aches have passed, but the crud in the lungs and the cough are still present. And I’m feeling a rather overwhelming fatigue. Not in my mind, or when I sit still, but after a few minutes of being up and about, I’m worn out. Must’ve been the body’s fight against the the bug.
Speaking of the fight, as I’ve had some time, I’ve done some reading on the internet regarding this Novel H1N1 Flu Virus.
Here’s some of what I found. The reason it’s now being referred to as the “Novel” virus, is that it’s a new strain, hasn’t been seen before and to differentiate between the other “H1N1″ influenza strains. There are a few and it gets really confusing once you start trying to remember all the H’s, N’s, subclasses, strains, etc, etc…
Also, how the body fights this flu can make things worse, which is why public health experts make such a big deal about the possibilities of this flu as we go into Autumn. And it’s due in part to some things called ARDS and a “cytokine storm”.
ARDS stands for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. It’s a very serious condition that can be brought about by a few things, in this case a cytokine storm. From what I’ve read ARDS is an end process where the lungs have been inflamed and filled with liquid which cuts off oxygen to the organs. The mortality rate is high. As I said it’s serious.
The cytokine storm is basically a person’s immune system going into hyper-drive trying to fight off disease. Much of the death in the 1918 Pandemic is believed to have been from such a storm. That’s where the “young and healthy” come into the equation.
According to this chart from the CDC, the majority of probable and confirmed cases are in the 5 – 49 age group.
And this chart, a more sobering view, shows the mortality rate from this novel H1N1/09 is highest among the 25-49 age group. That’s flip-flopped from the seasonal flu, where the youngest and the eldest are at most risk.
So. A little light reading.
DW
Dan, thanks for writing the blog. I hope you’re feeling better now. The girls all got sick at our house and I think in hind sight probably had the SWINE Flu as well. We all feel fine now, but it was a week long process.
Gerald
Dan get well soon!
Dan..
Sorry to hear you are still fighting this flu.
Hope you feel better soon.
We miss seeing you on the weekends.
Lily
Hello Dan! I recieved the positive test result yesterday at the dr.’s office. It gives me some relief to hear I can communicate with someone who knows first hand what going on and information I can relate too. I found it comforting to hear the symptoms you describe and experiences to be “right on” I’ll know what to expect over the next several days. I keep asking myself, gosh, where did I pick this up?
Now, my poor family. Thanks to your wife who explained how to try and keep the rest of the family clear. I’ll continue to keep up on your progress.
I really think I’m still in shock.