Pregnant women at risk for swine flu
I’m not much of a hypochondriac. But the latest cases of swine (H1N1) flu involving pregnant women has me wanting to spend the rest of my pregnancy inside a bubble, free of germs.
The first reported Swine Flu death in Palm Beach County last week was a 25-year-old pregnant woman, whose newborn survived. The state’s health department is awaiting official results on another pregnant woman, 27 years old and 26 weeks pregnant, from Wellington who now lies in a medically induced coma to help fight off the illness.
What gives? Hard to say if the women had any pre-existing health issues prior to contracting the flu. But it’s hard to miss what they certainly have in common.
So what’s a pregnant woman to do?
My 4-year-old son’s pre-school has twice in recent weeks sent home notices about Type A flu, including one confirming that a child at the school was positively diagnosed. State epidemiologists are saying that chances are on the high side that those coming down with the flu likely involve the H1N1 strain. That’s because it’s rare to see so many cases during summertime. And to be clear: Most patients recover.
But my bulging belly has me worried if: 1) I’m more at risk and 2) whether I can do anything to fight it if I do become ill. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnant women can develop more serious complications from the illness because of changes in their heart, lungs and immune systems during gestation. The World Health Organization on Monday announced that a Swine Flu vaccine wouldn't be ready for wide distribution until the end of the year.
Here are some steps you should take if you or someone you know is pregnant and worried about contracting swine flu:
Talk to your doctor. I did just last week because my 6-year-old niece was diagnosed with Type A flu, and our families had recently vacationed together. The CDC recommends that pregnant women who come down with flu-like symptoms be treated with antiviral prescription medications, such as Tamiflu or Relenza. Your doctor might disagree, as mine did. Many prefer to try to treat the symptoms with, say, Tylenol for a fever, for example. But you should have the conversation and be armed with information to be able to discuss your options – even if they are hypothetical, as they were in my case.
More than ever, practice good hygiene. That means you shouldn’t feel like you’re overreacting if you go wash your hands after shaking hands with that job candidate in the office. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer on your desk (am grabbing for mine as I write this). And avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes. My parents, both in their golden years and caregivers to most of their grandchildren, managed to avoid getting the flu from my niece last week even though they cared for her while she was sick. They asked their doctor about prescriptions for Tamiflu as a precaution but never found the need to use them.
Pay close attention to your body. Most pregnant women are tired and live with daily aches and pains. But if you are having trouble breathing, come down with a fever, get a persistent cough, feel dizzy or find yourself completely drained, make an appointment to see your doctor. If it’s truly pressing, visit an emergency room. Your doctor will decide if testing or treatment is needed. Tests to confirm flu usually involve a nasal swab and are best to do soon after you come down with symptoms because antiviral medications work best within the first 48 hours.
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