Suspected swine flu...in nearly 3 year old.! should she have the tamiflu?

[lilacben]

My granddaughter has been poorly since yesterday. My daughter found out that two cousins and aunt has just been told they may have swine flu who they where with on christmas day and boxing day.(when the aunt and boys just had bad coughs). Now the NHS helpline has just told my daughter it sounds like swine flu in her little one and has been to collect the Tamiflu. Question is could it be possible that quick? also is is wise to give her the tamiflu or not.?

[Sqad]

Big problem and a big decision.

Swine Flu in UK...how not to practise medicine....it would seem that the diagnosis in the case of your daughter's aunt and two cousins is "anybody's guess"......no Dr. involved, no investigations involved.

Same with your granddaughter, another guess at diagnosis. NHS helpline waste of time and money....in my opinion.

The correct answer from the "experts" would be to accept accept the "assumed diagnosis" from the NHS helpline and give her Tamiflu.

What are her symptoms?

[lilacben]

Hello sqad, many thanks for your reply. well I am not really sure of her symptoms myself ,but daughter said the symptoms she gave to the NHS line was all the right ones for swine flu. I do know she is just laying around,not eating, high temp.and the symptoms the others had on christmas day was a very bad cough. But since then feeling very unwell.

[brenda]

I wouldn't give my 3 year old Tamiflu , without seeing a Gp .

[Sqad]

Thanks lilachen....you better get the Tamiflu then.

More importantly give her plenty to drink and paracetamol see how she in the morning, as I would be interested.

The incubation period (time from contacting the disease to onset of symptoms) is just as vague as the didease itself, but is very short, between 2-4 days and some authorities quote 24hrs.

[Sqad]

Brenda, I sympathise with your views, but apart from excluding the diagnosis, how is he (GP) going to confirm it?

[lilacben]

thankyou again sqad, Isnt it so silly, all this suspected Swine Flu. as you say without a GP saying it is it or not there really is no way of knowing. It was just the idea of giving her Tamiflu and maybe she really doesn't need it. now that bothers me.! her sister ,7 years old, had the one swine flu jab the other week because she has asthma. Now daughter has been told she will not have to go back for the second one after all. Will she catch it I wonder.?

[lilacben]

brenda, the GP will not see her or anyone else who has symptoms so what are we all supposed to do.

[Sqad]

lilac...it is indeed confusing and you have my sympathy as well as my advice.

[lilacben]

Good morning.....well I thought I would give you an update. I told my daughter I really wasnt very happy about just giving Tamiflu and too leave it for a little while. Which they did last night and granddaughter's temp went down so they left it. This morning she is a lot brighter and temp gone. but has cold.! so much for the NHS line and she has all symptoms!! thankfully she hasnt been given any Tamiflu just calpol.!!

[Sqad]

lilac....well done and thanks for the update.

You made the right decision.

[dothawkes31]

I think if she did have swine flu she would be lying down totally aching all over and not wanting to open her eyes, I am not sure that the symptoms they have on their list at the helpline are the ones that swine flu is now actually presenting in reality.

[lilacben]

Thanks sqad and dothakes............ I now have a cold so think she must have passed it on to me. But just a cold is all it is.
With everybody saying they have Swine flu I just wonder who really HAS had it and not a false alarm. Like you know, flu knocks you off your feet so how come so many people are still stood up, when they are saying they have it.Happy New......germ free......Year to you.! xx