2010-2011 Flu Season

At East Cobb Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, PC., our mission is to safeguard our patients, their families and our staff at all times, especially during cold and flu season. To keep you well informed and to prevent the spread and seriousness of infection, we have listed several resources on our website www.eastcobbpeds.com for additional flu information.
It is likely, though not certain, that both H1N1 and Seasonal Influenza viruses will cause illness in the U.S. during the 2010-2011 flu season. The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease. While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season.
Both H1N1 and Seasonal Influenza viruses are contagious and spread from person-to-person. The symptoms of H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of the seasonal flu and include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, headache, body aches, fatigue, and some report diarrhea and vomiting. Many people with these flu viruses are able to recover at home without treatment. If your child has flu-like symptoms, please keep him or her at home for at least 24 hours after his/her fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. His/her fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
As always, the providers at East Cobb Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine are here to answer your questions about influenza and other health topics.

by Salathiel Kendrick, MD, FAAP