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**Science Teacher** · November 14, 2009, 01:02 PM

Re: School can't connect child's death to H1N1

The father of the Clifton Park (Capitol Region) child who died of H1N1 speaks out. He is a Doctor who was hospitalized with the infection at the same time as his son. His interpertation of his sons treatment is important in that it stresses the need for new ER guidelines to be developed concerning admission standards.
ST

Learning from Trevor's death in H1N1 fight
Monitor flu-like symptoms, breathing trouble, father of Clifton Park boy warns

By TIM O'BRIEN, Staff writer
First published in print: Saturday, November 14, 2009

CLIFTON PARK -- The devastated father of a 7-year-old boy whose death is suspected to be from the H1N1 virus cautioned parents that if their children have flu-like symptoms and trouble breathing, it is a dangerous combination that should be carefully monitored.

Henry Lin said he was moved to speak in the hope that what he has learned from the death of his son, Trevor, could help other parents.
This week, the Saratoga County Health Department said a child's death was suspected to be a result of the H1N1 virus. Lin's family confirms their son, a second grader at Okte Elementary School, is the child.

"I only disclosed information about Trevor out of interest in protecting his fellow students' lives," Lin said.

The Shenendehowa school district has not alerted parents that Trevor's death was suspected to be from the virus. The Saratoga County Health Department said a child had died and that H1N1 was the suspected cause, but it did not publicly identify the child.

Lin said he himself informed the school district and has told school officials they have his permission to say Trevor's death was suspected to be from the H1N1 virus.

The district this week updated its Web site with additional information on the potentially dangerous symptoms of the H1N1 virus, including troubled or fast breathing, bluish or gray skin, severe or persistent vomiting or being so irritable that the child does not want to be held.

Kelly DeFeciani, spokeswoman for the Shenendehowa school district, said the district has sent three e-mail alerts to parents about the H1N1 virus, and she regularly updates the Web site with any new information from the Centers for Disease Control or the state Department of Health.

DeFeciani said the district has yet to receive official confirmation Trevor's death was suspected to be from the H1N1 virus, but the district would not send the information out because of privacy issues.

"This is a public health crisis, not an education crisis," DeFeciani said. "We look to the C.D.C. and the health departments and take our lead from them. We're trying to provide a service to relay information from the experts."

Trevor was an active boy who had no other medical problems, said his father, who is himself a medical doctor.

"He was one of the healthiest kids," Lin said of his son, adding that he loved to jump off the high dive, and he ran to keep up with his two older siblings.

Lin himself contracted the virus after Trevor and was hospitalized. His case of H1N1 was confirmed.

"I'm still pretty ill," he said.

He said he and his son both developed massive accumulations of mucus that made breathing extraordinarily difficult. Articles in the Journal of the American Medical Association are now recommending that patients with flu-like symptoms and breathing trouble be hospitalized for observation.

Lin said he and his son both had periods where they would feel fine and then were hit with mucus plugs he described as "paralyzing."

Trevor was seen in a hospital emergency room the night before he died -- his father declined to say which one -- and was sent home.

Had he been hospitalized for observation, his father said, he may have been saved.

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Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/ASPStories...#ixzz0WrFgBXlq

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**Pathfinder** · November 15, 2009, 11:05 AM

Re: School can't connect child's death to H1N1

Science Teacher (page 2)

"I would like to let parents know they should really keep a very close eye on their kids," he said. "They should watch their kids more closely than (when they are sick with) the regular flu and not be falsely reassured."

Lin said he would like to see the Centers for Disease Control review the information in the two articles in the AMA journal, which looked at H1N1 deaths in Canada and California, and change its guidelines to recommend that patients with flulike symptoms and intermittent breathing difficulties be admitted.

A spokesman for the CDC responded to a question about the agency's recommendations by e-mail. "Patients with breathing problems should go to the ER," spokesman Jeffrey Dimond said. "Treatment would be at discretion of attending physician."

Lin said he knows there are concerns about overwhelming the system, but admitting patients with symptoms like his son could save lives.

"I think it's going to take several more deaths before the CDC and the state health departments start admitting these patients," he said.
"If Trevor's tragedy prevents more deaths, if there are changes because of his situation, I'd be very grateful," he said.

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Trevor Lin, a 7-year-old from Clifton Park, died from a suspected case of H1N1. (Courtesy Henry Lin)

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</TD></TR><TR vAlign="bottom"><TD align="right" colSpan="2">PHOTO GALLERY </TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan="2">
Henry Lin, right, with his son Trevor Lin. Trevor died from a suspected case of H1N1. (Courtesy Henry Lin)
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Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=865653&TextPage=2#ixzz0Wwaoso7w

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Saratoga County: School can't connect child's death to H1N1

Saratoga County: School can't connect child's death to H1N1

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