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Pediatrician Talks About Swine Flu Threat
Posted: Aug 28, 2009 4:18 PM EST
Rachel Withers
Eyewitness News Reporter
WRCB news
CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) -- An alarm is sounded to parents, as the first local child death is recorded from swine flu. Eyewitness News met with an emergency room doctor, so he could explain how a healthy child becomes sick.
The child who died this week was not from Hamilton County, but schools here are seeing a big increase in students with flu symptoms. Eyewitness News obtained a letter from Hamilton County Schools. It's just one way administrators are letting parents know the district is on heightened alert for swine flu. According to the letter, many students have been sent home with flu-like symptoms of fever, vomiting, cough and body aches.
"We usually run a 2 to 3 percent absentee rate," explained Sherly Rogers, Manager of Health for Hamilton County Schools. "We're hitting anywhere from 10 to 15 percent in certain areas."
We sat down with T.C. Thompson pediatrician Dr. Alan Kohrt to learn more about the swine flu threat here.
"We actually had a meeting the other day to sit down and discuss how are we going to address the increased demand in volume that may be here," Kohrt told Eyewitness News.
The children's hospital is hiring extra nurses to handle an influx of swine flu patients, but Kohrt warns not every child with symptoms should come to the emergency room. Only children under the age of 5 or children with other medical conditions are likely to have swine flu complications. Healthy, school-age children should weather the swine flu virus just fine.
"Don't just run to the emergency room first hand," added Rogers. "Treat the symptoms and stay in contact with your healthcare provider, because they will be overloaded with people that are really, really sick."
We asked Kohrt specifically when parents should worry. If your child has trouble breathing or is a bluish color, see the doctor immediately. Not keeping down fluids and using the bathroom infrequently are also warning signs.
"People should not turn this into a panic situation at this point," said Kohrt. "Certainly everyone needs to be aware of it and know what to watch for, and they need to stay in touch with their primary care doctor."
Most importantly, if your child is sick with flu-symptoms keep him or her at home. Siblings should stay at least six feet away from the sick child until they're fever-free for at least one day.
Posted: Aug 28, 2009 4:18 PM EST
Rachel Withers
Eyewitness News Reporter
WRCB news
CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) -- An alarm is sounded to parents, as the first local child death is recorded from swine flu. Eyewitness News met with an emergency room doctor, so he could explain how a healthy child becomes sick.
The child who died this week was not from Hamilton County, but schools here are seeing a big increase in students with flu symptoms. Eyewitness News obtained a letter from Hamilton County Schools. It's just one way administrators are letting parents know the district is on heightened alert for swine flu. According to the letter, many students have been sent home with flu-like symptoms of fever, vomiting, cough and body aches.
"We usually run a 2 to 3 percent absentee rate," explained Sherly Rogers, Manager of Health for Hamilton County Schools. "We're hitting anywhere from 10 to 15 percent in certain areas."
We sat down with T.C. Thompson pediatrician Dr. Alan Kohrt to learn more about the swine flu threat here.
"We actually had a meeting the other day to sit down and discuss how are we going to address the increased demand in volume that may be here," Kohrt told Eyewitness News.
The children's hospital is hiring extra nurses to handle an influx of swine flu patients, but Kohrt warns not every child with symptoms should come to the emergency room. Only children under the age of 5 or children with other medical conditions are likely to have swine flu complications. Healthy, school-age children should weather the swine flu virus just fine.
"Don't just run to the emergency room first hand," added Rogers. "Treat the symptoms and stay in contact with your healthcare provider, because they will be overloaded with people that are really, really sick."
We asked Kohrt specifically when parents should worry. If your child has trouble breathing or is a bluish color, see the doctor immediately. Not keeping down fluids and using the bathroom infrequently are also warning signs.
"People should not turn this into a panic situation at this point," said Kohrt. "Certainly everyone needs to be aware of it and know what to watch for, and they need to stay in touch with their primary care doctor."
Most importantly, if your child is sick with flu-symptoms keep him or her at home. Siblings should stay at least six feet away from the sick child until they're fever-free for at least one day.