Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11319248
Cautionary tale about H1N1 and pneumonia
Posted: Oct 15, 2009 8:37 AM EST
Jim Shrode has been healthy most of his life. He never dreamed the flu would put him in intensive care. "Everything was fine, and that night they just put me in ICU. That's how rapidly it progressed," says Jim.
His flu-like symptoms quickly turned to severe pneumonia and his organs were shutting down. So doctors airlifted him to the University of Michigan Medical Center.
"Mr. Shrode was one of our patients who had severe ARDS, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome," says Dr. Lena Napolitano.
ARDS is a life-threatening condition characterized by sudden breathlessness. And now doctors say, in some cases, it's linked to the H1N1 flu virus.
"The vast majority of the patients that came to us, came to us either not being initiated on antiviral treatment or being initiated very late," says Dr. Napolitano. "What we're saying is you should treat as if the patient has H1N1 pneumonia until you know if they do or do not." The mean age of the patients that doctors saw is about 40 - people who went from being stable and able to breathe, to sometimes even 10 to 12 hours later being on a breathing machine or a ventilator.
So here's what doctors want you to know. If you feel achy and feverish, and within hours, you literally cannot breathe, call 911. The earlier you get antiviral therapy the better.
Jim spent a good month hooked up to a ventilator. And the road to recovery has been bumpy. "I have my good days and bad days, but yeah, overall I think I'm getting better," says Jim.
Doctors say most patients, nearly 90 percent, will have a mild H1N1 flu. But the virus is evolving quickly. To be safe, ask your doctor about a pneumonia vaccination and keep up to date on the flu.
Cautionary tale about H1N1 and pneumonia
Posted: Oct 15, 2009 8:37 AM EST
Jim Shrode has been healthy most of his life. He never dreamed the flu would put him in intensive care. "Everything was fine, and that night they just put me in ICU. That's how rapidly it progressed," says Jim.
His flu-like symptoms quickly turned to severe pneumonia and his organs were shutting down. So doctors airlifted him to the University of Michigan Medical Center.
"Mr. Shrode was one of our patients who had severe ARDS, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome," says Dr. Lena Napolitano.
ARDS is a life-threatening condition characterized by sudden breathlessness. And now doctors say, in some cases, it's linked to the H1N1 flu virus.
"The vast majority of the patients that came to us, came to us either not being initiated on antiviral treatment or being initiated very late," says Dr. Napolitano. "What we're saying is you should treat as if the patient has H1N1 pneumonia until you know if they do or do not." The mean age of the patients that doctors saw is about 40 - people who went from being stable and able to breathe, to sometimes even 10 to 12 hours later being on a breathing machine or a ventilator.
So here's what doctors want you to know. If you feel achy and feverish, and within hours, you literally cannot breathe, call 911. The earlier you get antiviral therapy the better.
Jim spent a good month hooked up to a ventilator. And the road to recovery has been bumpy. "I have my good days and bad days, but yeah, overall I think I'm getting better," says Jim.
Doctors say most patients, nearly 90 percent, will have a mild H1N1 flu. But the virus is evolving quickly. To be safe, ask your doctor about a pneumonia vaccination and keep up to date on the flu.