2-year-old Japanese girl dies from new flu

Monday 02nd November, 11:00 AM JST

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neverknow2 at 09:57 AM JST - 2nd November

Swine flu

We are all reltaively safe from swine flu. The new flu is causing the concern.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009flupandemic
truthliberates at 10:51 AM JST - 2nd November

Rest in peace little one.
Miyaratmosphere at 11:10 AM JST - 2nd November

Osakadaz, congrats on the new baby, lots of blessings to you and your family!!

Well, what can I say? As a mother of 3, my heart goes to the 2-year old's family. What a horrible tragedy!! and to think that this country keeps refusing to allow better medications to fight this flu...Apparently, acetaminophen is not enough just like OneforAll stated. I would have done the same thing.
inakaRob at 11:18 AM JST - 2nd November

wow. the media is still spreading this fear. this is not a new flu. its been around for years!!!! every year is a 'new' flu. every ten seconds its changes. this strain was found at least 3 years ago. I guess in terms of human evolution and the flu virus its 'new' but its not new. and its not and worse or better than the flu last year. they are both deadly if not careful.
Heda_Madness at 11:23 AM JST - 2nd November
spudman at 09:03 AM JST - 2nd November
```
Washing your hands, wearing masks etc. are not going to significantly prevent your risk of infection.
```
Considering the virus enters the body through the mouth and nose, usually from hands, this statement beggars belief.

Not sure about the mask aspect but there's enough information out there to suggest that washing hands makes no difference when trying to prevent flu.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/09/24/hand.washing.helpful/index.html
noborito at 11:47 AM JST - 2nd November
10 steps to control illness.
1. Don't pack trains so full people pass out.
2. Give people some personal space.
3. Have soap for people to use EVERYWHERE.
4. Wash your hands after you go to the bathroom.
5. Wash your hands before you eat.
6. Wash your hands after you cough.
7. Teach people how to cough into their sleeve.
8. Teach people how to stay home, your not that important
9. Have warm water to wash your hands EVERYWHERE.
10. Have paper towels to dry your hands EVERYWHERE.
Remember, facet, door handles, train rings, elevator buttons, telephone handsets, general PC's, and generally being in public give you a risk of being sick. Masks do very little as viruses easily pass through the tear duct in the eye. (unless you are going to wear goggles) Best advice is to sleep and just get better.

A bit of common sense. (o what am I saying..... here.... common sense....)

Stay well.
Mookoo at 12:07 PM JST - 2nd November

The CDC just released a study of children's H1N1 deaths in the US, and found that all of them had a co-occurring staphylococcus bacterial infection. This infection made its was into the weakened respiratory system of the flu patient. I hope the Japanese health authorities will pay attention to this, and instruct docs to check for this condition, and treat appropriately. Now that we have some at least some answers regarding why this new flu seems to hit kids hard, we can fight back more aggressively.
Mookoo at 12:10 PM JST - 2nd November

That should have been "This infection made its way into the...".

Further to my last post, untreated staph infections can lead to organ failure and death. I hope the lack of autopsies here don't sweep these cases under the rug.
kirakira25 at 12:46 PM JST - 2nd November

@ osakadaz - congratulations! I am right behind your wife (by about 3 weeks!) Tell her ganbare from me!

Acetaminophen doesn`t seem to be sold in strong enough dosages here to have any effect. My Bufferin contains 150mg. I got Paracetemol in the UK (same thing, different brand) and it contains 500mg.

Acetaminophen is safe for pregnant women up to 300mg. Ibuprofen and any NSAID is not. But Ibuprofen appears to be a much more effective fever reducer.

I find those suppositories to be great for pain but not so ideal as a fever reducer unless the fever is very high. They shouldn`t be given for a fever under 38.5, as in fact, should any fever reducing medicine really, except to make the patient more comfortable.

Mookoo - really interesting update, thanks.
dejaboo at 02:25 PM JST - 2nd November

kirakira - I got tylenol here which has 300mg of acetaminophen. I'm 6 mo nths pregnant and work at a uni. SO many students in my classes have had Shingata and I am terrified! Does Japan prescribe Tamiflu to pregnant women if they catch it? I know a lot of other countries do. As for masks, whether or not they provide preotection I am doing everything I possibly can right now. Wearing a mask, washing hands obsessively and avoiding close contact with students. Have avoided it so far (touch wood....).
kirakira25 at 06:18 PM JST - 2nd November

@dejaboo - I was terrified too! I got it at about 6 months back in August. I think it was week 27 I had it. They dont recommend Tamiflu as a first line of defence for pregnant women because it is "believed" to be safe but has not been clinically proven to be. They prescribe Relenza as a first line for pregnant women. Its an inhaler, and therefore targets the virus at the most vulnerable place for pregnant women (the lungs) and doesn`t cross the placenta in significant amounts.

I wore a mask anywhere that I thought might be dodgy (like the hospital clinic I had to take my daughter to), and I also washed my hands, and carried around a little bottle of alcohol gel and used it 10 times a day. Unfortunately my husband and son caught it and basically that was it for me and my daughter! All 4 of us came down with it within 2 days of each other!

The best advice I can give from my own experience is get the Relenza as soon as you are symptomatic - and don`t wait for a fever. My first symptoms were a sudden cough and a headache, and a general feeling of malaise, the fever came nearly a day later. It seems to be that the earlier you take the meds, the faster you recover. That was what worked for all of us. It took me a good week or so to recover, longer than the others but I guess that was to be expected being pregnant.

As soon as I heard my husband was confirmed, and I knew my son had a fever, I went to the supermarket, bought up as much quick and easy food and drink as I could carry, then went to the doctor to pick up Relenza for me, then straight home and we didn`t go out for 5 days.

I forgot about Tylenol! I have it too at 300mg which is what they recommend for pregnant women but try not to take it in the final few weeks if you can help it without speaking to your doctor first because there may be a small additional risk of complications at birth. DON`T take aspirin either - forgot to mention that - VERY bad in pregnancy!

Try not to worry too much - I worried myself sick over it, and in the event, although it wasnt pleasant, it wasnt a train smash and like the vast majority of pregnant women I got over it pretty quickly. The worry I think is worse for you than the flu!

Dont worry about whether the mask provides you with protection or not - I personally dont think it helps much, BUT if it makes you feel better, then what does it matter?! Good luck!
dejaboo at 07:55 PM JST - 2nd November

Thanks for the advice kirakira. Hope the moderators don't get cranky because its off-topic :) I've taken Tylenol twice in the past 2 months and that was as a last resort - head was about to explode! Not taking anything else. I heard about Relenza but then I heard that the safety of it is now in question...who knows? Just hope I can avoid getting it in the first place! Hubby is not working at the moment and no other kids to bring it home which is good. I totally agree that the worry about it is probably worse than anything...will try to hang in there. Thanks again. D
Ah_so at 08:04 PM JST - 2nd November

wow. the media is still spreading this fear. this is not a new flu. its been around for years!!!! every year is a 'new' flu. every ten seconds its changes. this strain was found at least 3 years ago. I guess in terms of human evolution and the flu virus its 'new' but its not new. and its not and worse or better than the flu last year. they are both deadly if not careful.

InakaRob - has it been around for 3 years in Japan or around the world? So how many people in Japan died from it over those 3 years, not including this year? Flu is a largely seasonal virus, yet this one has had a significant impact over the mild Spring to Autumn period - most unusual.

There is no evidence to suggest that swine flu is particularly more dangerous than ordinary seasonal flu, but this year we have both swine flu and seasonal fflu doing the rounds - twice the risk.
kirakira25 at 08:21 PM JST - 2nd November

I think avoiding getting it in the first place is definitely the right way to go if possible! I`ve taken Tylenol too in the past - those pregnancy headaches can be excruciating, especially when you have two other kids to deal with too!

Very sad about the 2 year old, my heart goes out to her poor parents. just like all other parents, they must have thought and hoped that their daughter would be like the majority who get sick for a few days and then recover. I wish we understood more about the "selection process" of who recovers and who doesnt. Mookoos staphylococcus infection information could be the start of something more concrete.
elbudamexicano at 07:41 AM JST - 4th November

What sad, heart breaking news! I feel so sad for this little baby girl and her family! Rest in Peace little baby.