July 30 th 2009 V1.0 Frequently asked questins: Influenza A (H1N1)v (Swine Flu) infrmatin fr parents The fllwing advice is fr parents f children in all educatinal institutins, including crèches, childcare, summer camps, schls and third level institutins. Unless therwise mentined educatinal institutin applies t all f the abve. What is Influenza A (H1N1)v? Influenza A (H1N1) is a type f flu virus. In the past this virus affected pigs, and nly ccasinally affected peple wh had clse cntact with pigs. The virus has nw changed and can spread easily frm persn t persn. It is called pandemic flu because peple all ver the wrld are being infected by it. Is Influenza A (H1N1)v dangerus? Mst peple infected with this virus have a mild t mderate illness, but sme have mre severe illness. What are the symptms f Influenza A (H1N1)v? In mst children, the symptms f Influenza A (H1N1)v are similar t the symptms f regular flu. They include:
Temperature ver 38 ºC/100.4 ºF that begins suddenly and sme f the fllwing: Dry cugh Sre thrat Muscle aches and pains Headache Runny nse Severe weakness and fatigue Vmiting/diarrhea (in sme cases) What are the differences between influenza A (H1N1)v and the cmmn cld? It can smetimes be difficult t distinguish between the cmmn cld and flu. The main difference is that the symptms f influenza cme n rapidly and are typically accmpanied by muscle aches and a fever. The cmmn cld has a mre gradual nset and is assciated with a runny nse and sneezing. Fr a full list f differences between influenza A(H1N1) and the cmmn cld, please see table belw. Symptms Influenza A(H1N1)v Cmmn Cld Onset Sudden Slw Fever Characteristically High ( 38 C r 100 F) Rare Headache Prminent Rare General aches and pains Usual, ften severe Rare
Symptms Influenza A(H1N1)v Cmmn Cld Fatigue, weakness Extreme exhaustin Can be prlnged fr a number f weeks Early and prminent Quite mild Never Runny nse Cmmn Cmmn Sneezing Cmmn Usual Sre thrat Cmmn Cmmn Cugh Diarrhea, vmiting Cmmn, can be severe Smetimes Mild t mderate, hacking cugh Nt assciated with the cmmn cld in adults Hw des Influenza A (H1N1)v spread? Flu virus spreads frm persn t persn mainly thrugh the cughing r sneezing f a sick persn. Flu virus may als be spread when a persn tuches smething (fr example a tissue r dr handle tuched by the infected persn) that is cntaminated with the virus and then tuches his r her eyes, nse, r muth. This virus is nt transmitted by eating prk r prk prducts. What shuld I d as a parent? Tw imprtant actins t prtect my family 1. Be aware f the symptms f flu-like illness and knw where t seek medical care. If yu think yu r yur child may have Influenza A
(H1N1)v yu shuld call the HSE Flu Infrmatin Line Freephne 1800 94 11 00 r check www.swineflu.ie fr advice n what t d next. Remember t ring yur GP first if yu wish t seek medical advice. D nt visit the surgery unannunced. 2. Teach yur children the fllwing gd health habits t help stp spread f germs: Teach yur children t cver their muth and nse with a paper tissue when cughing r sneezing. If n tissue is available they shuld cugh r sneeze int the inside f their elbw. Be sure t set a gd example by ding this yurself. Teach yur children t use a tissue nly nce and dispse f it quickly and carefully (a dustbin is fine). Teach yur children t wash their hands frequently with sap and water. Be sure t set a gd example by ding this yurself. Teach yur children t stay at least 1 metre/3 feet away frm peple wh are sick. Children wh are sick shuld always stay hme frm the educatinal institutin. If they have Influenza A (H1N1)v they shuld stay away frm the educatinal institutin fr 7 days frm the nset f symptms. In cmmunities where Influenza A (H1N1)v has ccurred, avid large crwds f peple whenever pssible.
Wash hard surfaces such as kitchen wrktps, dr handles, etc with a nrmal husehld cleaner as the virus can live n these surfaces. What shuld I d if my child gets sick? If yur child gets sick with a flu-like illness as described abve yu shuld: Keep yur child at hme and away frm thers as much as is pssible t avid spreading infectin t thers. If they are sick with flu they shuld stay hme fr 7 days frm the nset f symptms. Give yur child simple anti-fever medicatin such as paracetaml r ibuprfen (NB aspirin shuld NOT be given t children under 16 years f age) and drink plenty f fluids. If yu think yu r yur child may have Influenza A (H1N1)v yu shuld call the HSE Flu Infrmatin Line Freephne 1800 94 11 00 r check www.swineflu.ie fr advice n what t d next. If yu think yur child needs t see the GP, remember t ring yur GP first. D nt visit the surgery unannunced. Yu shuld teach yur child gd health habits, as abve. It is imprtant t ensure that all husehld surfaces that are tuched by hands are kept clean, especially bedside tables, surfaces in bathrms and kitchens and children s tys. Such surfaces shuld be wiped regularly with a husehld disinfectant accrding t directins n the prduct label.
Shuld I send my child t their educatinal institutin? Yes, while educatinal institutins are pen parents shuld send their children t the educatinal institutin unless they have any symptms. It is expected that educatinal institutins will remain pen even if there are sme children ut sick with Influenza A (H1N1)v. Hwever in certain circumstances an educatinal institutin may be advised t clse. This decisin will be made in the light f expert advice frm the lcal Department f Public Health wh will always have the interests f pupils in mind. We urge parents nt t withdraw their children unless given this advice. Shuld I send my child t summer camp / Irish Cllege / Language Cllege? Yes, if the summer camp is pen and yur child has been well fr the past 7 days there is n reasn nt t send them. Hwever, yu shuld ensure that yu will be able t take yur child hme frm the camp if they get sick r shuld yu be advised that students are t g hme n public health grunds. If a child's educatinal institutin is clsed what shuld I d? Yu will have t make ther arrangements fr lking after yur children. These alternative arrangements shuld aim t have as few as pssible
children being cared fr tgether in any setting. If an educatinal institutin is clsed due t Influenza A (H1N1)v it is imprtant that gatherings f thse children utside f the educatinal institutin d nt ccur. Isn t it better fr my child t catch this nw t develp sme immunity in case this cmes back mre seriusly? Children wh have been infected with Influenza A (H1N1)v have generally recvered withut cmplicatins but sme children have had a severe illness. It is preferable t avid expsure t the virus if pssible. When a vaccine is available this will prvide safe immunity fr children. What happens when a child in an educatinal institutin is identified as a case f Influenza A (H1N1)v? If a student develps flu-like symptms at their educatinal institutin, arrangements shuld be made fr him/her t be taken hme. The student shuld nt return t their educatinal institutin until 7 days frm the nset f symptms have passed. In relatin t ther students n further actin needs t be taken. Parents and teachers shuld, hwever, be vigilant fr the symptms f flu and, at the first signs f these, the child shuld stay at hme and parents shuld call the HSE
Flu Infrmatin Line Freephne 1800 94 11 00 r check www.swineflu.ie fr advice n what t d next. Why wuld an educatinal institutin stay pen if there are children with Influenza A (H1N1)v? Educatinal institutin clsures and the distributin f antiviral medicines fr preventin are nt recmmended at this time because the virus is widespread within the cmmunity. Peple are likely t be repeatedly expsed t the virus in their everyday lives - clsing an educatinal institutin will n lnger be effective in slwing the spread f the virus as peple culd still be expsed utside the educatinal institutin. In sme special circumstances fr example, an educatinal institutin with children wh are particularly vulnerable t infectin then educatinal institutin clsures might still be recmmended. Shuld students wh have recently returned frm travel abrad, be kept away frm educatinal institutins? N. As lng as they are well and nt suffering frm flu-like symptms, there is n reasn fr these students t be kept away frm their educatinal institutin and they can carry n with their nrmal rutine. Parents shuld, hwever, be vigilant fr the symptms f flu and, at the first signs f these, shuld stay at hme and call the HSE Flu Infrmatin Line Freephne 1800 94 11 00 r
check www.swineflu.ie fr advice n what t d next. If cncerned, they shuld cntact their GP r Out-Of-Hurs GP service by telephne. Shuld educatinal institutins cntinue t g n trips? There is n reasn why educatinal institutin shuld nt cntinue t g n trips bth in this cuntry and abrad. If the trip is abrad we recmmend that they lk at the latest available travel infrmatin, if any, n the Department f Freign Affairs website (www.dfa.ie) and advice n the Department f Health and Children website http://www.dhc.ie Shuld educatinal institutins be ding anything t prevent the spread f Influenza A(H1N1)v? Yes, like parents, educatinal institutins shuld encurage and facilitate everyday actins that can help prevent the spread f germs that cause respiratry illnesses like Influenza A (H1N1)v including: Children shuld cver their muth and nse with a tissue when cughing r sneezing. If n tissue is available they shuld cugh r sneeze int the inside f their elbw. Children shuld use a tissue nly nce and dispse f it quickly and carefully (a bin is fine). This is knwn as respiratry etiquette. Children shuld wash their hands frequently with sap and water.
Wash hard surfaces such as kitchen wrktps, dr handles, etc with a nrmal husehld cleaner as the virus can live n these Educatinal institutins culd put up psters n respiratry etiquette and hand hygiene and ensure that children have access t suitable hand washing facilities. Psters can be fund n www.hpsc.ie educatinal and childcare settings. Shuld educatinal institutins cntinue t run extracurricular r sprting activities? Yes, educatinal institutins shuld cntinue extracurricular activities as nrmal. If a class/educatinal institutin is advised t clse due t Influenza A (H1N1), any extracurricular activities that the class/educatinal institutin wuld nrmally d shuld als cease. Is there a vaccine against human influenza A(H1N1)v? A vaccine is an injectin which prevents a persn getting a particular disease. It wrks by strengthening the bdy s immune system. The prtectin prvided by a vaccine is lng lasting. The vaccine must be given befre the persn is infected with the disease. Vaccine cmpanies are manufacturing a vaccine fr Influenza A (H1N1)v. The Health Service will prvide the vaccine t everyne in the cuntry as
sn as sufficient amunt f vaccines are available. This may cmmence as early as autumn but it will take many mnths t vaccinate all peple. Is the seasnal flu vaccine effective against influenza A (H1N1)v? The current seasnal flu vaccine prvides little r n prtectin against the influenza A (H1N1)v virus. Hwever, anyne recmmended t get seasnal flu vaccine shuld get it this year, as well as the Influenza A (H1N1)v vaccine.
Are there medicines t treat influenza A (H1N1)v? Yes, antiviral medicines are medicines used t treat infectins with viruses. They can help lessen the symptms f the illness. These medicines wrk best if started sn after getting sick (within 2 days f nset f symptms). They nly prvide prtectin while the persn is taking them. Like antibitics it is very imprtant t fllw yur dctr s advice and cmplete the curse prescribed. There are tw anti-viral drugs, which can be used in peple with Influenza A (H1N1)v infectin seltamivir (Tamiflu ) and zanamivir (Relenza ). The Eurpean Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recmmended that during the pandemic: Tamiflu can be used in children yunger than ne year f age. Tamiflu and Relenza can be used in wmen wh are pregnant r breastfeeding. Where t find mre infrmatin The mst accurate public infrmatin n the current situatin can be fund here: www.hse.ie www.hpsc.ie www.dhc.ie www.dfa.ie