SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING H1N1 and CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS

As is now well known, there is currently international concern for a potential pandemic due to the newly recognized virus now called H1N1 (“swine flu”).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified certain groups of persons at higher risk for developing a more serious course of the illness.

Children with neurologic and cardiovascular conditions (which would include children with trisomy 18, 13 and related disorders) are in this high risk group.

The latest recommendation from the CDC and national pediatric infectious disease experts is to start treatment with TAMIFLU (generic name = oseltamivir phosphate) if there are symptoms (for example, fever and cough) suspicious for H1N1.

Treatment should be started within 2 days of the illness in order to improve the course of the H1N1 influenza. Physicians should not wait for confirmatory testing to start treatment in persons in these risk groups.

Families should consult their primary care doctor (or other provider) at the onset of suspicious symptoms.

The following CDC web site has information on dosage, including for infants less than one year http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu

Information on the H1N1 vaccine is forthcoming and should be available on the CDC web site and through primary care providers by early October. SOFT children will definitely be in the initial vaccination group.

Dr. John Carey
SOFT Medical Advisor