Local hospitals will no longer test for H1N1 unless patients are admitted

Treatment for symptoms is identical regardless of test result

Trinity’s and Genesis’ emergency departments have now implemented H1N1 testing guidelines that specify they will not test those with flu-like symptoms who present to the emergency department because the treatment for such would be the same with or without a positive H1N1 or seasonal influenza diagnosis.

The only people who will be tested for H1N1 are those who are actually admitted to the hospitals with flu-like/sepsis-like symptoms in all age groups. Any patients sent home will not to be tested.  Patients age less than 5 and over 65, as well as those deemed higher risk by the CDC for seasonal influenza complications, will be treated with Tamiflu or Relenza as though they had tested positive for H1N1.

“We already know that H1N1 is here in our community.  Seasonal influenza typically surges later in the year, so anyone becoming ill at this point is assumed to have H1N1, which is simply another strain of influenza.  The treatment for both is the same,” said Dr. Paul Bolger, Trinity’s Director of Emergency Medicine.

Providers encourage only those who have the emergency warning signs of flu (see list below) to go to the emergency room.  Those who are only mildly ill and concerned about their illness or are at high risk of flu complications should not go to the emergency room but rather seek advice from their health-care provider.

Emergency warning signs include:

In children

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

In adults

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

If a person is sick but not enough to be hospitalized, the CDC recommends that that person stays home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone except to get medical care or for other things they have to do that no one else can do for them. (A fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®.) In addition, people should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.

To reduce your risk of infection with either H1N1 or seasonal influenza, take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.