Swine Flu and your kids

Kids aged 1-5 are also viewed as being at higher risk, and as a father of two boys, aged one and three, I would definitely treat them if they became symptomatic with swine flu but only after my GP had examined them and concluded this as the diagnosis. The real risk currently to children is not so much swine flu itself but that their symptoms are mistaken for those of swine flu. Kids get temperatures for many reasons (tonsillitis, urine infections, tummy bugs, meningitis) and most of these often start of with flu-like symptoms.

I’ve been a doctor for more than 12 years and I still find it challenging to assess a child with a temperature. Usually, prior knowledge of the child’s medical history, of the parents and a thorough history and examination allow me to accurately diagnose a child. Therefore I am wary of children being diagnosed over the phone using the National Pandemic Flu Service – a telephone operator without medical training or access to the child’s medical notes cannot, in my opinion, be expected to make a safe diagnosis.

If you really are worried about your child, see your GP.






The views expressed in this blog are those of Dr Abu-Talib Chinwala BM MRCGP and not of any organisation he works for.