Our Indiana Swine Flu Scare Reveals Potential H1N1 Tracking Inaccuracies

On May 1 of last year, Indiana was one of many states with reported Swine Flu cases. One school, Springmill Elementary in Washington Township, was actually closed for over a week after a student was found to have the Swine flu virus. I wrote about the automated phone call we received and the actions taken by school officials here .

A new school year brings personal experience with Indiana Swine Flu scare

Just a few weeks ago, my family endured our own Indiana Swine Flu scare, one that leaves me wondering about the accuracy of Indiana Swine Flu trackers. These trackers can be found at many sites online, including the CDC website. Google also tracks the flu and the site notes that current cases are at high levels in Indiana.

I have increased concerns about the accuracy of flu trackers because of a recent personal experience and possible Swine Flu case involving my son. Here's how the whole scenario unfolded:

When my son left for his Indianapolis high school a few weeks ago, he exhibited no signs of Swine Flu (also known as H1N1 infection). Within hours, however, I received a phone call from the school nurse. My son had a low grade fever but also had symptoms that could indicate Swine Flu, along with some mild trouble breathing, body aches and a severe cough. I rushed to the school and took him to the closest medical center, located a short drive from the school.

By that time, my son was miserable and could barely keep his eyes open, with aching muscles and lung and nasal discharge. He was coughing more frequently and his illness was progressing quickly. I was alarmed, especially by the severity and speed of his symptoms.

Indiana Swine flu statistics and reasons for possible inaccuracies

Here is where things began to get confusing. My son was tested for possible Strep throat but the results were negative. I asked the doctor if my son could be tested for Swine Flu. The answer? The center didn't routinely test for Swine Flu but prescribed medications to treat the disease.

As a result, my son was prescribed Tamiflu and an antibiotic. I was also told that the Tamiflu was important to administer within 24 hours of possible Swine Flu. The reasoning? Even if tests were available, it could take days to get the results back - so might as well take an aggressive approach.

Are Indiana Swine Flu cases being reported accurately?

Based on my experience, I have questions about the accuracy of Indiana Swine Flu statistics. When I spoke to the doctor, he noted that some cases labeled as Swine Flu could simply be a milder flu. But he admitted that some medical centers were playing it safe and listing all Indiana flu cases as Swine flu. Clearly, this could skew the statistics and leave parents wondering about the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment.

Not all Indiana schools are being routinely closed for possible Swine Flu viruses

Since last year, when Springmill school in Indianapolis was shut down for over a week, policies have changed (depending on the school). My son's high school has not yet been shut down in spite of flu and other viruses affecting many of the students we know. But do they have Swine Flu? As we discovered, some centers (like the one we visited) didn't do any testing but simply handed out medication.

So what are Indiana parents to do?

Parents can network and share information about Swine Flu in Indiana. They can also let their children's school systems and administrators know of the potential challenges in tracking Indiana Swine Flu cases. Online flu trackers and info at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Google's Flu tracker may also help track upswings in flu cases - but it could be tricky figuring out if the results are for the usual seasonal flu or Swine Flu.. Me? I'm hoping that the whole Swine Flu panic is overblown and we don't have a repeat of the scare we suffered recently.

Sources:
Personal experience and visit to Immediate Care Center in Indianapolis
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
Google Flu Trends www.google.org/flutrends/intl/en_us/