A perfectly healthy five-year-old was killed by deadly flu

Swine flu, the common name for the H1N1 virus, became the center of a worldwide pandemic in 2009, killing at least 18,500 people in 214 countries

The parents of this five-year-old described their son as someone who was “never sick a day in his short life.” But when their son contracted the swine flu, the effects were devastating, and fast.

He was initially treated by a GP before being referred to Sligo Regional Hospital and transferred to Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin. Doctors rushed him to intensive care but his condition deteriorated and he passed away with his family by his bedside.

A pediatrician in Temple Street children’s hospital confirmed they have been seeing a rise in children suffering flu since January, including youngsters who are not in an at-risk group and are healthy.

“Some children have become extremely unwell with it,” he added.

Swine flu, the common name for the H1N1 virus, became the center of a worldwide pandemic in 2009, killing at least 18,500 people in 214 countries. Now it is possible to reduce the risk of contracting the illness by getting a winter vaccine.

Doctors also suggest to parents that if they want reassurance, they could get the vaccine for children over six months who are healthy.

However if the child has preexisting conditions like bronchitis or heart disease, a vaccine is a must.

Swine flu symptoms

Symptoms of swine flu are similar to other strains of the condition and include:

A sudden fever—a temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above
Tiredness
Aching muscles or joint pain
A headache
A runny or blocked nose
A dry cough

Call your GP if you have flu-like symptoms and are at a higher risk of complications of seasonal flu. This includes:

Children under two years old
Anyone over the age of 65
Pregnant women
Children and adults with an underlying health condition (particularly long-term heart or respiratory disease)
Children and adults with weakened immune systems
To reduce risk wash hands regularly with soap and warm water
Clean surfaces such as your keyboard, telephone and door handles regularly to get rid of germs
Use tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
Put used tissues in a bin as soon as possible
The best remedy is to rest at home, keep warm and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration
Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower a high temperature and relieve aches.
If further treatment is needed or complications arise, do not hesitate to seek medical attention.

If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below.

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

Written by

James Martinez

preventiontragic newschild illnessflu death