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Oct 27, 2009 5:46 pm US/Central
H1N1 Fears Fill Emergency Rooms
(WCCO)
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In this photo illustration the H1N1 swine flu vaccination Pandemic is pictured at Charite clinical center on Oct.26, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Fears of the H1N1 virus are sending increasing numbers of patients to Minnesota hospital emergency rooms.
At Hennepin County Medical Center the number of patients with flu concerns has doubled since the first of the month.
This past Sunday, 35 percent of the people seeking treatment at HCMC were reporting flu-like symptoms
Johnnie Freeman found a lot company when he got to the HCMC emergency room, thinking he had the H1N1 flu.
"Come on, look at all these people," Freeman said about all of the patients waiting for a doctors' examination.
Freeman was sick enough to need intravenous fluids to treat dehydration, but he did not test positive for H1N1 virus.
HCMC's Chief of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Joe Clinton said very few patients admitted for hospitalization are testing positive for the novel virus.
"Ten percent ... it's surprising low," said Clinton.
He said the vast majority of ER visitors are being sent home with nothing stronger than Tylenol. Only those with chronic conditions that put them at higher risk of death are receiving more involved therapies.
"Asthmatics, diabetics and those with other medical illnesses where there would be a higher risk of complications, those are the people [for whom] we are reserving the antiviral medication for," Clinton said.
To reduce the risk of infection for non-flu patients, HCMC has added air-purifying ventilation systems to its emergency room waiting areas. One specific room is has been set aside as an isolation area to be used when the number of patients exhibiting flu symptoms climbs above 40.
Vincent McGuire brought his 1-year-old son Vincent Jr. to HCMC. He said the child has been lethargic and feverish. The boy has his father's complete sympathy.
"I'm kinda sick myself," said McGuire. "(I'm) not sleeping all that well, having a little fever, and my chest, I'm coughing a lot."
Being in a high risk group, the toddler may get additional treatment. His dad's illness may be allowed to simply to run its course. Those under the age of two and over the age of 65 are more likely to receive antiviral drugs, as are those with a very high fever, difficulty breathing or excessive vomiting or diarrhea.
Clinton said even in high risk patients, the chance of death is very small -- about one in 1000.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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