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Swine Flu Turns Critical With Deadly Speed, Taxing ICUs

Sickest H1N1 patients deteriorate rapidly, studies say

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 12, 2009 4:20 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Swine flu can turn from mild to critical extremely rapidly, with the sickest patients needing to be moved to intensive care only a day or so after being admitted to the hospital, new studies show. The worst cases have the potential to overwhelm health care facilities in the event of a widespread outbreak. "These people were not just a little bit ill," the leader of one study conducted this year says."They were spectacularly ill."

A Canadian study focused on 168 H1N1 patients who required hospitalization. Most were moved to an ICU less than 48 hours after admission, and 80% of them eventually needed ventilators. Within a month of admission, 14.3% had died. As noted by other swine flu researchers, many of these extreme cases occurred in relatively healthy, young adults, not the very old or very young usually most affected by seasonal flu, HealthDay reports.

A group of health care workers receive a dose of the swine flu vaccine in the Occupational Health Clinic at Wishard Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis, Monday, Oct. 5, 2009.
A group of health care workers receive a dose of the swine flu vaccine in the Occupational Health Clinic at Wishard Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis, Monday, Oct. 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
A lab assistant works at a new bio analytical rapid test system in Jena, central Germany, on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009.
A lab assistant works at a new bio analytical rapid test system in Jena, central Germany, on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Nurse Betsy Vance holds a nasal mist dose of the swine flu vaccine in the Occupational Health Clinic at Wishard Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis, Monday, Oct. 5, 2009.
Nurse Betsy Vance holds a nasal mist dose of the swine flu vaccine in the Occupational Health Clinic at Wishard Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis, Monday, Oct. 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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These people were not just a little bit ill. They were spectacularly ill. Without preparation, there would be some chance that some areas would be overwhelmed. - Dr. Anand Kumar, lead author of the Canadian H1N1 study

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 20 comments
RobN
Oct 13, 2009 12:33 PM CDT
The study focused on 168 patients who had to be hospitalized. Tens of thousands of people have had swine flu without being hospitalized. 24 or 25 deaths out of 168 is very alarming; 24 or 25 deaths out of tens of thousands is not. I don't know that the study really reinforces the need to be vaccinated so much as it reinforces the need to see your doctor if you get sick and don't just lay on the couch till you are past the point of being helped.
riffran
Oct 13, 2009 12:27 PM CDT
from what the docs mentioned at work, the swine flu is no worse than the regular flu.....normally...but when it does get to the point mentioned in the article, that hospitalization is required, it is more serious than regular flu would be at the same stage
Robert_Dada
Oct 13, 2009 12:21 PM CDT
dontlikeyoueither: All I can say is that I hope all of your kind feel the same as you and decide to opt out of the vaccine while us progressives heed medical advice. Thinning the herd based on your own stupid decisions is fine by me.
Health • US • World

 
Canada • influenza • academic research • scientific study • swine flu • H1N1 virus

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