Breezy Mama

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Best Ways to Treat Colds/Flu; This Year’s Shot & More

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Ahhhhh…choooo! Oh boy! Here comes Cold/Flu season. Always a good time… cough, cough. I’ll never forget the joys of my whole family getting the flu three years ago when I was pregnant. There was, um, barfing galore and no person in their right mind would come help us because they didn’t want to catch it! Somehow we managed to avoid it the next two years (read: the flu shot actually worked those years) but colds are always inevitable. To get the best approach for treating the good times of sick season, Breezy Mama turned to Dr. Gregg Alexander. Plus! Answers to all of this season’s flu questions, such as will the Swine Flu be a concern and what is THE shot of the season to (knock on wood) avoid the flu, when to treat a fever and when to let it do its job and more.

Is Swine Flu a threat again this season?

The possibility of getting Swine Flu this season does [Read more…] about Best Ways to Treat Colds/Flu; This Year’s Shot & More

My Son Had the Swine Flu: Learn from My Experience & Advice from a Pediatrician

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Kieran on his first big outing after recovring from the Swine Flu. Can you say happy?
Kieran on his first big outing after recovering from the Swine Flu. Can you say happy?

My Story:

Yes, it’s true; we were able to celebrate summer with my son coming down with the Swine Flu. This past July, Kieran woke up one morning with a runny nose. It was clear, so I didn’t think much about it and we went to our scheduled playdate. At it, he was acting tired, and would rather sit in my lap than play with his friends. When he opted to not have cake I knew something was up. That night, I put him to bed early figuring he just needed a good night’s sleep. The next day we headed up to Santa Barbara to see some family—it was a big trip, I hadn’t seen them in years so I didn’t think about canceling. Besides, Kieran seemed fine—he did just need a good night’s sleep.

After running around on the beach all day, Kieran started to [Read more…] about My Son Had the Swine Flu: Learn from My Experience & Advice from a Pediatrician

Swine Flu: What the Pediatrician Community is Saying Today (4/29) and More

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Dr. Gillin answered our questions on whether she’s treated patients with Swine Flu, what concerns she has been hearing from parents, the measures being taken in California and more. 

Now that California Governor Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency, what can we expect as far as a vaccine in California? When do you guess pediatrician offices will offer them?

It takes time to develop a vaccine to any virus. It will take some time to develop and manufacture and test a vaccine. Although the U.S. is prepared to develop [Read more…] about Swine Flu: What the Pediatrician Community is Saying Today (4/29) and More

Swine Flu: First Death in U.S. is a Toddler — Deaths Due to Influenza Happen Every Year

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Federal officials said it may take until January to get a vaccine.

As a follow up to Monday night’s post on Swine Flu, Dr. Gillin said this morning, “As you know, there has been the first death- in a toddler. Again, time will tell. Every year we have deaths of infants, children, and adults due to influenza. Time will tell whether this flu is acting like a typical flu in the U.S., or anything more.”

According to the Associated Press, the U.S.’s first death due to Swine Flu was a 23-month-old who had recently travelled from Mexico to Texas. Read more here.

Google is tracking Swine Flu outbreaks. Click here to see the map.

Please remember Dr. Gillin’s advice, “Use good hygiene and [Read more…] about Swine Flu: First Death in U.S. is a Toddler — Deaths Due to Influenza Happen Every Year

Swine Flu: A Pediatrician Discusses the Symptoms, Treatment and Why the Sudden Panic

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For the Wednesday, April 29 Post, “Swine Flu: First Death in U.S. is a Toddler — Deaths Due to Influenza Happen Every Year” — Click here.

For Wednesday April 29 post, “Swine Flu: What the Pediatrician Community is Saying Today and More,” Click here.

Monday, April 27

With three boys in school and a teacher herself, Breezy Mama Maya –like many of us — is beginning to feel the panic over the sudden outbreak of the Swine Flu. We turned to Pediatrician Shakha Gillin, M.D., F.A.A.P to get the facts on the symptoms, treatment and how to avoid it.

Can you tell us about the Swine Flu? What is it? How serious is it?

The Swine Flu is an H1N1 Influenza A virus, that originated in pigs, but now has demonstrated human to human transmission.

Why is there suddenly panic seemingly spreading over this particular virus?

The panic has been spreading for several reasons. [Read more…] about Swine Flu: A Pediatrician Discusses the Symptoms, Treatment and Why the Sudden Panic