Just a little heads up for parents of children with MM and on asprin. Don't forget the flu shots.We were at the Dr. Today he pulled us aside and told me they have only 100 shots.He's a family Dr. and has  a large # of patients over the age of 65.This has forced them to be very particular and choosey.Kathleen of course was at the top of his list.We got her shot right away today while we were there. It looks like we won't all be gettting them this year but at least Kahtleen has gotten it.I heard about the shortage but didn't really know how bad it was....I hope everyone who needs it can get it...
Mary Grace

  For children there is a particular danger when they are on long term asprin therapy.The combination of a severe virus such as the flu or chicken pox can cause Reys Syndrome.Avery seriouse brain dissorder.There aren't many cases of this these days but that's because no one gives children asprin for illness anymore.AS far as the flu itself my concern would be the fever and staying hydrated through an ilness such as the flu. We had Kahtleen revacinated for the chicken pox last year becasue the year before that there was a large outbreak of chicken pox(about 65 kids who had all been vaccinated) in her school. She had the vaccine but tested as having no imunity. At that point we kept her home until the outbreak was over, at that point it was too close to her surgery to risk vaccinating and actually getting the Chicken Pox, if she had gotten them we would have had to take her off the asprin.
Mary Grace

Thanks for posting that...I just asked Cara's primary doctor about it...and he said most definitely but get an appt as fast as you can as they are running low.  Was on news last night that they're going to be selective at who will get the flu shots.  I called over to the office few minutes ago and Cara is getting one at 3pm today.    hugs,  CarasMOM

Hi!

What kind of flu are you talking about, could it perhaps be the same all over the world? Coming from Asia I think and different flu every year?
Thank you for pointing that out to those of us who didn´t come to think of it, I am one of them. A few weeks before surgery Louise had the stomach flue and it really trigged the TIA´s so I really don´t want to risk anything.
By the way Louise has been having vague symtoms and finally they put her up for her first angio post surgery. Don´t know the date yet but I am a little nervous about it.

Take care

Annica

Jill, Is Tara taking asprin? From anything I have read and heard about the reccomendations, anyone under 18 and taking daily asprin therapy should definatly get the flu shot. This is the biggest reason Kahtleen has gotten one every year since surgery.She is at no greater risk for getting the flu(barely gets a cold each winter ) but if she does, the risk is that she is succeptable to Reys Syndrome a very seriouse brain dissorder.I'm taking no chances.....I know it's very rare these days(mainly because children just don't take asprin for illness) but so is MM....
Mary Grace

07-OCT-2004

American Diabetes Association Flu Vaccine Shortage Announcement


On October 5, 2004 it was reported that the United States will experience a shortage of the influenza vaccine supply for the 2004- 05 flu season. In light of this development, the American Diabetes Association maintains that people with diabetes, particularly those with complicating factors such as cardiac or renal disease or those who are or have been recently hospitalized, should still seek immunization. This recommendation is in keeping with the interim recommendations issued October 5, 2004 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in response to the influenza vaccine shortage. The CDC offers the following guidance:

Priority Groups for Influenza Vaccination

The following priority groups for vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccine this season are considered to be of equal importance and are:

* all children aged 6-23 months; * adults aged 65 years and older; * persons aged 2-64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions; * all women who will be pregnant during the influenza season; * residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities; * children aged 6 months-18 years on chronic aspirin therapy; * health-care workers involved in direct patient care; and * out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged less than 6 months.
*****

See the underlined portion...regarding children that are on chronic aspirin therapy.

hugs,  carasMOM

  Annica, Aside from the asprin therapy risk another concern would be dehydration from the flu.This risk I think would depend on how your daughter handles illness.When Kathleen is sick she just won't eat or drink and there is no way to force her.She is seven but was also born with Down Syndrome(abstract thinking is difficult) so she really doesn't understand if I try to explain how important it is to drink while she's sick.Her first stroke was while she was sick with a cold and sinus infection.As for getting the flu I asked my Dr. before she got ehr first flu shot if there was any risk of gettting the flu from it. He sadi there is absolutely no risk because the flu shot is NOT a live virus. The chicken pox vaccine is a live virus and you can get it from the vaccine(usually a milder case.This is why it was difficult for us to decide wether to revaccinate Kahtleen for the chicken pox.Hope this helped a bit....
Mary and Kahtleen

O.K., I'm convinced.  Thanks very much to all of you for your input!  Yes Mary, Tara is on aspirin therapy.  Everyone's comments, plus the info from the CDC got me "over the hump" of indecision.  Tara has an appointment for her flu shot on Monday afternoon.

Mary, thanks for getting this subject to the front of our minds . . . I may have not thought about it at all, and been sorry for it later . . .

Jill

  I'm so glad our little ones who need the shot are getting it without a problem.
   Jill I'm glad this helped you.I didn't think too much about it until we had to deal with the possibility of Kahtleen getting the chicken pox when her school had an outbreak.I started doing some reading and remembered that a seriouse virus in combination with asprin is what causes Reyes Syndrome.It scared the heck out of me because she was only about 6 months out of surgery.
Mary grace