Swine Flu (H1N1) Thoughts
Thoughts on Influenza in 2009
After receiving so many responses about the flu and H1N1 (swine flu) from our Fall 2009 Newletter, I decided to share a little more information and thoughts about H1N1, the risks, and prevention and treatment options for you and your loved ones. There is a constant stream of new information about the H1N1 virus It is difficult to keep track of all of the research and opinions, which makes decision-making more challenging. Even for physicians and other health care workers, the research body is still too small and the pandemic too new for there to be neat and tidy answers. My hope is to help each of you to understand the risks of H1N1, the signs and symptoms, and the risks and benefits of vaccination and other prophylactic measures and treatments.
WHAT IS H1N1? H1N1, or “swine flu,” is essentially another seasonal influenza virus. Its symptoms are not terribly different than other influenza viruses. It can present suddenly with intense symptoms, but many cases are mild, appearing to be no more severe than a cold. It usually presents with the hallmark symptoms of headache, fever, and muscle/joint aches and pains. There is often a cough or sore throat, and possible shortness of breath. It seems to have more respiratory effects than typical season flu, and is more likely to progress to pneumonia. About half of the cases will also have GI symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
The ways in which it seems to be most different than other influenza viruses is that different groups of people are at risk. People that are at risk tend to have more rapid progression of disease than with other influenzas. However, even regular influenza causes about 35,000 deaths per year in the United States. It may be that H1N1 does not actually cause more deaths than usual for the season; but instead will affect different populations.
The people most at risk for severe complications from H1N1 are infants, children, young adults, and pregnant women. People with immune compromise other serious health conditions and respiratory problems (such as asthma) are also more at risk. This is different from the typical seasonal influenza virus which typically causes deaths in the elderly and immune compromised. One reason the H1N1 virus does not affect the elderly as severely is that some carry immunity from “swine flu” viruses from previous decades. The difference in the age group affected is why schools from preschool to university level have had quarantines with H1N1 outbreaks.
VACCINE As with any vaccine, my recommendation is to take your individual risk and weigh it again the risk of the vaccine and the benefits of protection. Unfortunately, data is slim. We don’t really know how many people have H1N1, or how often infections progress to serious complications. I have heard that 90% of “flus” this season are caused by H1N1. This is difficult to confirm. Hospitals and clinics have stopped routinely testing for H1N1 unless a patient is very ill or has medical complications, because since the test is new, there aren’t enough resources to test everybody. Only the more severe or complicated cases are confirmed by test, therefore, the majority of the cases of H1N1 that are reported are the more severe ones.
Similarly, the vaccine is new. Presumably it has similar risks to other influenza vaccines. However, it has not been administered enough to publish good statistics and the number of adverse events caused by the vaccine. The H1N1 vaccine contains a considerable amount of Thimerasol, a neurotoxic mercury preservative, which has been removed from most vaccines due to safety concerns. The state of Washington has a policy that prohibits young children and pregnant women from receiving the flu vaccine because of the levels of mercury. The state has waived this policy for the H1N1 vaccine administration. The state of Oregon has no such limitations. Unfortunately, the people most at risk from swine flu (children, and pregnant women) are also most at risk from mercury exposure. If you are your family members are especially at risk from mercury exposure, you might do best to avoid any flu vaccine. Some of the mercury high-risk categories include a family history of autism or any disease that affects the nervous system, any autoimmune disease, or a previous history of mercury exposure.
It is believed that the vaccine confers significant immunity with a single dose. The main questions are if the vaccine currently being produced will match the fall 2009 strain of the H1N1 virus. Each year, the predominant influenza strain is mutated, and continues to mutate, making a slightly different versions of the influenza virus. Thus, each year, a flu vaccine is produced based on epidemiologists’ best guess on what the strain will be.
This swine flu is a substantially different virus from the typical seasonal influenza viruses. If you have the desire and option to get a flu vaccine this year, you might choose the H1N1 vaccine over the regular flu vaccine.
ALTERNATIVES There are many options to help prevent and treat H1N1 infection. As I said in the newsletter, keeping your immune system healthy is one key. Taking 1000mg daily of Vitamin C, washing your hands often, and regularly taking immune-stimulating herbs like Echinacea and antivirals like licorice and lemon balm can be useful in preventing and fighting infection. Hydrotherapy (especially the infamous “warming sock treatment”) can assist in getting more white blood cells in circulation to help fight infection. Coming in for a constitutional hydrotherapy treatment if you do become ill can be invaluable, and is often covered by insurance.
Homeopathy is an understudied but promising modality for prevention and treatment of H1N1. If this pandemic becomes more serious, homeopathy may be able to help reverse it. Homeopathy was widely used to great effect during the 1918 influenza epidemic. In Cuba in 2007, homeopathic “vaccination” was used during leptospirosis season in place of the usual vaccination because of a shortage in production from Russia. The homeopathic preparation was a “nosode,” a highly dilute, potentized liquid made from four strains of the Leptospira organism itself. According to reports, the populations who were vaccinated homeopathically in Cuba had a significantly reduced infection, and mortality rates dropped to zero. Similarly to Cuban production, a homeopathic company in Portland has begun distribution a H1N1 “nosode” homeopathic formula. It seems logical that based on homeopathic flu history and the recent Cuban experience, taking the homeopathic “vaccination” may be a viable, safe, inexpensive, mercury-free alternative. It will be available for sale through my Sellwood office by the end of the week, and may be available in other stores and clinics in Portland.
However after the onset of an illness, a “nosode” remedy is less useful. At that point an acute homeopathic prescription can reduce the intensity, duration, and risk of the illness. It is best to see a homeopathic prescriber for an acute remedy, to be able to accurately match the symptom picture to the best remedy. I have seen acute homeopathic remedies work wonders in short order for acute illness, especially in children.
I do not have a single answer. I hope this information will help you make informed decisions. I do know that a little bit of immune support can go a long way, so take care of yourself in this winter of unknowns and uncertainty. There are solid reasons to get the vaccine, and there are also sound alternatives. Not enough is known about either, though. Do not hesitate to call or email me if you have any questions or concerns.
In wellness,
Dr. Elissa Mendenhall, ND
Naturopathic Physician, Portland, Oregon
<dr.elissa@yahoo.com>
(503) 239-8181
