My two daughters are in the midst of H1N1 throes right now. They've got fevers that spike high, but respond to alternating doses of Tylenol and Motrin. They are coughing and sluggish, but otherwise in good spirits. My doctor tells me that there is no magic temperature that should trigger a trip to the clinic. It's the accompanying symptoms to watch.

By all means, do not take my word or anyone else's word as gospel unless they are a medical professional and have your child's file in front of them. Every case is unique, and every parent has the right to make their own decision with the advice of a trusted physician.

The outlying severe cases of H1N1 are frightening, but not typical. Still, it's best not to expose others to a disease that could hit them hard — even if your own symptoms are mild.

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If a child or adult has a fever above 103 there is a good chance they need to be seen by a clinician. Dehydration and other complications arise when the bodies temp. gets that high- especially a young child. Just thought I would correct that:)

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Yvonne touched on another point, it's not the H1N1 that kills, it is the secondary infection that is 'let in through the front door' because the body is fighting H1N1. The thing is that the common cold can do exactly the same thing, but no one seems to 'freak out' when they get the sniffles. ANY time your immune system is depressed, be that due to illness, pregnancy, cancer etc there is the potential for something as simple as the common cold to kill you. So I will weigh those things up and decide what the best course of action is for me and my family, though I know this much, it won't involve being vaccinated against it.

Does anyone know if they are vaccinating EVERYONE regardless of whether they have already had H1N1(either assumed or confirmed)?

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From personal experience and talking to many of my age (50's – 60's) colleagues, none of us can not remember any serious "flu" episodes or years, personally or family-wise, other than the created-panic year in 1976 for Swine flu at Ft. Dix, New Jersey.

The "Asian Flu" cited 1957-58 as serious never was not serious to us, but maybe we're missing something, but I tend to think the Officials have exaggerated this one too. Really? Can Officials exaggerate?

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The following in " " quotation marks is from the Sept 2, 2009 MMWR (Morbidy and Mortality Week Report of the U.S. CDC). After you read it, I have a few comments. Thanks for listening!

"Twenty-eight (78%) of the 36 children whose deaths were associated with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection were in at least one of two groups previously found to be at increased risk for complications from seasonal influenza: children aged <5 years and those with a high-risk chronic medical condition (1–3). The percentage of children with high-risk medical conditions (67%) in this series is higher than the percentage reported in recent influenza seasons. During the 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, and 2006–07 seasons, a total of 153, 47, 46, and 73 pediatric deaths were reported through the influenza-associated pediatric mortality reporting system, respectively. During those seasons, the percentages of children with high-risk medical conditions were 47%, 55%, 48%, and 35%, respectively (1,7). During the same seasons, among children who died, the percentages of children aged <5 years and aged <2 years among pediatric deaths was generally higher (<5 years, 42%–63%, <2 years, 26%–46%) than the 19% and 14%, respectively, reported for 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1). Continued surveillance is needed to determine whether these and other differences between pediatric deaths from seasonal influenza and deaths from 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) are important."

My personal view is straightforward: For the last many years, people and pediatric (under 18 years of age), during the warm months, the U.S. has always had deaths for a lot of causes, but rarely in fact directly related to flu.

However, this past summer, huge numbers of flu-tests were given – and then when someone dies from anything, the mortality magically morphs into a "flu-associated" death, when in fact "flu" had nothing to do with it.

This type of disease manipulation is outright hogwash, no other good word for it.

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Here's an excellent article by an M.D. about how to proceed when your child is ill.

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I ended up taking him to After Hours in Geneseo because his fever was higher than it had been the day before. I had to sit there with him for 2 1/2 hours with many other sickly individuals. And guess what? Sinus infection and ear infection…just what I had told the doctor's office.

I am thoroughly disgusted by our "now former" doctor's office. They turned down a child to save their rear ends. My son had to suffer because they were more concerned about themselves than the health of their patients.

I am so sick and tired of hearing about this H1N1.

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Yes, our U.S. CDC has docmented that about 100 pediatric deaths the last 6 months have been "associated" with the H1N1 flu. But, it is almost NEVER cited in media newscasts that the "pediatric category" includes up 18 years of age, which is a very far cry from what people think when hearing these figures. So, naturally, and misleadingly, the public hearing the news naturally thinks of infants and real young kids as those dying, when in fact most have been much older.

Additionally, though it is mentioned now and then in newscasts, it is also a fact via the CDC that perhaps 67% (2/3 rds) of this 100 "pediatric" mortality is in those already having severe, chronic health problems.

From my study of all the ingredients in all flu vaccines, including H1N1, it is clear to me that the shots' risks far outweigh any benefits. And, don't forget, numerous studies have shown the people get the flu, despite being immunized.

Another fact completely kept quiet is that in previous years there was effectively no testing for "flu cases" before November (just look at the CDC Charts and data), but since this year CDC decided to do this testing (because of H1N1), then of course there will be some mortality associated with it. Just like previous years if the millions of tests were done like this year.

Dramatic action (front page in Canada but ignored by U.S. media) by Canada Health Officials recently suspended all their major Province's their "usual seasonal flu vaccination" programs until further review (they do it earlier in Canada than the U.S.).

This is because a sweeping study of Canadian flu cases by two researchers (Dr. Danuta Skowronski of British Columbia Centre of Disease Control and Dr. De Serres of Laval University in Quebec) that document Canadians getting their flu vaccinations are twice as likely to actually get sick from the flu, compared to those Canadians that do not get flu shots the last couple years.

World Health Organization officials (WHO) held a world-wide teleconference Oct. 3 to discuss these findings, and though none of the participants could actually identify flaws in the Skowronski/De Serres Study, the teleconference participants agreed the Study certainly must be wrong for some (unidentified) convoluted study factors, in other words, "just believe us when we tell you to get a flu shot, don't believe an objective study."

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From what I've read, H1N1 is like two diseases in one. It can either be mild, like a bad cold or a light flu, or it can be deadly. You either miss a couple of days or work, or you end up in the hospital on a respirator.

If you or your kids are having flu-like symptoms — especially fevers of above 103, it's safest to stay home. You might not get worse, but the virus you may be carrying could kill someone else.

Most doctors, I've heard, aren't seeing people directly due to risk of infection. They're just advising bed rest, fluids and alternating Tylenol and Motrin.

Naïve? Maybe, but better safe than sorry. Same goes with getting the vaccine.

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“If you’re not feeling well, stay home so that you’re not exposing others,” Ellison recommends."

So if that is true why do we need a vaccine?

Also I think it is a bit naive to assume that anyone who is experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms has H1N1 without laboratory confirmation when they may indeed only have a cold.

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