In the past two weeks, Howard County General Hospital’s emergency department has been inundated with children whose parents want them tested for the so-called swine flu.
 
The problem?
 
Few, if any, had an actual emergency, officials at the hospital said.

“Our pediatric center had the highest numbers we’ve ever had in that department,” Dr. Walter Atha, the director of the hospital’s emergency department, said during a news conference on Thursday. “They’re mostly healthy children.”
 
The hospital’s emergency department has seen days recently with close to 100 children coming in to get checked for the H1N1 virus, Atha said. On an average day, the hospital sees about 40 children in its emergency department, he said.

“They’re walking down the halls with masks on,” he said.

Howard County Heath Officer Dr. Peter Beilenson said between 20 and 40 percent of area residents could contract the swine flu, but do not need to go to the hospital.

“We have to make sure our emergency departments are used for true emergencies,” he said. “In general, it [H1N1] is relatively mild or moderate. Most of the time, you do not need to go to the emergency room. If you’re a generally healthy person, you can generally take care of yourself at home.”
 
Most people going to the emergency room with the flu simply want a test to find out which kind of flu they have -- though the Centers for Disease Control say that 98 percent of current flu cases are H1N1.
 
“That’s not an appropriate use of our resources,” Beilenson said.
 
Atha said the only time someone should go to the emergency room with the flu is if he or she is experiencing “severe” symptoms like severe shortness of breath or severe chest pain.
 
“The vast majority of people are better served by being at home,” he said.
 
The rush on Howard County General’s emergency department has come at a time when local schools are seeing high absentee rates.
 
In the past three weeks, five schools in Howard County have reported double-digit absentee rates, and school officials said it's due mostly to symptoms of the H1N1 virus. Officials also said the number of absent students is unusually high for October.

Also, across the Howard County line in Laurel, St. Vincent Pallotti High School shut down for the day Wednesday because some 100 students, about 20 percent of the student population, were out sick on Tuesday.

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user comments (7)

user independent says...

Very logical and predictable that concerned parents would visit the emergency room when their doctor tells them that the only people being tested are in the hospital. The county health department made a bad decision in this case, directing physicians not to test for swine flu. Assumptions are being made and parents are rightly concerned about their children's health, as they should be.

Posted 6:49 AM, 10.09.09 | Permalink

user asdfgh says...

But it doesn't really matter if one has H1N1 or the regular flu. It's going to suck either way. Don't crowd the hospital or call 911, you will survive.

Posted 8:13 AM, 10.09.09 | Permalink

user independent says...

It's is short-sighted to ignore the type of flu. When vaccinations arrive, all children are being advised to vaccinate, though many do not need it. That is irresponsible and risky for financial reasons, for health reasons, and vaccine scarcity. Compounding the error in not testing is that no one really knows what is happening with H1N1 or seasonal flu, so our data is unverifiable at best. As long as no one is testing, no epidemiological statements can be assumed accurate.

Posted 8:24 AM, 10.09.09 | Permalink

user says...

I'm with asdfgh. Since there's no real treatment for either the seasonal flu and H1N1, if you don't have any major lung/heart/immunology problems then the docs are going to tell you the same thing: it's best to stay at home and ride it out. The ER has a finite number of staff, a finite number of resources and from reading this article... it sounds like it's already over capacity. Taking up valuable staff and lab time when the clinical outcome is basically the same isn't a great idea. While it certainly would be great to have more data on the disease, and while parents naturally want as much information as they can get - the primary concern needs to be to keeping people safe. And part of that can be accomplished by making sure that our hospital isn't crippled by getting a flood of patients that shouldn't actually be seen there.

Posted 2:07 PM, 10.09.09 | Permalink

user johngordonboyle says...

I'm with asdfgh. Since there's no real treatment for either the seasonal flu and H1N1, if you don't have any major lung/heart/immunology problems then the docs are going to tell you the same thing: it's best to stay at home and ride it out. The ER has a finite number of staff, a finite number of resources and from reading this article... it sounds like it's already over capacity. Taking up valuable staff and lab time when the clinical outcome is basically the same isn't a great idea. While it certainly would be great to have more data on the disease, and while parents naturally want as much information as they can get - the primary concern needs to be to keeping people safe. And part of that can be accomplished by making sure that our hospital isn't crippled by getting a flood of patients that shouldn't actually be seen there.

Posted 2:07 PM, 10.09.09 | Permalink

user independent says...

Individual choice is optimal, but we're not allowed to be tested if we individually discern for health reasons that we need the test. In terms of what is good for all, we need the accurate data: http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/health/sns-ap-us-med-counting-swine-flu,0,4225829.story

Posted 2:36 PM, 10.09.09 | Permalink

user whatever says...

My own 12 year old missed the whole week of school last week because she has been sick with the flu. I DID NOT,however,rush her to the emergency room as so many people told me I should. I took care of her at home,and you know what? She is 100% better now,on her own,without being tested or having antibiotics. People who rush to the emergency room are only putting themselves and everyone else at risk by spreading the germs around. I'm with asdfgh on this too,that if you aren't having a serious emergency that stems from the flu,then keep your child at home!

Posted 6:28 AM, 10.12.09 | Permalink