Have We Been Swined?

The Superteen's school sent home a note last week....15 confirmed cases of swine flu and 200 students off sick in one day. Keep your boys home if they have so much as a sniffle!

I have always said that if our family was affected by swine flu, it would come through my kids. Sure enough, on Sunday afternoon, the Superteen appeared with cheeks that would give santa a run for his sack-packin' money in their rosiness! As the afternoon progressed, his condition deteriorated.

Now, while I'm not saying that he has swine flu, it would not surprise me. The doctor - who we went to yesterday - does not routinely test anymore. But one look at the news reports on the Royal Brisbane Hospital treating patients in make-shift wards set up in ambulance bays and knowing the school situation, makes me think that it's very possible.

His symptoms started with the red face, fever (which has been as high as 40 degrees and very difficult to get down), constant headache, dizziness, sore throat and today, vomiting and gastro. Last night, in an effort to bring his temp down, we resorted to the old-fashioned method of shovelling him into a cold shower. (It worked, btw!). He is on antibiotics to prevent secondary infections and is on asthma medication, but man oh man this bug is nasty.

So, while he seems to have shown signs of improvement this afternoon (he argued with his sister and ate toast - that has to be a good sign), I can only sit by and hope that he gets over it soon. And hope, of course that no one else gets it.