WASHINGTON - The new H1N1 swine flu virus has killed 36 U.S. children, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Thursday.
It said 67 percent of them had medical conditions putting them more at risk of severe disease, such as asthma, or were disabled with conditions such as cerebral palsy, but 22 percent of the children were under 5 and healthy.
The CDC said that by August 8 it had reports of 477 deaths from the pandemic H1N1 virus, including 36 children under 18.
"In two-thirds of those, the child had at least one severe underlying illness or underlying disability ... cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, long-standing respiratory or cardiac problems," CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden told reporters in a telephone briefing.
"There were some children who didn't have an underlying condition and who did become severely ill, and they were generally infected also by bacteria," Frieden added.
"When you get the flu, your immune system can be a little weakened. You can be more susceptible to other infections. That's an important message for doctors to know that if someone has the flu, they get better, then they get worse again with high fever, that's a clue that maybe they should be treated with antibiotics."
The new H1N1 swine flu was declared a pandemic in June and has been spreading globally since then. It has been active in the United States since it was identified in April -- unusual for influenza, which is only usually active in cooler months.
It affects older children and young adults more than seasonal flu does, something that has concerned doctors. Seasonal flu can kill healthy children as well as those with medical conditions, but doctors worry more children could die because they are being affected more.
"Each year, there are on the neighborhood of 50 to 100 deaths from influenza among children in this country," Frieden said.
UNUSUAL FLU SEASON
"The flu season this past year was very unusual, very unusual because you had first a normal flu season, which was a relatively mild season. Then you had H1N1 influenza. So, these deaths are outside of the normal time period."
Quick treatment with the antiviral drugs Tamiflu, made by Roche AG under license from Gilead Sciences, or GlaxoSmithKline's Relenza, can help reduce how long and severe a flu infection is. People with health conditions need quick medical attention, Frieden said, as do children who have trouble breathing.
"Most people with flu don't need treatment," he added. The CDC discourages using antivirals for people not at risk of severe infection, to preserve their power. Viruses and bacteria quickly develop resistance to commonly used drugs.
A vaccine against H1N1 will not be ready until October, Frieden said.
The CDC estimates that well over a million Americans have been infected with H1N1 and the infection is expected to spread widely as schools return to session after a summer break.
"We are going to be trying to reach out to children in large number and parents to get kids' vaccines, because we know that so many kids can get the flu, and the vaccine is likely to be quite effective," Frieden said, adding that he would vaccinate his own children.
It said 67 percent of them had medical conditions putting them more at risk of severe disease, such as asthma, or were disabled with conditions such as cerebral palsy, but 22 percent of the children were under 5 and healthy.
The CDC said that by August 8 it had reports of 477 deaths from the pandemic H1N1 virus, including 36 children under 18.
"In two-thirds of those, the child had at least one severe underlying illness or underlying disability ... cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, long-standing respiratory or cardiac problems," CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden told reporters in a telephone briefing.
"There were some children who didn't have an underlying condition and who did become severely ill, and they were generally infected also by bacteria," Frieden added.
"When you get the flu, your immune system can be a little weakened. You can be more susceptible to other infections. That's an important message for doctors to know that if someone has the flu, they get better, then they get worse again with high fever, that's a clue that maybe they should be treated with antibiotics."
The new H1N1 swine flu was declared a pandemic in June and has been spreading globally since then. It has been active in the United States since it was identified in April -- unusual for influenza, which is only usually active in cooler months.
It affects older children and young adults more than seasonal flu does, something that has concerned doctors. Seasonal flu can kill healthy children as well as those with medical conditions, but doctors worry more children could die because they are being affected more.
"Each year, there are on the neighborhood of 50 to 100 deaths from influenza among children in this country," Frieden said.
UNUSUAL FLU SEASON
"The flu season this past year was very unusual, very unusual because you had first a normal flu season, which was a relatively mild season. Then you had H1N1 influenza. So, these deaths are outside of the normal time period."
Quick treatment with the antiviral drugs Tamiflu, made by Roche AG under license from Gilead Sciences, or GlaxoSmithKline's Relenza, can help reduce how long and severe a flu infection is. People with health conditions need quick medical attention, Frieden said, as do children who have trouble breathing.
"Most people with flu don't need treatment," he added. The CDC discourages using antivirals for people not at risk of severe infection, to preserve their power. Viruses and bacteria quickly develop resistance to commonly used drugs.
A vaccine against H1N1 will not be ready until October, Frieden said.
The CDC estimates that well over a million Americans have been infected with H1N1 and the infection is expected to spread widely as schools return to session after a summer break.
"We are going to be trying to reach out to children in large number and parents to get kids' vaccines, because we know that so many kids can get the flu, and the vaccine is likely to be quite effective," Frieden said, adding that he would vaccinate his own children.
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