The day...week the plague hit

We have been attacked by the plague.  The flu is bad for everyone but if you have a large family with multiple people getting sick it is overwhelming and if your children have special needs it's even worse - if you are a large family with multiple special needs it's like you have been hit by a plague.

The last week around here has been non stop vomiting, diarrhea and fevers with 8 children sick at one time.  5 of the 8 children also have significant special needs which most people don't realize the severity when the flu is included in the mix.  For the 5 the flu triggered multiple seizures and when vomiting we had the increased risk of choking/aspiration as they all have swallowing disorders also.  The flu for a person with significant special needs also tends to hang on longer for them than your average person.

After recovering from the flu virus the children need to recover from the secondary effects of the flu.  The multiple seizures effect the children's abilities, for example the children with feeding and swallowing challenges have regressed in their abilities and are back to only being able to eat pureed foods.  Their motor skills have regressed including their speech abilities. The ones that aspirated  have pneumonia to recover from, it's a never ending cycle.

I encourage everyone to help prevent the spread of the flu 

*If you have the flu stay home while sick and 24 additional hours after you have been symptom free (without medication).

*Limit your contact with people so you aren't spreading your germs.

*Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

*Wash your hands with soap and water multiple times throughout the day - after using the toilet, whenever you wipe your nose, before preparing food, before eating, etc.

*When coughing or sneezing cover your mouth with a tissue or the inside of your arm.

*Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated then touches their eyes, nose or mouth.