A New Complication of the H1N1 Flu Virus

The H1N1 flu virus hasn’t proven to be as deadly as originally predicted, but certain subgroups of people seem to experience more severe symptoms from the virus than others. As a generalization, H1N1 flu infection causes more serious illness in young children and pregnant women and people with underlying medical problems. People over the age of fifty are the least likely to develop H1N1 infection – probably because they have immunity to some aspect of the virus. Only thirteen percent of the people hospitalized with the H1N1 flu virus fall into the over fifty age group.

Now, a study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology shows that some people who become severely ill from the H1N1 flu virus develop lung complications including blood clots, a condition known as pulmonary emboli. To show this, researchers looked at the lung x-rays of 66 patients admitted to the hospital with H1N1 flu infection. They found that five of the patients with abnormal chest x-rays who were subsequently tested with a CT scan of the lungs showed evidence of blood clots or pulmonary emboli. This is an unusual finding in an influenza type illness and suggests that people who become severely ill with the H1N1 virus may be at risk for this dangerous complication. If these blood clots can be found early enough, they can be treated with anticoagulant medications to break up the clots so that normal lung function can be restored.

While most people with the H1N1 flu virus won’t become ill enough to require hospitalization and aren’t at risk for blood clots, this study shows the importance of seeking prompt medical attention at the first sign of flu-like illness. If diagnosed early, antiviral drugs can be used to lower the risk of severe lung complications. The CDC has mandated that antiviral drugs be reserved for more severe H1N1 flu infections – ones that require hospitalization and high risk groups such as young children and pregnant women; but if severe lung symptoms develop in anyone they need immediate medical attention.

The bottom line? H1N1 flu infection can cause unexpected lung complications particularly in higher risk groups such as young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with other medical problems. This makes it all the more important to seek medical attention at the first sign of flu-like illness especially for those who fall into a high risk category. In the meantime, the best plan is to eat healthy, practice regular handwashing, and get enough sleep to help reduce the risk of infection with the H1N1 flu virus.

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Cranford Patient Service Center

  • 27 South Avenue West, Cranford, NJ 07016
  • (908) 441-7710
  • (908) 441-7711
  • Mon., Wed.: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Thu., Fri.: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Sat.: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Sun.: CLOSED

Linden Patient Service Center

  • 1901 East Linden Avenue, Unit 25, Linden, NJ 07036
  • (908) 474-1004
  • (908) 374-6544
  • Mon. – Fri.: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Sat., Sun.: CLOSED

Somerset Patient Service Center

  • 1553 Route 27, Somerset, NJ 08873
  • (609)527-9192
  • (609) 527-9192
  • Mon. – Fri.: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Sat., Sun.: CLOSED

Voorhees Sheppard Patient Service Center

  • 903 Sheppard RD., Voorhees, NJ 08043
  • (856) 528-5915
  • (856)528-5927
  • Mon. – Fri.: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Sat., Sun.: CLOSED

Stamford Patient Service Center

  • 111 High Ridge Road, First Floor, Stamford, CT 06905
  • (908) 583-6632
  • Mon., Wed., Fri.: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Tue., Thu., Sat., Sun.: CLOSED
  • Lunch Break: 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

East Hartford PSC

  • 677 Silver Ln, East Hartford, CT 06118
  • (860) 216-2150
  • (860) 904-9638
  • Mon. – Fri.: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Sat., Sun.: CLOSED

Cambridge Patient Service Center

  • 503 Byrn Street, 2nd Floor, Cambridge, MD 21613
  • (410) 228-9515
  • (443) 477-6530
  • Mon., – Fri.: 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Sat., Sun.: CLOSED

Greenbelt Patient Service center

  • 7525 Greenway Center Drive, Suite T9, Greenbelt, MD 20770
  • (856) 454-5128
  • (856) 454-5136
  • Mon., Tue., Thu.: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Friday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Saturday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Sun.: CLOSED

5th Avenue Patient Service Center

  • 5908 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11220
  • (718) 880-9970
  • (718) 880-9970
  • Mon., – Thu.: 10:00 AM-6:00 PM
  • Fri.: 10:00 AM-1:00 PM
  • Sat.: 10:00 AM-6:00 PM
  • Sun.: CLOSED

Canarsie Patient Service Center

  • 8707 Flatlands Avenue, Lower Level, Brooklyn, NY 11236
  • (718) 210-1909
  • (718) 210-1910
  • Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri.: 8:00 AM – 4:40 PM
  • Wed.: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Sun.: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Sat.: CLOSED

New Hyde Park Patient Service Center

  • 1575 Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park, Suite 100-A, NY 11040
  • (516) 500-1047
  • Tue., – Fri.: 7:30 AM-4:00 PM
  • Mon., Sat., Sun.: CLOSED

Rockville Centre Patient Service Center

  • 184 Sunrise Hwy, Lower Level, Rockville Centre, NY 11570
  • (516) 442-0417
  • (516) 442-0418
  • Mon.,Wed.,Fri.: 7:00 AM-5:00 PM
  • Tue., Thu.: 7:00 AM-6:00 PM
  • Sat.: 8:00 AM-2:00 PM
  • Sun.: CLOSED

Haverstraw Patient Service Center

  • 52 New Main Street, Haverstraw, NY 10927
  • (845) 310-4659
  • (845) 310-4660
  • Mon., – Thu.: 7:30 AM-4:00 PM
  • Sat.: 7:00 AM-1:00 PM
  • Fri., Sun.: CLOSED

Staten Island Patient Service Center

  • 1870 Richmond Rd., NY 10306
  • (646) 982-0279
  • (646) 690-6932
  • Mon: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM., Tue, Wed., Thu., Fri.: 7:30 AM-4:00 PM
  • Every other Sat.,: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Sun.: CLOSED
  • Closed for Lunch: 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

Medical Drive Patient Service Center

  • 1314 Medical drive, Suite 101, Fayetteville, NC 28304
  • (910) 491-5253
  • (910) 491-5964
  • Mon., – Thu.: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
  • Fri.: 8:00 AM-2:00 PM
  • Sat., Sun.: CLOSED

Skibo Road Patient Service Center

  • 1905 Skibo Road, Suite 101, Fayetteville, NC 28314
  • (910) 867-7071
  • Mon., – Fri.: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM
  • Sat., Sun.: CLOSED

Walter Reed Patient Service Center

  • 1220 Walter Reed Road, Suite A, Fayetteville, NC 28304
  • (910) 481-1956
  • Mon., – Thu.: 7:00 AM-4:00 PM
  • Fri.: 8:00 AM-2:00 PM
  • Sat., Sun.: CLOSED

Bangor Patient Service Center

  • 225 Erdman Avenue, Bangor, PA 18013
  • (610) 452-9174
  • (610) 452-9174
  • Mon., – Fri.: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Sat., Sun.: CLOSED

Hazleton Patient Service Center

  • 101 South Church Street, Hazelton, PA 18704
  • (570) 455-0747
  • (570) 455-0747
  • Mon., – Fri.: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Sat., Sun.: CLOSED

Kingston Patient Service Center

  • 517 Pierce Street, Kingston, PA 18704
  • (570) 283-0674
  • (570) 283-0931
  • Mon., – Fri.: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Sat., Sun.: CLOSED

ACCU Reference Louisiana Stat LAB

  • 1532 River Oaks Road W., New Orleans, LA 70123
  • (504) 779-8163
  • (504) 779-8164
  • Mon., – Fri.: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Sat., Sun.: CLOSED

Ville Platte PSC

  • 504 Jack Miller Road, Suite 1, Ville Platte, LA 70586
  • (337) 282-5200
  • (337) 282-5202
  • Mon., – Thu.: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Fri.: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Sat., Sun.: CLOSED

PCS Virginia Beach

  • 1756 Sir William Osler Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
  • (757) 917-5009
  • (757) 917-7613
  • Mon.,-Fri.: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Sat., Sun.: CLOSED
  • 8701 US Route 1, Sebastian, FL 32958
  • (772) 228-8481
  • (772) 783-6462
  • Mon., – Fri.: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Sat., Sun.: CLOSED

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