(Grand Rapids, February 19, 2003, 6:05 p.m.) A third West Michigan child has died after battling a flu-like illness.
Two year old Jack Henry Williams of Fremont died last Friday. Six other children have died in recent weeks after similar symptoms. They live in Kentwood, Hastings and on the east side of the state.
Flu-like symptoms are common this time of year, but parents should still be on alert. Most of the time, people with those symptoms get better, but not always. We've seen that in the unexpected death of a little boy in Fremont and in the deaths of East Kentwood High School sophomore Billy Joe Green III and 11 year old Ashley Racine of Hastings.
"Generally we would see this in the 60 and older group that might have weakage of their immune system, to have children getting this and staying stick with it is uncommon," says Dr. Tammy Born, of the Born Preventive Health Care Clinic.
Many people are turning to their family doctor for advice. Symptoms to watch for include high fever, altered mental state, neck soreness, bleeding problems, breathing difficulty and severe headaches.
Dr. Born says preventive moves like vitamins, lots of water and plenty of sleep can help.
"The best recommendation I think is don't wait so long. If your child is sick more than two days, get them into a doctor and make sure it's just a flu virus and that is hasn't progressed," says Dr. Born.
Information on testing and treatment of the flu is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
For more information:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5103.pdf
I live here ,, in Kentwood , all four of my kids last week , had HIGH fevers , coughing , running noses , headaches , ect.. they would not even get out of bed . All of them are better now except for my two year old dd . She is still coughing but nothing serious and no more fevers .