flu mist and party

[pollyanna]

I went to my Sister's house yesterday for a halloween party. One of the other parents was talking about how her children got their flu vac(flu mist) just that morning. The dr. didn't tell her it was a live virus. My sis and I don't always agree but on the flu vax we do.
They weren't their for long, but what can I do to help my son just he ends up with the flu?

Pollyanna

[Ophelia]

I'm just guessing on this, not sure if there has been any research done, but it's possible that it would take a day or two for the virus to propogate in the host, so if your child was exposed on the same day, it may have been too early anyways to shed the virus.

Regardless, if you do feel your child is getting the flu you can do the usual immune boosting. I like supplements such as Vit C/Sodium Ascorbate and Elderberry (Sambucol).

[neptunemama]

Another reason not to panic. The flu mist does contain a live virus. However, during the manufacturing process, the flu virus is grown in a cold temperature environment (a cold adapted virus). Unlike the rest of your body which is roughly 98.6 degrees, your nasal passages are several degrees cooler than that (90-92 degrees I believe). And since that's where the virus is most likely to enter, and why the flu mist is given via the nose, the virus is grown and forced to replicate at a temp. much lower than regular body temp. It can't replicate at regular body temp, it dies. So the odds of it being able to cause the flu are quite low b/c the higher temp of the body will destroy the virus. Even if your children were exposed to the virus, their body will very likely kill it off.

[momto l&a]

Kids who receive FluMist can shed for 3 weeks.