New Web Tools Available to Self-Assess H1N1 and Need for Medical Care

Tis the season—flu season, that is—and because of the emergence of the H1N1virus, this season has the potential to be worse than usual, with many more people getting sick, being hospitalized and dying than during a regular flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is already reporting geographically widespread flu activity in twenty-seven states, which is due primarily to the large number of H1N1 flu cases. And while the vast majority of people who have contracted H1N1 have recovered without needing medical treatment, the CDC is reporting 16,174 hospitalizations and 1,379 deaths associated with influenza infections since August 30.

So how does a person know if they have H1N1 or whether their flu symptoms are severe enough to warrant medical treatment? Experts say to use the same judgment as during a typical flu season; not seeking medical care if you are not ill or have mild symptoms for which you would not ordinarily seek treatment. And now there are two interactive websites—one from the federal government and one developed by Microsoft Corporation and doctors at Emory University—that can help.

The government’s H1N1 Flu Self-Evaluation guide is designed to give individuals 18 and older information about what they can do to take care of themselves, prevent the spread of the flu to other members of their families, and identify the warning signs of more serious flu symptoms that require medical attention. The site poses a series of questions about whether you or another person 18 and older are experiencing fever or other flu symptoms or have any other health problems, and then issues recommendations based upon your answers. It might, for example, say that only bed rest and fluids are needed, or that you could be very sick and should call a doctor as soon as possible.

The Microsoft self-assessment tool is based on triage procedures being used at Emory University, which were based on what the CDC has determined are key risks factors for a bad flu outcome. The Microsoft tool also uses a series of questions about symptoms and underlying health to determine the need for medical attention. It is intended for use by people 12 years of age or older and also gives users the option of sharing the information gathered during the self-assessment, including gender, age, symptoms and zip codes, for public health, education and research purposes. “This can help health officials, researchers and others learn more about where symptoms may be occurring in the US,” the Web site states. The site also features links to other content, including H1N1 prevention tips.

A large insurer tested the Microsoft tool against more than 2,500 records of patient visits for flulike symptoms in Colorado, and only two people deemed low-risk were hospitalized within the following two weeks. “It reflects the best available science,” said Emory emergency medicine specialist Dr. Arthur Kellermann.

Both sites are part of an effort to keep people who aren’t sick from filling up already crowded doctor’s offices and emergency rooms. “If current estimates are correct, many emergency departments across the nation could be overwhelmed by two groups of patients—those who have H1N1 and those who believe they have H1N1,” said Angela Gardner, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. “It is going to be essential that we use every tool and service at our disposal to contain this illness, and online H1N1 self-assessment tools, such as the one offered by Microsoft, can be helpful in providing people with ways to determine whether they should seek emergency care.”

The CDC also posts lists of warning signs to seek emergency flu care at http://www.flu.gov. “One way that we can help relieve some of the burden on the states and local providers this flu season is by helping people understand what the warning signs are when it comes to the flu,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “In addition to the Self-Evaluation guide, we have also created some handy one-page information sheets called Flu Essentials that people can share with family, friends and neighbors.”