Kids with H1N1 Camp Out at Hospital

(CBS)  Since April, 44 people in Texas have died from the H1N1 virus. Now, some parts of the state are being overrun by people who have it. And one hospital in Austin has taken an unusual step to treat this new wave of patients.

CBS News correspondent Don Teague reports that the Dell Children's Medical Center has been bombarded with patients complaining of flu-like symptoms. So to deal with the influx, the hospital has set up tents outside.

Teague reports doctors at the hospital are seeing more than 200 people a day for flu symptoms alone.

CBSNews.com Special Report: H1N1

Dr. Pat Crocker, chief of Emergency Medicine at Dell Children's Medical Center, said the tent triage area is used to treat "very low acuity patients." He said the tent serves as a place where people can get the evaluation and care that they need.

Patients, Teague added, are checked for symptoms, tested for flu and treated with Tamiflu, if necessary. The tent takes pressure off the primary emergency room, and helps get help faster for kids with flu symptoms, Teague said.

The tents were initially set up, Teague reported, because computer models indicated their flu situation was about to get worse.

Crocker added on "The Early Show" the hospital is concerned about the volume of patients.

"We can scale this up," he said. "But I think we're just at the very front of this. And we'll probably take four weeks to peak."

This giant influx of patients, Crocker said, aren't from panic, but rather legitimate health concerns.

"We have seen a large number of patients. And most of them actually meet the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) criteria for treatment and evaluation," he said.

However, Crocker said many of the people who are coming to the hospital for flu symptoms by and large do not require a hospital stay.

"The nice thing we've learned about the swine(H1N1) flu virus is it seems to be a mild to moderate flu," he said. Most people really don't even need to see a doctor. We're starting to see a very small increase in the number of flu-related hospital admissions. But it's not been with critically ill patients."

And who is getting sick?

Crocker said the influx is among children under 14 years old, but now, another demographic is being affected.

He said, "We're just starting to see a few cases in the older population."

[ZINYAKH]

PAHO/WHO is working on a Community of Practice discussing these topics. Open for all to participate. Please check out at:
http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1848&Itemid=1

[nolongersick]

I have a helpful preventative tip, regardless if you have health insurance or not. My child came home from school the other day saying that they learned to cough and sneeze into their elbow with Germy Wormie, and I was totally taken aback. I always covered with my hands. But I went to the website and now I get it, hands touch, elbows don't!! Kids can touch 300 surfaces in 1/2 hour and they hate to wash their hands. This is a simple thing that can make a huge difference.

[mskdiaz]

i want i to know what about those parents that don't have any type of health insurance for they children like myself.Right now my child is sick.I don't have any medicine and any medicaid because i apply and my appoitment is not until Dec. 23 so mean while what do i do.Just got layoff from job.Please let me know.

[mwires31]

I know exactly how you feel. I was in that same situation with my children. There should be some clinics in your area that will go on asliding scale fee. And if you have no income it should be free. One of ours is at the main public hospital.