All About Swine Flu : Symptoms,

Precautions, Treatment
Although the name 'swine flu' brings up a lot of extra fear and worry, it is
important to note that swine flu is just an influenza A H1N1 virus. The big
difference is that the current swine influenza A (H1N1) virus has components of
pig and bird influenza viruses in it, so that humans don't have any immunity to
it. That is what made it more likely that it would become a pandemic virus (have
the ability to cause a global outbreak) because it could easily spread from
person-to-person.
The Swine flu has been compared to other similar types of influenza virus in
terms of mortality: "in the US it appears that for every 1000 people who get
infected, about 40 people need admission to hospital and about one person
dies".

Swine Flu Symptoms -

Symptoms of swine flu infections can include:

* fever, which is usually high, but unlike seasonal flu, is sometimes absent
* cough
* runny nose or stuffy nose
* sore throat
* body aches
* headache
* chills
* fatigue or tiredness, which can be extreme
* diarrhea and vomiting, sometimes, but more commonly seen than with
seasonal flu

Signs of a more serious swine flu infection might include pneumonia and
respiratory failure.
Swine Flu High Risk Groups -

Swine flu high risk groups, people who are thought to be at risk for serious, life-
threatening infections, are a little different and can include:

* pregnant women
* people with chronic medical problems, such as chronic lung disease, like
asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and immunosuppression
* children and adults with obesity

Precautions to keep swine flu at bay -

The deadly Swine Flu has reached the Indian shores following the global
outbreak and now, claimed one life. However, Swine Flu is certainly one of those
diseased where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Here are five
tips for you to keep away from the pandemic.

1. Wash your hands frequently

Use the antibacterial soaps to cleanse your hands. Wash them often, for at least
15 seconds and rinse with running water.

2. Get enough sleep

Try to get 8 hours of good sleep every night to keep your immune system in top
flu-fighting shape.

3. Drink sufficient water

Drink 8 to10 glasses of water each day to flush toxins from your system and
maintain good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.

4. Boost your immune system

Keeping your body strong, nourished, and ready to fight infection is important in
flu prevention. So stick with whole grains, colorful vegetables, and vitamin-rich
fruits.

5. Keep informed

The government is taking necessary steps to prevent the pandemic and

periodically release guidelines to keep the pandemic away. Please make sure to
keep up to date on the information and act in a calm manner.

Treatment -

If a person becomes sick with swine flu, antiviral drugs can make the illness
milder and make the patient feel better quicker. For treatment, antiviral drugs
work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms). The U.S.
CDC recommends the use of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) or Relenza (zanamivir) for the
treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses; however,
the majority of people infected with the virus make a full recovery without
requiring medical attention or antiviral drugs.

Vaccination -

WHO does not expect the swine flu vaccine to be widely available until the end
of 2009, noting that current production "yield" was only about half as much as
expected and would cause timeline delays. There is also concern that countries
which produce vaccines, 70 percent of which are in Europe, may delay sending
swine flu vaccines to other countries as they may come under "tremendous
pressure to protect their own citizens first," note some experts.

Many countries are planning full blown large scale vaccination camps by the end
of the year.

H1N1: Facts On The Flu

A quick guide to the H1N1 virus and what you should do during the current
epidemic

WHAT IS H1N1

Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by a new strain of the influenza virus
type A. The strain is known as H1N1 and is the same as the one found in
seasonal flu outbreaks, except that it contains genetic material found in birds,
humans and pigs. It is now a wholly human virus

How does it spread

Flu viruses are spread through droplets that fall from your nose and mouth when
you cough and sneeze. These particles can be inhaled or transferred to others
via hard surfaces, such as door handles, phones, keyboards and remote controls

How concerned should I be

In most cases, symptoms of the virus are relatively mild. The majority who have
caught it have made a full recovery within a week, many without medical
treatment and some without knowing they were infected Laboratory-confirmed
cases of swine flu reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) show a
mortality rate of 0.4%, in line with seasonal flu. In India, there were 1,078
positive cases till Tuesday and 11 deaths, resulting in a mortality rate of 1% As
with all forms of flu, there is a chance of the virus mutating into a stronger
strain, building a resistance to antiviral medicine and causing more severe
symptoms. As yet there is no evidence to suggest this has happened

WHO ARE MOST AT RISK

Pregnant women People aged 65 and over Under-5 s And people with: Chronic
lung disease Chronic kidney disease Chronic heart disease Neurological diseases
(including motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinsons ) Lowered
immune systems Diabetes A history of being treated for asthma in the past three
years People in the above groups should seek immediate medical attention if
they display symptoms of the flu
Among certain groups, primarily those with underlying health problems, there is
an increased risk of complications. Where complications do occur, they tend to
be when the virus has entered the lungs and further infections, such as
pneumonia, occur

If I am pregnant

Pregnant women have a lower immune system, especially In the third trimester
(weeks 27-40 ). If you are pregnant and experience symptoms, immediately
contact a medical professional who can prescribe you antiviral medication

REDUCING THE RISK

Preventing the spread of germs is the most effective way of fighting the virus.
Observing basic hygiene practices will not only reduce your risk of catching flu,
but also the risk of passing it to others

If you trash it, you can kill it

Being prepared

You could establish a circle of friends who could help you if you fall ill Stock up
on paracetamol-based cold remedies Keep a thermometer handy

DO I HAVE IT

The symptoms of the illness are broadly the same as normal flu, but they can be
more severe and cause complications that are more serious

Do you have

A fever (temperature of 38 C or 100.4 F or above) And two or more of the

following symptoms

If so, you should seek medical advice immediately

IF I HAVE THE SYMPTOMS

Stay at home You can call the toll-free helpline 108 You can also visit the website
http:// mohfw.nic.in and see the swine-flu section

The established protocol is

Visit your GP If s/he thinks you are an H1N1 suspect, he will send you to the
nearest public/private hospital of your choice for a screening If the hospital
thinks you have H1N1, they will take a throat swab sample If a sample is taken,
Tamiflu will be immediately administered Serious cases could be quarantined
immediately In case you are H1N1-positive , then hospital or home quarantine
will follow Those who have been in contact with you will also be tested

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Paracetamol

Most people will respond well to

plenty of rest and paracetamolbased remedies. These should
help reduce body temperature
and alleviate symptoms

Antivirus

The WHO has recommended only Tamiflu as the drug for treatment. Tamiflu is
being dispensed to anyone with symptoms suggestive of swine flu. It is not a
cure, but may shorten the duration of illness, reduce the risk of complications
such as pneumonia, and make you less contagious if taken within 48 hours of
the onset of symptoms. Antivirals are new medicines that dont kill viruses, but
keep them from multiplying. Flu viruses are known to die within a week

Antibiotics

These have no effect on the virus that is responsible for swine flu but may be
prescribed if you develop a secondary bacterial infection, like severe tonsillitis or
a chest infection

Vaccine

Globally, two vaccines are in the pipeline and are in the final stages of testing.
They should be ready toward the end of 2009, but bulk orders have already been
placed by the United States and Europe. Union health minister Ghulam Nabi
Azad has promised an indigenous vaccine by January 2010

SOME FAQS

What should I do if I am in contact with someone who has swine flu

Carry on as normal, unless you have symptoms. If you develop symptoms within
7 days of the contact, see a doctor

Should I go to work if I live with someone with swine flu

Yes, but if you develop symptoms go see a doctor

After swine flu, when should I go back to work or school

Kasturba Hospital keeps adults for 5 days after they first develop symptoms.
Children are usually told to wait for 7 to 10 days after the symptoms begin.
Usually, a person should wait for 7 to 10 days to recover. You should stay away
from work or school until the majority of your symptoms have subsided

Can I get swine flu twice

Once you have had a virus, your body develops an immunity to it, so unless
there is a significant mutation of swine flu you should not get it again

When will this pandemic end

It is impossible to predict, but from past experiences the pandemic is likely to

continue for 6 to 12 months, after which the virus will circulate as any seasonal
flu unless it mutates

Donot panic from swine flu

Hi friends i read an article in Times of India on 12-8-09 . I really find it very usefull, which i want to
share here.

5 REASONS NOT TO PANIC:-

The world has learnt a lot about swine flu — much more than was known about previous pandemics,
and much more rapidly. And technology allows instant sharing across the globe. Based on worldwide
experience documented by scientists, here are 5 solid reasons why you should not panic.

1 Low Fatality :-

Out of over 2 lakh cases worldwide, the number of deaths is just short of 1,900, or, less than 1%.
WHO says many countries are no longer recording confirmed cases.Actual number of cases might
run into many more which would bring down the number of people dying of swine flu to much lower
than 1%. Many of the deaths are also due to underlying conditions or complications. In short, swine
flu is not a killer disease like TB (death rate 3.5%) or respiratory diseases (death rate 11%). There is
more likelihood of death in a traffic accident (1.8%) or a fire (1.4%) than by catching swine flu

2 ModerateSymptoms :-

Fear of suffering is next only to fear of death. Swine flu causes aches, fever, sore throat, cough, runny
nose and in some cases vomiting. All this will make you (and your family) pretty miserable if you do
get infected. But it is no different from having a severe case of common flu or cold. And, the
symptoms can be further reduced by taking (under doctor’s guidance!) suitable painkillers and
analgesics. Compare this to the enormous suffering and pain caused by other diseases like malaria or
cancer or a stroke

3 Short Duration :-

|The illness lasts up to a week in most cases. In some cases it may be shorter. It won’t haunt you for a
month or two like jaundice or typhoid. For this week you will suffer some isolation, but mainly you
will be resting throughout, and having lots of fluids. No injections, no drips, no constant testing.
Tamiflu is there, but studies show it only reduces the duration by one to two days

4 Complete Recovery :-

After the fever goes away on its own, you will feel weak for a few days — then back to normal. There
are no lingering effects, no scars, no slow road to recovery. No future complication — in fact, you
would have strengthened your immunity to the flu. You can start interacting with others within 24
hours

5 Panic creates problems :-

If you panic, rush around, crowd hospitals at the slightest sneeze, you might end up increasing the
chances of actually getting swine flu. Besides, you will be unnecessarily choking the stretched
medical system. Swine flu is a disease, not the end of the world. Treat it with respect and deal with it.