Minerva B.

Rosete III-Masikap

T. Jude Health

Source: http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200404/23/images/sa.jpg&imgre furl=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200404/23/eng20040423_141292.shtml&usg=__Fuvki47dAmRR-LokttMUcNhwuA=&h=270&w=400&sz=19&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=imPj2PIZ53s7M:&tbnh=147&tbnw=216&ei=Pxr0TYnlMIK2vwPvuZXABg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpictures%2Bof%2Bp eople%2Bwith%2Bsars%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1228%26bih%3D598%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divns &itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=727&vpy=85&dur=2316&hovh=183&hovw=272&tx=113&ty=130&page=1&ndsp=15&ved=1t:4 29,r:3,s:0&biw=1228&bih=598 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a serious form of pneumonia, caused by a virus isolated in 2003. Infection with the SARS virus results in acute respiratory distress (severe breathing diffculty) and sometimes death. It is a dramatic example of how quickly world travel can spread a disease. It is also an example of how quickly a networked health system can respond to an emerging threat. Background Information: This contagious respiratory infection was first described on Feb. 26, 2003. SARS was identified as a new disease by World Health Organization (WHO) physician Dr. Carlo Urbani. He diagnosed it in a 48-yearold businessman who had traveled from the Guangdong province of China, through Hong Kong, to Hanoi, Vietnam. The businessman died from the illness. Dr.Urbani subsequently died from SARS on March 29, 2003, at the age of 46. In the meantime, SARS was spreading, and within 6 weeks of its discovery, it had infected thousands of people around the world, including people in Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, and North and South America. Schools had closed throughout Hong Kong and Singapore. National economies were affected. The WHO had identified SARS as a global health threat, and issued an unprecedented travel advisory. Daily WHO updates tracked the spread of SARS seven days a week. It wasn't clear whether SARS would become a global pandemic, or would settle into a less aggressive pattern. The rapid, global public health response helped to stem the spread of the virus, and by June 2003, the epidemic had subsided to the degree that on June 7 the WHO backed off from its daily reports. Nevertheless,

even as the number of new cases dwindled, and travel advisories began to be lifted, the sober truth remained: every new case had the potential to spark another outbreak. SARS appears to be here to stay, and to have changed the way that the world responds to infectious diseases in the era of widespread international travel. Causes, incidence, and risk factors SARS is caused by a member of the coronavirus family (the same family that can cause the common cold). When someone with SARS coughs or sneezes, infected droplets spray into the air. You can catch SARS if you breathe in or touch these particles. The SARS virus may live on hands, tissues, and other surfaces for up to 6 hours in these droplets and up to 3 hours after the droplets have dried. While droplet transmission through close contact was responsible for most of the early cases of SARS, evidence began to mount that SARS might also spread by hands and other objects the droplets had touched. Airborne transmission was a real possibility in some cases. Live virus had even been found in the stool of people with SARS, where it has been shown to live for up to four days. And the virus may be able to live for months or years when the temperature is below freezing. With other coronaviruses, re-infection (becoming infected and falling ill again) is common. Preliminary reports suggest that this may also be the case with SARS. Symptoms usually occur about 2 to 10 days after coming in contact with the virus, although there have been some cases where the illness started considerably sooner or later. Those with active symptoms of illness are clearly contagious, but it is not known how long a person may be contagious before or after symptoms are present. Symptoms The hallmark symptoms are fever greater than 100.4 degrees F (38.0 degrees C) and cough, difficulty in breathing, or other respiratory symptoms. Symptoms in the order of how commonly they appeared have included:

y y y y y

Fever Chills and shaking Muscle aches Cough Headache

Less common symptoms include (also in order):

y y y y y

Dizziness Productive cough (sputum) Sore throat Runny nose Nausea and vomiting

Diarrhea

Signs and tests Your health care provider may hear abnormal lung sounds while listening to the chest with a stethoscope. In most persons with SARS, worsening chest x-ray or chest CT changes show the presence of pneumonia or respiratory distress syndrome. Tests used to diagnose SARS might include:

y y

Blood clotting tests Blood chemistries

y y y y y

ALT and CPK are sometimes elevated. LDH levels are often elevated. Sodium and potassium are sometimes low.

Chest x-ray or chest CT scan Complete blood count (CBC)

y y y

White blood cell (WBC) count may be low. Lymphocyte count may be low. Platelet count may be low.

Much attention was given early in the outbreak to developing a quick, sensitive test for SARS. Specific tests include the PCR test for SARS virus, antibody tests for SARS, and direct SARS virus isolation. All current tests have some limitations. Treatment Persons suspected of having SARS should be evaluated immediately by a health care provider, and hospitalized under isolation if they meet the definition of a suspected or probable case. Treatment may include:

y y y y

Antibiotics to treat bacterial causes of atypical pneumonia Antiviral medications High doses of steroids to reduce lung inflammation Oxygen, breathing support (mechanical ventilation), or chest physiotherapy

In some serious cases, blood serum from people who have already recovered from SARS has been given. There is no strong evidence that these treatments work well. Expectations (prognosis)

As the first wave of SARS began to subside, the death rate proved to have been about 14 or 15 percent of those diagnosed. In people over age 65, the death rate was higher than 50 percent. Many more were sick enough to require mechanical ventilation. And more still were sick enough to require hospitalization in intensive care units.Intensive public health policies are proving to be effective in controlling outbreaks. Many nations have stopped the epidemic within their own countries. All nations mustbe vigilant, however, to keep this disease under control. Viruses in the coronavirus family are known for their ability to change (mutate) in order to better spread among humans. Complications

y y y

Respiratory failure Liver failure Heart failure

Calling your health care provider Call your health care provider if you suspect you or someone you have had close contact with has SARS. Prevention Reducing your contact with someone with SARS lowers the risk for the disease. Ways to do this may include limiting travel to locations where there is an uncontrolled outbreak. When possible, avoid direct contact with persons who have SARS for at least 10 days after their fever and other symptoms are gone. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says hand hygiene is the most important part of SARS prevention. This might include hand washing or cleaning hands with an alcohol-based instant hand sanitizer. Persons should be taught to cover the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing. Respiratory secretions should be considered infectious, which means no sharing of food, drink, or utensils. Commonly touched surfaces can be cleaned with an EPA approved disinfectant. In some situations, appropriate masks and goggles may be useful for preventing spread of the disease. Gloves might be used in handling potentially infectious secretions. Source:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004460/

Source: http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=http://images.publicradio.org/content/2009/06/11/20090611_flu_ki ds_33.jpg&imgrefurl=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/06/11/flu_pandemic/&usg=__RwQiee Va9mikJIzaHLpCuu0sdM=&h=410&w=650&sz=102&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=Ct9ZTTjtHzF1TM:&tbnh=146&tbn w=254&ei=Ghz0TdaKJ4WGuQPCO3DBg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpictures%2Bof%2Bpeople%2Bwith%2Bflu%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1228%26bih%3D 598%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=366&vpy=255&dur=4196&hovh=177&hovw=282&tx=125&ty=109&page =1&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0&biw=1228&bih=598 Flu The flu is a contagious infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by the influenza virus. Causes In temperate climates, influenza A usually arrives between early winter and early spring. Influenza B can appear at any time of the year. The most common way to catch the flu is by breathing in droplets from coughs or sneezes. Less often, it is spread when you touch a surface such as a faucet handle or phone that has the virus on it, and then touch your own mouth, nose, or eyes. Symptoms appear 1 - 7 days later (usually within 2 - 3 days). Because the flu spreads through the air and is very contagious, it often strikes a community all at once, causing an epidemic illness. This creates a cluster of school and work absences. Many students become sick within 2 or 3 weeks of the flu's arrival in a school. Tens of millions of people in the United States get the flu each year. Most get better within a week or two, but thousands become sick enough to be hospitalized. About 36,000 people die each year from complications of the flu. Sometimes people confuse colds and flu, which share some of the same symptoms and typically occur at the same time of the year. However, the two diseases are very different. Most people get a cold several times each year, and the flu only once every few years.

People often use the term "stomach flu" to describe a viral illness where vomiting or diarrhea is the main symptom. This is incorrect, as the stomach symptoms are not caused by the flu virus. Flu infections are primarily respiratory infections. Symptoms The flu usually begins abruptly, with a fever between 102 and 106 F. (An adult typically has a lower fever than a child.) The fever usually lasts for a day or two, but can last 5 days. Other common symptoms include:

y y y y y y y y

Body aches Chills Dizziness Flushed face Headache Lack of energy Nausea Vomiting

Somewhere between day 2 and day 4 of the illness, the "whole body" symptoms begin to subside, and respiratory symptoms begin to increase. The most prominent of the respiratory symptoms is usually a dry, hacking cough. Most people also develop a sore throat and headache. Runny nose (nasal discharge) and sneezing are common. These symptoms (except the cough) usually disappear within 4 - 7 days. Sometimes, the fever returns. The cough and tiredness usually last for weeks after the rest of the illness is over. Other symptoms may include:

y y y y y

Loss of appetite Muscle aches and stiffness Stuffy, congested nose Sweating Worsening of underlying illness, such as asthma or heart failure

Exams and Tests The evaluation of an individual with flu symptoms should include a thorough physical exam and, in cases where pneumonia is suspected, a chest x-ray.

Additional blood work may be needed. They may include a complete blood count, blood cultures, and sputum cultures. The most common method for diagnosing the flu is an antigen detection test, which is done by swabbing the nose and throat, then sending a sample to the laboratory for testing. The results of these tests can be available rapidly, and can help decide if specific treatment is appropriate. However, when flu is widespread in the community the diagnosis can often be made by simply identifying symptoms without further testing. Treatment If you have mild illness and are not at high risk, take these steps:

y y y y y y

Rest Take medicines that relieve symptoms and help you rest Drink plenty of liquids Avoid aspirin (especially teens and children) Avoid alcohol and tobacco Avoid antibiotics (unless necessary for another illness)

Most people who get seasonal flu will likely recover without needing medical care. Doctors, however, can prescribe antiviral drugs to treat people who become very sick with the flu or who are at high risk for flu complications. Ask your provider if you are high risk when you receive your flu immunization. The main benefit of antiviral drugs is that they can shorten the time you have symptoms by about one day, but only if you start taking the medicine within 48 hours of when your symptoms began. If you need treatment, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that your doctor give you zanamivir (Relenza) or osteltamivir (Tamiflu). Children who are at risk of developing a severe case of the flu should also contact their provider for antiviral medication. Outlook (Prognosis) Anyone at any age can have serious complications from the flu, but those at highest risk include:

y y y y y

People over age 50 Children between 6 months and 2 years Women more than 3 months pregnant during the flu season Anyone living in a long-term care facility Anyone with chronic heart, lung, or kidney conditions, diabetes, or a weakened immune system

In most individuals who are otherwise healthy, the flu goes away within 7 to 10 days.

Possible Complications Possible complications, especially for those at high risk, include:

y y y y y

Pneumonia Encephalitis (infection of the brain) Bronchitis Sinus infections Ear infections

When to Contact a Medical Professional Call your health care provider if someone in a high-risk category develops symptoms of the flu, or if your illness seems severe. Prevention A yearly vaccine is recommended for children older than 6 months, adolescents, and adults. The vaccine is available as a flu shot or a nasal spray-type flu vaccine. For specific recommendations, see influenza vaccine. Source: http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/the-flu/overview.html

AH1N1 virus Source: http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/8679/ah1n1virus.jpg&imgrefu rl=http://cheftonio.blogspot.com/2009/06/dlsu-taft-manila-student-positive-with.html&usg=__o2e3P0N_TMwXMGrpJeVhH7zldY=&h=300&w=400&sz=28&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=EgH5S9acRPZ4IM:&tbn h=138&tbnw=176&ei=4B70TeDcH4OKuAPz_MS9Bg&prev=/search%3Fq%3DAH1N1%2Bvirus%26hl%3Den%26bi w%3D1228%26bih%3D598%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=133&vpy=315&dur=394&hovh=160&hovw=210&t x=154&ty=75&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:0

Source: http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=http://english.vovnews.vn/avatar.aspx%3FID%3D84524%26at%3D 0%26ts%3D306%26lm%3D633831617434830000&imgrefurl=http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/247-AH1N1patients-discharged-fromhospital/20097/105860.vov&usg=__dqmjwY_vlGg4MMnO3F86lZO3JgM=&h=230&w=306&sz=55&hl=en&start=0 &zoom=1&tbnid=o2Ya_zeEY-fs-M:&tbnh=144&tbnw=195&ei=4iD0TazkFoeyvwODMHEBg&prev=/search%3Fq%3DAH1N1%2Bpatients%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1228%26bih%3D598%26tbm%3Disch &itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=142&vpy=210&dur=2994&hovh=183&hovw=243&tx=88&ty=128&page=1&ndsp=15&ved=1t: 429,r:10,s:0&biw=1228&bih=598 AH1H1 Information on influenza virus A(H1N1) A new strain of influenza virus A (H1N1) has been causing outbreaks of flu-like

illness in humans, first in Mexico and the USA and then in several other countries. Similar to normal flu, people may experience a fever accompanied by one or more of: cough, sore throat, headache and muscle aches. IHU would like to inform its students and staff of precautionary measures in order to avoid catching or spreading the flu. How does flu spread? Influenza (flu) virus A (H1N1), just as any flu virus, is spread by small droplets in the breath of the infected person which can be inhaled by others or land on objects such as door handles. The virus survives in this form for several hours. You can catch flu by:

y y

Being near an infected person when they cough or sneeze Touching, e.g. shaking hands with, an infected person and then touching your face (mouth or eyes) without washing your hands

Touching objects such as door handles, lift buttons, stair rails, etc., and then touching your face without washing your hands.

How to avoid contracting/spreading flu-like infection:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the bin after you use it.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Source: http://www.ihu.edu.gr/index.php/en/students/health/info-on-influenza-virus-ah1n1.html

All you must know about swine flu (AH1N1) by S. C. What is swine influenza? Swine influenza (swine flu) is an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract in pigs, caused by type A influenza virus. The mortality rate is low in pigs and recovery usually occurs within 710 days. Swine-origin influenza viruses also occur in wild birds, poultry, horses and humans, but interspecies transmission is considered a rare event. So far three influenza type A virus subtypes have been found in pigs: H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2. Can swine influenza infect humans? Yes. Human infections with swine influenza have been detected occasionally since the late 1950s usually in persons with direct exposure to pigs (e.g. people working in pig farms, etc.). In Europe, since 1958 a total of 17 cases have been reported. In the US in 1976, an outbreak of swine influenza virus infections in humans was detected among recruits in a military camp in Fort Dix, New Jersey. A link to pigs was presumed but never established. Instead there was extensive human-to-human transmission, with over 200 infections resulting in

12 hospitalisations and one death. What are the symptoms of swine influenza in humans? Symptoms of swine influenza in humans are usually similar to regular human seasonal influenza symptoms, involving fever of sudden onset and respiratory symptoms; diarrhoea might also occur. However, severe complications could occur even in normally healthy persons who become infected with the virus. How do humans become infected? Most commonly, swine influenza is transmitted through direct contact or close proximity with pigs. Secondary cases following human-to-human transmission have been reported in the past but they have been very rare. Can swine flu be transmitted to humans by eating pork and pork products? No. The swine influenza virus is not transmitted by eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products. The swine influenza virus is killed by cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160F/70C. To date, there is no epidemiological evidence to suggest that the virus could be transmitted through eating contaminated pork or pork Is there a vaccine against swine influenza? Yes, there is a vaccine available for pigs against swine influenza, but there is no vaccine to protect humans from swine influenza (but see Q7, below). Is the seasonal influenza vaccine effective against swine influenza? There are certain similarities between the H1N1 human influenza viruses (covered by the seasonal vaccine) and the new H1N1 swine influenza viruses so one can not rule out some cross-protection. However, investigations need to be undertaken to determine whether this is the case. Those investigations are under way, but will take quite some time. Can swine influenza in humans be treated? Most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to antiviral medications such as neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir) and older antiviral drugs (amantadanes). The virus that is now being detected is susceptible to neuraminidase inhibitors but resistant to amantadanes. Why does the current situation present a new problem? The novel influenza virus (human swine influenza A(H1N1)) that has now been found contains genes from pig, bird and human influenza viruses, in a combination that has never been observed before anywhere in the world. In addition there is every indication that this virus has been transmitting from human to human and the resulting illnesses have been severe in a substantial number of cases in Mexico. Source: http://www.teatronaturale.com/article/471.html