Swine Flu – H1N1
Causes of Swine Flu
Swine flu is
contagious, and it spreads in the same way as the seasonal flu. When people who
have it cough or sneeze, they spray tiny
drops of the virus into the air. If you come in contact with these drops or
touch a surface (such as a doorknob or sink) that an infected person has
recently touched, you can catch H1N1 swine flu.
Despite the name,
you can't catch swine flu from eating bacon, ham, or any other pork product.
People who have
swine flu can be contagious one day before they have any symptoms, and as many
as 7 days after they get sick. Kids can be contagious for as long as 10 days.
Most symptoms are
the same as seasonal flu. They can include:
·
cough
·
fever
·
sore throat
·
stuffy or runny nose
·
body aches
·
headache
·
chills
·
fatigue
Like seasonal flu,
swine flu can lead to more serious complications, including pneumonia and respiratory failure. And it
can make conditions like diabetes or asthma worse. If you have symptoms like shortness of breath, severe vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, or confusion, call your doctor.
It's hard to tell
whether you have swine flu or seasonal flu, because most symptoms are the same.
People with swine flu may be more likely to feel nauseous and throw up than
people who have seasonal flu. But a lab test is the only way to know for sure.
Even a rapid flu test you can get in your doctor's
office won't tell you for sure.
Tests for Swine Flu continued...
To test for swine
flu, your doctor takes a sample from your nose or throat. You may not need to
be tested. The CDC says the people who need to be tested are those in the hospital
or those at high risk for getting life-threatening problems from the flu, such
as:
·
Children under 5 years old
·
People 65 or older
·
Children and teens (under age 18) who are getting
long-term aspirintherapy,
and who might be at risk for Reye's syndrome after being infected with swine flu. Reye's syndrome is a
life-threatening illness linked to aspirin use in children.
·
Adults and children who have chronic lung, heart, liver, blood, nervous system, neuromuscular, or
metabolic problems
·
Adults and children who have suppressed immune systems (including those
who take medications to suppress their immune
systems or who have HIV)
·
People in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
How Is Swine Flu Treated?
Some of the same
antiviral drugs that are used to treat seasonal flu also work against H1N1
swine flu. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir(Relenza)
seem to work best, although some kinds of swine flu are resistant to Tamiflu.
These drugs can
help you get over swine flu faster. They can also help keep it from being too
severe. They work best when taken within 48 hours of the first flu symptoms, but they can help when taken later.
Antibiotics won't
help, because flu is caused by a virus, not bacteria.
Over-the-counter
pain remedies and cold and flu medications can help relieve aches, pains,
and fever. Don't give aspirin to children
under age 18 because of the risk for Reye’s syndrome. Check to make sure that
over-the-counter cold medications do not have aspirin before giving them to
children.
Vaccine for Swine Flu
The same flu
vaccine that protects against seasonal flu also protects against the H1N1 swine
flu strain. You can get it as a shot or as a nasal spray. Either way, it
"teaches" your immune system to attack the real virus.
Besides a flu shot,
there are other things you can do to stay healthy:
·
Wash your hands throughout the day with soap and water. Sing the
"Happy Birthday" song twice to make sure you've washed long enough.
Or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
·
Avoid people who are sick.
