Overview:
What’s swine flu?
Swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, is a relatively new breed of influenza virus which causes symptoms similar to normal influenza. It originated in cows but is dispersed mostly from person to person.
Swine flu made headlines in 2009 as it was first found in humans and turned into a pandemic. Pandemics are infectious diseases affecting people around the planet or on multiple continents at precisely the same time.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the H1N1 pandemic in August 2010.
Since then, the H1N1 virus was known as a normal human flu virus. It has been propagated during flu season like other strains of influenza.
The flu shot developed each year from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) usually includes a vaccination from a type of H1N1 virus.
Such as other strains of the flu, H1N1 is highly contagious, allowing it to spread rapidly from person to person. A simple sneeze can cause thousands of germs to spread throughout the air.
The best means of handling swine flu is to prevent it. Hand sanitization is crucial to stop the spread of the virus.
Staying away from infected individuals will help prevent person-to-person transmission.
Risk factors for swine flu:
When it emerged, swine flu was most frequent in children 5 decades and older and young adults.
It was unusual because most influenza virus infections are at a higher risk for complications in older adults or the very young.
Today, risk factors for getting swine flu are just like for any other breed of the flu.
You are most at risk if you invest time in an area with a high amount of individuals that are infected with swine flu.
Some individuals are at greater risk for becoming seriously ill if they are infected with swine flu. These groups include:
- Children under 5 years old
- Adults over age 65
- Individuals with compromised immune systems (Because of disease such as AIDS)
- Pregnant women
- People with chronic illnesses such as asthma, Cardiovascular Disease, diabetes mellitus, or neuromuscular disease
Causes of swine flu:
Swine flu is brought on by a strain of influenza virus which usually only infects pigs.
Unlike typhus, which can be transmitted by ticks or lice, the transmission usually occurs from person to person, not animal to person.
Swine flu is extremely contagious. The disease is spread through saliva and mucus particles. Folks may spread it :
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Touching a germ-covered surface and then touching their eyes or nose
Symptoms:
The symptoms of swine flu are very similar to those of standard flu.
They include:
- Chills
- Fever
- Coughing
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
Diagnosing swine flu:
Your physician can make a diagnosis by sampling fluid from your body. To take a sample, your doctor or a nurse may swab your neck or nose.
The swab will be analyzed using various genetic and laboratory techniques to identify the specific type of virus.
Treatments:
Most cases of swine influenza do not require drugs for treatment. You do not need to see a doctor unless you’re at risk for developing medical complications from the flu.
You should concentrate on relieving your symptoms and preventing the spread of this H1N1 to other men and women.
Two antiviral drugs are recommended for treating swine flu: the oral drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).
Because flu viruses can develop resistance to these drugs, they are often reserved for people who are at high risk for complications from the flu.
People who are otherwise generally healthy and get swine flu will have the ability to fight the disease by themselves.
Swine flu symptom relief:
Strategies for managing the symptoms of swine flu are like the routine flu:
- Get Lots of rest. This will help your immune system concentrate on fighting the disease.
- Drink a lot of water and other liquids to avoid dehydration. Soup and clear juices will help replenish your body of lost nutrients.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers for symptoms such as headache and sore throat.
Outlook for swine influenza:
Severe cases of this flu can be deadly. Most fatal cases occur in those with underlying chronic health conditions, such as HIV or AIDS.
Nearly all individuals with swine flu recover and may expect a normal life expectancy.
Preventing Allergic flu:
The best way to prevent parasitic flu is to get a yearly influenza vaccination. Other easy ways to prevent this flu include:
- Not touching your nose, mouth, or eyes (The virus can survive on surfaces such as phones and tabletops.)
- Frequently washing your hand with soap or hand sanitizer
- Staying home from school or work if you’re ill
- Preventing large parties when swine flu is in season
It’s important to follow some public health recommendations concerning school closures or avoiding audiences during the flu season.
These recommendations may come from the CDC, WHO, National Institutes of Health, or other political public health institutions.
Flu season shifts from year to year, but in the United States, it normally starts in October and runs until as late as May.
It usually peaks in January, although it’s likely to get influenza any time of year.
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