Swine Flu – Diagnosis and Advice for Pregnant Women
Friday, December 18th, 2009Swine flu has normal flu like symptoms. People suffering from swine flu, usually, experience fever, headache, runny nose, sore throat, cough, and body ache. It’s not necessary that all the swine flu symptoms need to be experienced together. A person might experience fever and any two of the other symptoms and still be diagnosed with swine flu. The virus incubation period is between 2-5 days but in some cases could stretch up to seven days.
The Diagnosis
The fact that the symptoms of swine flu resemble those of ‘ordinary flu’ means that its diagnosis assumes paramount importance. A swab test is conducted by a physician to diagnose swine flu. This swab test involves a nasopharyngeal swab. The process includes the use of Q-tip shorts that are placed towards a person’s throat through the nose. These swabs are then sent to special lab for testing purposes. To transport these swabs a special viral collection container is used.
In countries badly affected by cases of swine flu a ‘probable’ diagnosis is made, which is based on the typical symptoms revealed. This is because it becomes impractical to conduct a swab test on such a large number of suspected cases.
What advice can be given to pregnant women?
Pregnant women are more susceptible to infections, hence are quite vulnerable to swine flu also. There is absolutely no need to panic, as even if they do contract swine flu, the symptoms are liable to be mild. But, there might also be cases wherein pregnant women might develop complications as a result of swine flu. Precautions that can be taken by pregnant women in order to reduce risk of infection include strictly following swine flu related general hygiene advice. Moreover, crowded places must be avoided for personal safety.
If you are pregnant and think that you are showing swine flu like symptoms, you must contact your doctor immediately in order to start the treatment process, without wasting any time. Typically, anti-viral medications will be prescribed in such cases.