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Swine 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.

There have been various viruses over the ages that have circulated among humans. Over time, humans have developed immunity for many such viruses. However, the new influenza A (H1N1) virus is unique in the sense that it is markedly different from the current crop of human seasonal influenza viruses and those that circulated previously.

Easy Transmission
Its person-to-person transmission feature means that it can spread easily like the seasonal flu; almost like wildfire which is the case in the current scenario. If a person is exposed to the infected droplets that are expelled by an infected person through coughing and sneezing, that person is liable to contract influenza A (H1N1). The fact, that it can spread so easily and that people have no immunity against this virus, has prompted the World Health Organization to declare it a pandemic.

Symptoms and contacting the Doctor
It has flu like symptoms that include fever, joint and muscle pain, runny nose, sore throat, cough, sneezing, and at times these symptoms are accompanied by bouts of diarrhea and vomiting. If you have gone through the various leaflets, information brochures etc. distributed by the health department you will come to realize that the milder symptoms can be treated at home and people have recovered. However, there are times when you should seek medical help.

If you are suffering from shortness of breath or other respiratory conditions; apart from other flu like symptoms it would be a good idea to get in touch with your doctor. Moreover, if the fever refuses to go away after three days or so, then medical consultation becomes all the more imperative. If your child is suffering from flu like symptoms then watch out for indications like continuous fever, seizures, or labored breathing. If the child displays such signs, seek immediate medical attention for the child.