Hmrecovery.org - Health Care Information

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.

Studies conducted on the swine flu or H1N1 virus epidemic that recently struck various parts of the world, particularly US has shown that obesity may aggravate swine flu complications. Though the studies have not been concluded, doctors have been alerted to treat obese patients more aggressively, if required by doubling the dose of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) to prevent life threatening complications from the swine flu.

The startling trend of a higher risk of swine flu complications among obese was noticed by the researchers from the University of Michigan Medical Center. The researchers studied 10 swine flu patients admitted to the hospital who were suffering from severe swine flu complications. It was found that nine out of the 10 patients were obese while seven of these patients were morbidly obese with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40.

These patients suffered from serious complications like multiple organ failure, severe respiratory distress syndrome, blood clots in the lungs and kidney failure. While three out of the ten patients have died, others have reportedly been unable to recover from these conditions.

The results of the study are striking because so far the researchers have never found a link between seasonal flu complications and obesity. Experts are also worried that if obesity is indeed a risk factor than a high percentage of the population is at a greater risk since obesity affects millions of people across the world.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States is considering putting obese patients at high priority for swine flu treatment along with other high-risk patients. When the swine flu vaccine becomes available, obese people would be given priority along with other high-risk patients.

While some doctors believe that people with morbid obesity are more severely affected by swine flu complications others believe that overweight people are also adversely affected by swine flu. Some health officials say that the trend may be because overweight people are more likely to suffer from asthma and other conditions that make them more susceptible. Experts are still analyzing the statistics and have not yet confirmed the link between obesity and swine flu complications.

With number of swine flu infected people rising with each day, Tamiflu has proved like a medical boon for swine flu patients. In absence of swine flu vaccine, Tamiflu, an antiviral medication pill is most effective swine flu treatment so far. Relenza is another effective treatment for swine flu but it should be taken early enough to get benefit.

But just with a fear of getting swine flu virus attack, you or me should not just go out and start taking tamiflu. Get proper check up done for all swine flu symptoms.

Typical Swine flu symptoms include:

1. Sudden High fever (around 105 or above)
2. Vomiting
3. Stomach upset
4. Sudden Cough
5. Runny nose and sneezing
6. Muscle and joint pain
7. Appetite loss

Swine flu is basically a highly contagious respiratory disease which creates influenza in pigs. Swine flu is an influenza A H1N1 virus. Currently only two anti-viral drugs are recognized as being effective Swine Flu drugs - Tamiflu and Relenza. With sudden out break and high level of infection, FDA authorizes emergency use of Tamiflu and Relenza to Treat Swine Flu. Both of Tamiflu and Relenza have been prescribed for swine flu. Although quite effective in preventing the flu, both of them can not be used as substitute to vaccine. Symptoms of swine flu infection include:

• High Fever
• Body Ache
• Sore throat and cough
• Diarrhea and Vomiting
• Headache
• Cough

Some serious and extreme cases of swine flu infections can include respiratory failure too. If you find any of the swine flu symptoms affecting you, you should immediately see a doctor who can carry out further testing to verify if it is actually a swine flu infection. Accordingly, doctor will prescribe you Tamiflu or Relenza for swine flu prevention depending on your age and how will you prefer to take it.