What is Swine Flu
H1N1 or swine flu got into attention in year 2009 when the officials declared it pandemic (contagious disease). Pandemic diseases have greatly affected individuals around the globe. H1N1, till date, has been reported in around seventy four countries throughout the world. Clearly, H1N1 is extremely contagious, and can transmit from one person to another, quickly. Simple sneeze of an affected individual causes countless of germs that spread by means of air. Moreover, the virus tends to linger on surface areas and tables waiting for a potent host.
Nasal spray vaccines can greatly help us prevent the contagious disease; however the ideal solution to deal with it is the prevention!
- Avoid direct contact with an infected individual.
- Use hand sanitization to prevent the virus transmission.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
The symptoms of swine flu in human are more or less similar to those of regular influenza:
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Fatigue.
- Chills.
- Headache.
- Body aches,
- Stuffy or runny nose.
- Sore throat.
- Cough.
Its signs develop after 2-3 days of virus exposure and persist for a week approximately.
What causes swine flu?
The viruses of influenza infect our cells that line the lungs, throat and nose. It enters the body in case you accidentally breathe in contaminated droplets, furthermore, the live virus can also be transferred through contaminated surface. Clearly, one cannot get infected with swine flu by consuming pork.
What are the risk factors of swine flu?
Veterinarians and swine farmers are more likely to get infected due their direct contact with pigs. Traveling to a place where people have swine flu, or spending time in crowded places, puts you at a risk of becoming infected.
What are the possible complications of swine flu?
- Respiratory failure.
- Neurological symptoms.
- Pneumonia.
- Chronic conditions can worsen, for example asthma, diabetes and heart diseases.
How is swine flu diagnosed?
The doctor will need details regarding your traveling history of the past few days; he will also ask you to discuss all your symptoms. Moreover, using a swab, he will test the mucus from your throat or nose in order to diagnose swine flu.
How is swine flu treated?
The doctor will suggest medications in order to relieve your symptoms. However, in case of chronic respiratory disease, he is more likely to prescribe some further medications.
Few antiviral medicines your doctor can advice for reducing your symptom’s severity include:
- Zanamivir (relenza)
- Oseltamivir (tamiflu).
Prevention:
Certain measures can greatly help preventing HINI, whilst control its spread:
- Frequently wash your hands.
- If you are sick, stay back home.
- Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.
- Avoid places of heavy crows.
- In case someone from your family has swine flu, avoid using his or her personal things such as towel, glass and cloths etc.
- In case you are suffering from swine flu, avoid meeting friends.
- Avoid visiting places and areas where the disease is reported to be common.
By : Natural Health News
