Swine Flu: Facts You Should Know

Swine Influenza is a respiratory illness that caused by type Influenza virus on pigs THEN WITH TIME this virus mutated to cause a human illness.

The Symptoms
The symptoms are the same as the usual human flu, and it usually suspected when ever infections in patients presenting with febrile respiratory illness. Other symptoms are vomiting diarrhea ,headache and body aches, sore throat, stuffy nose.

Symptoms SHOULD appear within (incubation period )24-48 hours after the person catches the flu.

How can human get infected with it? (route of transmission)
The spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Also when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs from a patient sneeze droplet for example and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

How long is the infected person contagious?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop. And as long as that person has the symptoms ,he or she is contagious, and that is usually 7 to 10 days.

The diagnosis

WHENEVER YOU EXPERIENCE any of the symptoms especially if there is fever and cough and /or shortness of breath see your doctor who might take a respiratory specimen like a throat swab or a sputum if any . This specimen NEED to be taken within the first four to five days. The specimen would be sent to a lab, which in the USA would be a CDC lab.


MEDICATIONS
 
It is very important to call your doctor if you think you have the flu. Prescription anti-viral drugs such as TamiFlu or Relenza can be called in by your doctor. These antiviral medication are reducing the virus multiplication so they just make the disease milder and make your body recover faster .they work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

THESE MEDICATION SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO THE FOLLOWING patients:

• Exceptionally ill with flu-like symptoms
• Chronically ill
• Immune-suppressed
• Quite elderly
• Or have a very young child, under age 2

Prevention

• Wash your hand
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth .
• Take care of your self, for example: get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.