VermilioN
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 #21 Posted: 28 Dec 2010 02:07 am Post subject: Re: H1N1 Virus still at large. |
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| Cinemax wrote: | H1N1 flu (swine flu)
H1N1 flu (swine flu) — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, tests, treatment and prevention.
Definition
Novel H1N1 flu, popularly known as swine flu, is a respiratory infection caused by an influenza virus first recognized in spring 2009. The new virus, which is officially called swine influenza A (H1N1), contains genetic material from human, swine and avian flu viruses.
Technically, the term "swine flu" refers to influenza in pigs. Occasionally, pigs transmit influenza viruses to people, mainly hog farm workers and veterinarians. Less often, someone infected occupationally passes the infection to others. You can't catch swine flu from eating pork.
Unlike typical swine flu, H1N1 flu spreads quickly and easily. In June 2009, when the infection's spread had been verified worldwide, the World Health Organization declared H1N1 flu a global pandemic.
An H1N1 vaccine has been developed for the 2009-10 flu season.
Symptoms
Swine flu symptoms in humans are similar to those of infection with other flu strains:
* Fever
* Cough
* Sore throat
* Body aches
* Headache
* Chills
* Fatigue
* Diarrhea
* Vomiting
Swine flu symptoms develop three to five days after you're exposed to the virus and continue for about eight days, starting one day before you get sick and continuing until you've recovered.
When to see a doctor
It's not necessary to call a doctor if you're generally healthy and you develop swine flu symptoms, such as fever, cough and body aches. Do call your doctor, however, if you have flu symptoms and you're pregnant or you have a chronic disease, such as emphysema or a heart condition.
Causes
Influenza viruses infect the cells lining your nose, throat and lungs. The virus enters your body when you inhale contaminated droplets or transfer live virus from a contaminated surface to your eyes, nose or mouth on your hand.
Risk factors
Because novel H1N1 virus is new, everyone is at some risk. Health care workers who provide direct patient care are at particular risk of catching H1N1 flu. College students and children in school and child care are also at high risk. Children typically pick up the virus in the classroom and pass it to other members of the household.
Complications
Influenza complications include:
* Worsening of chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and asthma
* Pneumonia
* Respiratory failure
Severe complications of human swine flu H1N1 seem to develop and progress rapidly.
Treatments and drugs
Most cases of flu, including human swine flu, need no treatment other than symptom relief. If you have a chronic respiratory disease, your doctor may prescribe additional medication to decrease inflammation, open your airways and help clear lung secretions.
The antiviral drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) can reduce the severity of symptoms, but flu viruses can develop resistance to them. To make development of resistance less likely and maintain supplies of these drugs for those who need them most, antivirals are reserved for people at high risk of complications.
High-risk groups are those who:
* Are hospitalized
* Have shortness of breath along with other flu symptoms
* Are younger than 5 years of age
* Are 65 years and older
* Are pregnant
* Are younger than 19 years of age and are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, because of an increased risk for Reye's syndrome
* Have certain chronic medical conditions, including asthma, emphysema, heart disease, diabetes, neuromuscular disease, and kidney, liver or blood disease
* Are immunosuppressed due to medications or HIV
Lifestyle and home remedies
If you come down with any type of flu, these measures may help ease your symptoms:
* Drink plenty of liquids. Choose water, juice and clear broth to prevent dehydration. Drink enough to have clear or pale yellow urine.
* Rest. Get more sleep to help your immune system fight the infection.
* Take over-the-counter medication to reduce symptoms. Follow package directions for taking acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) to reduce fever and aches. Read package labels to be sure any product you give to a child or adolescent does not contain aspirin. Children and teens should not take aspirin because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.
Prevention
A vaccine has been developed to prevent swine flu. In the United States, vaccination is recommended for:
* Pregnant women. The risk of swine flu complications is higher during pregnancy. Mothers can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated.
* Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age. Younger infants are at higher risk of flu complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants less than 6 months old might reduce the infants' risk of exposure to the virus.
* Health care and emergency medical services personnel. Infections have been reported among health care workers, who can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in health care workers could reduce health care system capacity.
* Babies, children and teens, from 6 months through 18 years of age. Many cases of novel H1N1 influenza have occurred in children. Influenza viruses spread easily in school and child care, and children infected in these settings carry the infection to their families.
* Young adults, from 19 through 24 years of age. Immunization is important for young adults because they tend to live, work, and study in close proximity, and they move and travel often.
* People ages 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza. These conditions include heart disease, lung disease and some types of cancer.
These measures also help prevent flu and limit its spread:
* Stay home if you're sick. If you do have swine flu, you can give it to others starting about 24 hours before you develop symptoms and ending about seven days later. As a courtesy to others, do your best to stay out of the emergency room, doctor's office or urgent-care center. You don't want to risk infecting anyone else — particularly in a medical facility, where others receiving care may be especially vulnerable to the flu.
* Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Use soap and water, or if they're unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Flu viruses can survive for two hours or longer on surfaces, such as doorknobs and countertops.
* Avoid contact. Stay away from crowds if possible.
* Reduce exposure within your household. If a member of your household has swine flu, designate one other household member to be responsible for the ill person's close personal care. |
very informative ty 
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